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eyesaremosaics · 3 years ago

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Haven’t written in ages, I suppose that’s because a lot has been going on… and yet nothing is going on. I tire of being everyone’s beck and call girl, but at this point I’ve made a career out of it. My dreams feel shattered, one must not sink into such dispirited depths. My silence comes from having both too much and not enough going on for so long.

My Etsy and Poshmark stores are now live. Trying to build something of my own while my time as a nanny/personal assistant is waning. Ultimately I want to be my own boss, and having my own business seems like a viable option. I make my own hours, and that way I can pursue creative endeavors as well as acting opportunities. No I haven’t given up on acting yet. At this point it is a necessity to life for me, as much as oxygen and water are essential to life. It’s simply something I need to do to be happy. I no longer care if I am a success at it, as long as I can continue to do it, it is a source of great joy to me. It’s truly the only thing that makes me happy.

Having discovered this during the pandemic (when opportunities dried up), I realize now that I have to create my own opportunities. I am choosing to stay here in this small pool, because I fell in love. I found the man I’m going to marry, and his whole life is here. A part of me is torn about this, my plan was to move to LA 2 years ago, but I met my partner shortly before the move was to be arranged. Three months after the pandemic hit.

I’ve had work, but it’s nowhere near as abundant as it was prior to covid. I miss reading tarot at the Speakeasy, I miss going to the Edwardian Ball, Dicken’s Faire, and all the fun events I used to go to. I miss the sense of community of working in the theater, it felt like being part of a family. Being a social creature, I crave human connection, and miss it dreadfully.

Slowly things are happening, but time still feels frozen somehow. So frustrated with all the nothing. I got to do some traveling, but even that came at a cost. After the attack in Hawaii my nervous system was pretty shot. After almost being stabbed to death, nothing really phases you, it’s kind of weird. I think perhaps I have been through so much trauma at this point that I operate from a permanent place of anxiety. Though to be honest, the whole experience showed me just how strong I am, which I suppose is the positive takeaway.

My neighbor is mentally ill, and a drug addict I believe. He has has some psychotic episodes, cornered my boyfriend and threatened to assault him. He seems to hate women, and refers to me by derogatory names. He almost pushed me down the stairs once, and he tried to force entry into our apartment looking out of his mind, voicing hallucinations. We spoke to the landlord—can’t do anything. Spoke to the police—can’t do anything. It’s really messed up how inefficient the criminal justice system is. They literally can do nothing preventative, they literally can do nothing unless the person physically assaults you.

So dealing with that has been stressful, and has also compounded the ordeal in Hawaii. I have panic attacks pretty regularly. Mental health is a serious crisis in 2021, isolation was not good for a great many people. My neighbor is living proof. All we can do is carry pepper spray and our cameras in my car and outside our door to try and catch him next time he threatens one of us or comes to our door uninvited.

Basically we have to move, which I am heartbroken about because I love our adorable little Art Deco apartment.

Feeling lonely as well, I used to have a lot of friends, and I know I still do, but they all live far away. All the friends I have a deep meaningful attachment to live in LA, New York, Seattle, San Diego, London etc… I miss having people to go out with. That’s part of getting older I guess. We are in our 30s now. I’ve started hosting dinners and tiki parties with small groups of people. That’s been nice. Got to do some Halloween stuff this year. Looking forward to Christina’s party tomorrow—she built the beetlejuice set in her backyard and I am so stoked.

Instead of feeling lonely, I should be building an empire. So that’s what I’m doing, getting my shops ready, got new headshots, my friend Kirsten wants to set me up with her agent, I have an editorial in the works which will be sent to dark beauty magazine soon, shooting a webseries, shooting art films with friends… so I’m trying to cultivate more creativity. For the last two years I have felt dead inside. Being merely a caretaker, an accessory in other people’s lives is dehumanizing. Not that I am not grateful, or that I am mistreated, I just don’t like feeling like I am living someone else’s life and not my own.

A lot of things are changing, my health is also in flux. The GERD is manageable, but still very crippling at times. I eat healthy abs exercise everyday which has made a world of difference in my mood and physical health. It’s mostly just annoying, but I have gotten used to being physically uncomfortable now. It’s just the way it is now. No sense in complaining about it.

Truthfully I feel a lot healthier now that I have been forced to change my diet. I had a few cancer scares in the last year, and worry about my fertility now that I am 33. My biological clock is ticking, and though I am not ready yet, I really do want to be a mother. I have considered freezing my eggs, but it’s sooo expensive. I make more money now than ever I have, yet it’s never enough. Okay he cost of living is just sky high… Yury and I are both struggling financially… also dealing with my partners mental health has been challenging as well. He struggles with his own demons, as do I, and sometimes they don’t match up. The love always wins out, but there have been some rough patches. Our love for each other never wavers, but our living situation and financial stress has put a strain on our relationship.

It’s just a lot to unpack. Processing so many things. There are days where I break down from the weight of it all, but exercise and meditation have been a huge help in managing the stress. It’s all very tedious, and not at all interesting to read I imagine.

I plan to write pieces regarding spirituality again, that was what I really loved to do with this platform prior to the pandemic. Longing for a return to this. Just wanted to give those of you who have been asking an update.

#me

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surveys-at-your-service · 4 years ago

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Survey #349

“we’ll meet again, when both our cars collide”

When was the last time you had a PopTart? It's been many, many months. Do you like hot chocolate? Well duh. Who made you laugh the hardest today? I haven't really laughed today. Who was the last person to promise you something, and what was it? Hmph. Would you ever jump into a fire to save your bestfriend? I know I would. Do you have a callus from writing too much? No, I only have calluses on my feet from when I used to walk for hours on end. They just never permanently went away, even with grooming. Who is someone you’ve made a bad first impression on? I dread to guess what the girl Jason dated after me was told about me. I shouldn't care at all, but I do. I have every reason to accurately be defined as "the crazy ex," and I fucking hate it. Who is your best guy friend? Girt, a friend from high school. Do you read cereal boxes while you’re eating? I did as a kid, but now I don't. I just kinda stand and eat. What’s the last thing you accidentally (or purposely) burnt? I kinda burnt the roof of my mouth on pizza the other night. Do you know anyone with a lip piercing? Me, haha. I know others, too. What did the last tattoo you saw, look like? I don't remember. Have you ever given birth? NO FUCKING THANK YOU. Do you enjoy making out? I mean if I'm in the mood to and I love you, yeah. Why exactly do you take surveys? "I genuinely like doing them and they’re great for venting and sorting out thoughts and whatnot. I can just ramble and get things off my chest." <<<< This right here covers it. As well, it's just a boredom killer. And I happen to be bored very, very often. Rockband or Gutair Hero? Both are great, why choose just one? What are you listening to right now? Halocene's cover of "Helena" by My Chemical Romance. It's beautiful. What kind of energy drinks do you drink, if any? None, because I just can't do energy drinks. They taste like pure poison to me. Have you ever been swimming in a river? No. Swimming in a river sounds pretty dangerous... Does your alarm clock wake you with music, or with an annoying buzz sound? Music. When you broke stuff in the house as a child, did you blame it on siblings? I'm hoping you don't mean breaking deliberately, 'cuz I wasn't that kind of kid. But anyway, I don't believe I did. Did you make it all the way through the Oregon Trail game? Yes. I was obSESSED with those games as a kid. Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Which one are you more scared of? Tigers, probably. They're so stealthy and, while I may be entirely wrong, seem like the top candidate of the three to attack a human, be it for food or defense. And have you SEEN the muscles on a tiger? Christ. Describe the best use that you’ve found for duct tape: Uh, taping things lmao. Do you wrap gifts or use gift bags? I use gift bags, because I can't wrap for shit. What fast food place do you avoid at all costs? Arby's is really gross to me. Are you afraid of deep sea creatures? Just giant squid... *shudders* Have you ever agreed to purchase something on Ebay and got scammed somehow? No. I did, however, purchase something on deviantART and never got the product. It was going to be a present for Jason. In dA's defense though, I've bought like... two or three other things from there, and there were zero issues. It's really about the people you trust. If you get a call that says “Unknown”, do you answer it? Nnnnope. Do you have any bobble head figures? No. Have your parents ever left you somewhere without realizing it? I don't think so. Have you ever been in a tanning bed? No. Did your last kiss mean anything to you? Well yeah, I wouldn't have kissed her otherwise. Would you say that you have a nice smile? No; I've been self-conscious of it since I was a kid, mostly because one of my eyes looks more squinty than the other, but they both are to me. I've always said I look high when I smile lmao. Is there an ex you want to make up with? My mind immediately screams "Jason," but I know that's a horrendous idea. Our last talk ended peacefully and even with care and good wishes, and I need my fucking impenetrable head to accept that's where it needs to end. He does NOT need to re-enter my life. It would be so bad for me. Do you remember how you felt on 9/11? I have no memory of it, if I'm being honest. What outfit makes you feel the most attractive? None. Other than yourself, who knows you the best? Really? Whoever reads these lmao. What’s one complaint that you have about school? Common Core and how every student's school experience was not tailored towards their unique goals. Like they try to cram a shitload of identical and usually useless information into a kid's brain to make them a jack of all trades, you could say, but not enough information they need to properly pursue their career future. It causes such an unnecessary amount of frustration and stress. I have many, many complaints about the education system, but this one tops the list. What do you do while you’re on campus but not in class? Back in college, I would just do stuff on my laptop. Do you know anyone who has Autism/Asperger’s syndrome? Yes. Are you open to a same-sex relationship and why or why not? Well, considering I'm bisexual... Do you remember life without the internet? No. Have you ever found yourself to be ugly? I've gone my entire life thinking I'm ugly, if I'm being real. What is your state’s minimum wage? $7.25 a fucking hour. :'''''') Is there something you want to say to someone but can’t/won’t? There's a few people. What is your first memory of being in a hospital? Considering my mom worked at the local hospital when I was a kid, I remember being there quite, quite young, playing with my older sister in Mom's and her coworkers' room. I think Nicole was too young to really "play." Do you have any relatives with red hair? No. What is something good that has happened to you in the past week? I got my first Covid vaccine. My arm hurts like a motherfucker now, but to protect my mom, it's worth it. Please get vaccinated. How much was the rent/mortgage at the cheapest place you’ve ever lived? That's never been my business. Have you ever been to a gay pride parade? No, but I would go to a local one if I could actually walk five feet without being in serious pain and sweating like a pig. Do you still keep in touch with your very first best friend? We're friends on Facebook, but that's it. What was the topic of the last conversation you had with your dad? I can't remember, but it was recent, because we all met at Ashley's house for Nicole's birthday celebration. How often did you visit your grandparents when you were growing up? Pretty much never, given they all lived no less than like, 10 hours (via car) from where we lived. My immediate family are the only people in NC. When two family members are fighting, what do you usually do? Stay out of it, but admittedly try to listen just to know what's going on. Do you like the smell of men’s cologne? Yeah. What’s your all time FAVORITE freezer food? Do you eat that a lot? I survive off of microwaveable freezer food, so this is very hard... uhhhhh... perhaps this Banquet bowl meal that's mac 'n cheese with spicy chicken. It's absolutely delicious, like you'd never guess that sucker was just popped in the microwave. I'd say I eat it a moderate amount; it's a reliable option if Mom's not cooking and I'm really hungry, because it's super filling. Do you like documentaries? Have you ever watched one and find it boring? I enjoy them, particularly when they're about animals. Were you ever a fan of macaroni & cheese? Do you like Kraft dinner? Ha, speak of mac 'n cheese. I love it, and Kraft makes it fine. Do you burn incense? Not as much as I used to. I love the smell and just general vibe, though. What would you consider an unacceptable first date? Going to a bar or something. Have you ever been so sick you had to be taken to the hospital? In the head, anyway. Is there anything currently bothering you? Multiple things. Would you say that you’ve got something ‘special’ about you? No. Do you like things vampire-related? I don't really have an opinion on vampire stuff. Are you the kind of person who does not like talking about their past? I don't care. Have you ever been to a casino? No. What’s the last thing you wore a costume for besides Halloween related events? Back when I still took dance classes and we had the yearly recital. What does your father do for a living? He's a mailman. What’s the last app you downloaded on your phone? Haha, I re-downloaded this ollllldddd game I had before, Nyan Cat: Lost in Space (or something like that?) for my niece to play. She's hooked on it now. Are you in any discomfort right now? Yeah; as I mentioned, my arm really hurts. What do you know the most about? Of all things I know, almost certainly meerkats. Are you seeing anyone? No. Have you ever hooked back up with an ex, just for sex? Was it a mistake or no? No. Have you ever gotten in trouble for using a phone in class? No, because I didn't use my phone in class. Have you seen all the Shrek movies? No, which is a fucking crime. I need to see the last one. Have you ever finished a whole video game? Plenty plenty plenty. Do you know anyone with a pet snake? Yeah, myself included. If you had to live in an extreme environment — think Sahara, Antarctica, under the sea, on the Moon— where would you want to live? Why? Probably Antarctica. I'm sure it would be unpleasant, being that cold, but I feel there's more you can do about being cold than being in the scalding heat of, say, the Sahara. Living on the moon or in the deep ocean sounds super sucky. How was your day overall? It's been okay. Not as bored as usual, at least. How many people of the opposite sex do you fully trust? Like... zero. I want to say my dad, and I almost do, just... nightmares make that very, very difficult. Plus his past. What does your mom call you? Normally just "Britt." Write a sentence in another language: Oh god, my German is so rusty... uhhhh... Hallo, ich heiße Brittany, und ich bin 25 Jahre alt und wohne in North Carolina. I think I got the grammar right? Have you ever sent an X-Rated picture to someone? No. Even if I was comfortable with my body, I would be way too paranoid to at any point have a naked picture on my phone, even if I deleted it. Like, hello blackmail, but also, nothing you delete is ever really gone permanently. What big city do you live near? Raleigh is like an hour away. Do you like breaded chicken sandwiches? omg YES Is there a Sonic in your area? Yes, it's my favorite fast food joint. You have GOT to try the pretzel twists with cheese dip. Have you ever gone to a thrift store? Yeah, I love 'em. Do you think Johnny Depp is attractive? I do. Are you happy with the state you live in? No, not at all. I hate this place. Bunch of homophobic, racist rednecks. How many times have you seen the opposite sex naked? It's not like I counted every time I saw my ex naked over three and half years lmao. How many times have you seen the same sex naked? A few times. When days go by, do you cross them off on the calendar? I don't use a calendar. Are you currently counting down to something? If so, what? MY TATTOO APPOINTMENT!!!!! :''') I know I can't stop talking about it, but ugh I'm so excited. May 19th, c'mon already. Do you pay rent to your parents? No. Do you dye eggs for Easter? I used to as a kid. Not so much anymore. Are you in debt right now? For what? Oh god, I don't want to think of this. Would you ever work night crew? I really, really wouldn't want to. Humans are diurnal for a reason. Being awake in constant darkness would depress the fuck outta me, and it'd feel so lonely, with everyone I know asleep. Who was the last person that lied to you, or that you can recall lying to you? What did they lie about? How did you find out they were lying? I don't remember. Has anyone ever called you ugly, straight up, before? How did you react to this? No, not to my face. Who is the most stubborn person you know {excluding yourself}? MY MOTHER.

#survey #surveys #questions #lyrics: ''helena'' by my chemical romance

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its8simplejulesblog · 5 years ago

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I’m Sitting Here on My Bed Crying

about George Floyd’s unjust murder. My heart keeps sinking further and further and suddenly every remedial thing that bothered me a week ago means absolutely nothing now. It’s hard not to feel hopeless and disgusted by the world we’ve created and fostered. It’s hard to sit around knowing that people are being gassed and attacked and buildings are being burned to the ground while most of my friends are worried about whether or not their crush will text them back and how their Animal Crossing Village looks (I’m sure it’s fine queen, relax).

I understand wanting to maintain “normalcy”, but if you can’t recognize the privilege in that normalcy then I pity you. Never in my life would I complacently want to be as ignorant as that. It’s really hard for me to keep up with the news. At the peak of my anxiety I would yell and cry at my parents to turn it off because it often kept me up at night. However, now I realize that turning it off is only a temporary fix. And, while the news itself is so obviously biased, even keeping it on wouldn’t do much good.

As I’m writing I’m crying more and more. It really is like I lost a friend. I know that sounds dramatic, but we really should be treating everyone as if they deserve protection, kindness, and care, and when that doesn’t happen, you really do lose something (like oh, I don’t know, humanity). In all honesty, I am terrified of the world. It really does seem like we are on the brink of collapse. Almost like the freaking second coming of Christ is about to happen. Judgment day better be coming soon though because it just keeps getting worse and worse.

I know that the majority of the time I am as positive a person as I can be, but sometimes feeling hurt and shame and anger like this is the motivation one needs to make a change. Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to be happening though. Even as I write this now I think, “so what,” one speck of dust white girl writing on her tumblr blog that no one reads will not bring someone back to life. However, if this can get even one person thinking about a new way to prioritize their life, then I have done something.

Institutionalized racism never went away. I think that’s a fallacy that unaffected people believe because it’s easy. I loved Will Smith’s quote that “Racism isn’t getting worse, it’s getting filmed.” It’s like when you were little and you “cleaned” your room which really meant you just pushed everything in the closet or under the bed. Eventually, that stuff falls out and people find it. Why do we keep pretending? I can’t believe I just had to compare America to a literal child, that’t what it feels like.

All the while, social media is riddled with friends of mine out in groups. Let’s be real, I get it. If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times: I want to be with my friends too. I want to hug and kiss and cuddle the people I care about too. I want to party and not feel disgustingly lonely everyday. But guess what, every time I think that I think about what’s really important...and sometimes, SHOCK my wants are not always the most important thing. I’d rather sit in my house alone for another two months than EVER have to experience the loss that some of these people have felt due to COVID-19, and as much as it has been overused as a joke, the phrase “check your privilege” is good advice.

I know in my last post I talked about how excited I was for the future. That is absolutely still true. There is so much beauty in the world that is so regularly overlooked. However (and I’m trying to write this without getting religious..I failed) my inner Hobbes comes out all the time in saying that humans are just innately selfish. We’re animals, literally, (thanks Darwin, wow I’m really name dropping a lot today..also, why do people think that if you’re religious you can’t also believe in some aspects of evolution..ignorance) ANYWAY, what I think it all comes down to is fear.

I recently read a book by Max Lucado called “Fearless.” This particular book was rooted in Christianity which was interesting because for the past few years I had been a little doubtful of my faith (although that’s a different story). I never really expected it to have any relevance in my blog, but the more I think about it, the more it molds how I live my life. Naturally, I’m surround by people of various beliefs and I wouldn’t want it any other way. However, when the world seems to be as evil as it currently is, it makes most people feel like even God abandoned us. However He tells us to not be afraid. I know that you could easily scroll up to where I said, “I’m terrified of the world,” as an argument and that is still true because I’m human; but, when I look more deeply into that fear and anger I realize that chaos only brings chaos and unless you put that fear aside, nothing will come from it.

Let me clarify, I’m not saying that it would be easy for me to interfere if I saw a cop abusing his power. I’m not saying that you need to become an omnipotent superhero and if you don’t then you’re racist. Instead, do something peaceful that prevent that situation from ever happening in the first place. As much as white privilege is disgusting and the inequality is blatant, at the very least use that privilege to the advantage of everyone’s safety before the situation gets worse.

That is why white silence is deafening at this point. If you fear for the loss of your rights in protecting someone else’s then you’re clearly confused about the concept. How dare anyone tell me that “I’m uncomfortable talking about it.” If it were your reality, you wouldn’t have a choice, and you wouldn’t be uncomfortable then. Posting on Instagram is not enough. It’s not. Take time out of your day to think about someone other than yourself, I’m begging at this point.

I had an internship last summer that dealt with institutionalized educational racism and it was the most telling experience of my life because even within the STAFF there were clear hierarchies. Even though it wasn’t race, it was either status or age or gender. It doesn’t matter. There will always be something. And even though we should just help people from the kindness of our hearts and shared knowledge that we’re all human, if that for some reason is not enough for you, know that you could be targeted next for a reason other than race.

I pray in my heart that I continue to live my life in a way that other’s benefit from the work that I do. All I could ever want in my entire life is to make someone else’s world brighter and safer. It baffles and confuses me that someone wouldn’t want this. I truly feel like I am at a stalemate in my head sometimes because while I so fortuitously believe that the world is a beautiful place full of good, it’s getting harder and harder to weed through the ignorance and greed and separations between people that need nothing more than to be unified.

It’s a confusing concept because while an animal’s instincts are to do anything it can to survive, it’s also known through evolutionary research that humans are social creatures (thanks Sapiens, great book..although a 4th grade student in a history class could have told you that). We quite literally need each other, and it’s unfortunate that this isn’t commonplace fact in society.

It’s grim and rainy today. I thought, “how fitting.” It’s like the sky is crying over this absolute madness. If anything, I know what my values are now and that is something that I will continue to pride myself on for the rest of my life.

George Floyd.

Say his name and don’t forget it.

In fact, say all of their names.

I won’t turn a blind eye anymore.

-Julia

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pope-francis-quotes · 5 years ago

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10th April >> (@RomeReports) #PopeFrancis #Pope Francis Relive the Celebration of the Passion of the Lord, which #PopeFrancis presided over on #GoodFriday. #EasterAtHome

Pope celebrates Passion of the Lord, as papal preacher reflects on Covid-19 pandemic

Pope Francis presides over the Celebration of the Passion of the Lord, with Fr Raniero Cantalamessa reflecting on the positive fruits that God draws forth from the coronavirus pandemic.

By Vatican News

The celebration of the Passion of the Lord took place on the evening of Good Friday in a near-empty St. Peter’s Basilica.

Pope Francis presided over the liturgy, which was live-streamed to the faithful across the world through media outlets and social media.

At the moment of the Adoration of the Holy Cross, only the Pope was able to venerate the Cross with a kiss, in compliance with measures to avoid the spread of Covid-19.

The Preacher of the Papal Household, Fr Raniero Cantalamessa, preached the Sermon, reminding everyone that God has plans for our welfare, and not woe, even in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

Below please find the full text of his Sermon:

“I HAVE PLANS FOR YOUR WELFARE AND NOT FOR WOE”

Sermon for Good Friday 2020 in St. Peter’s Basilica

St. Gregory the Great said that Scripture “grows with its readers”, cum legentibus crescit.[1] It reveals meanings always new according to the questions people have in their hearts as they read it. And this year we read the account of the Passion with a question—rather with a cry—in our hearts that is rising up over the whole earth. We need to seek the answer that the word of God gives it.

The Gospel reading we have just listened to is the account of the objectively greatest evil committed on earth. We can look at it from two different angles: either from the front or from the back, that is, either from its causes or from its effects. If we stop at the historical causes of Christ’s death, we get confused and everyone will be tempted to say, as Pilate did, “I am innocent of this man’s blood” (Mt 27:24). The cross is better understood by its effects than by its causes. And what were the effects of Christ’s death? Being justified through faith in him, being reconciled and at peace with God, and being filled with the hope of eternal life! (see Rom 53:1-5).

But there is one effect that the current situation can help us to grasp in particular. The cross of Christ has changed the meaning of pain and human suffering—of every kind of suffering, physical and moral. It is no longer punishment, a curse. It was redeemed at its root when the Son of God took it upon himself. What is the surest proof that the drink someone offers you is not poisoned? It is if that person drinks from the same cup before you do. This is what God has done: on the cross he drank, in front of the whole world, the cup of pain down to its dregs. This is how he showed us it is not poisoned, but that there is a pearl at the bottom of it.

And not only the pain of those who have faith, but of every human pain. He died for all human beings: “And when I am lifted up from the earth,” he said, “I will draw everyone to myself” (Jn 12:32). Everyone, not just some! St. John Paul II wrote from his hospital bed after his attempted assassination, “To suffer means to become particularly susceptible, particularly open to the working of the salvific powers of God, offered to humanity in Christ.”[2] Thanks to the cross of Christ, suffering has also become in its own way a kind of “universal sacrament of salvation” for the human race.

***

What light does all of this shed on the dramatic situation that humanity is going through now? Here too we need to look at the effects more than at the causes—not just the negative ones we hear about every day in heart-wrenching reports but also the positive ones that only a more careful observation can help us grasp.

The pandemic of Coronavirus has abruptly roused us from the greatest danger individuals and humanity have always been susceptible to: the delusion of omnipotence. A Jewish rabbi has written that we have the opportunity to celebrate a very special paschal exodus this year, that “from the exile of consciousness” [3]. It took merely the smallest and most formless element of nature, a virus, to remind us that we are mortal, that military power and technology are not sufficient to save us. As a psalm in the Bible says, “In his prime, man does not understand. / He is like the beasts—they perish” (Ps 49:21). How true that is!

While he was painting frescoes in St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, the artist James Thornhill became so excited at a certain point about his fresco that he stepped back to see it better and was unaware he was about to fall over the edge of the scaffolding. A horrified assistant understood that crying out to him would have only hastened the disaster. Without thinking twice, he dipped a brush in paint and hurled it at the middle of the fresco. The master, appalled, sprang forward. His work was damaged, but he was saved.

God does this with us sometimes: he disrupts our projects and our calm to save us from the abyss we don’t see. But we need to be careful not to be deceived. God is not the one who hurled the brush at the sparkling fresco of our technological society. God is our ally, not the ally of the virus! He himself says in the Bible, “I have . . . plans for your welfare and not for woe” (Jer 29:11). If these scourges were punishments of God, it would not be explained why they strike equally good and bad, and why the poor usually bear the worst consequences of them. Are they more sinners than others?

The one who cried one day for Lazarus' death cries today for the scourge that has fallen on humanity. Yes, God "suffers", like every father and every mother. When we will find out this one day, we will be ashamed of all the accusations we made against him in life. God participates in our pain to overcome it. "Being supremely good - wrote St. Augustine - God would not allow any evil in his works, unless in his omnipotence and goodness, he is able to bring forth good out of evil.”[4]

Did God the Father possibly desire the death of his Son in order to draw good out of it? No, he simply permitted human freedom to take its course, making it serve, however, his own purposes and not those of human beings. This is also the case for natural disasters like earthquakes and plagues. He does not bring them about. He has given nature a kind of freedom as well, qualitatively different of course than that of human beings, but still a form of freedom—freedom to evolve according to its own laws of development. He did not create a world as a programmed clock whose least little movement could be anticipated. It is what some call “chance” but the Bible calls instead “the wisdom of God.”

***

The other positive fruit of the present health crisis is the feeling of solidarity. When, in the memory of humanity, have the people of all nations ever felt themselves so united, so equal, so less in conflict than at this moment of pain? Never so much as now have we experienced the truth of the words of one of our great poets: “Peace, you peoples! Too deep is the mystery of the prostrate earth.”[5] We have forgotten about building walls. The virus knows no borders. In an instant it has broken down all the barriers and distinctions of race, nation, religion, wealth, and power. We should not revert to that prior time when this moment has passed. As the Holy Father has exhorted us, we should not waste this opportunity. Let us not allow so much pain, so many deaths, and so much heroic engagement on the part of health workers to have been in vain. Returning to the way things were is the “recession” we should fear the most.

They shall beat their swords into plowshares

and their spears into pruning hooks;

One nation shall not raise the sword against another,

nor shall they train for war again. (Is 2:4)

This is the moment to put into practice something of the prophecy of Isaiah whose fulfillment humanity has long been waiting for. Let us say “Enough!” to the tragic race toward arms. Say it with all your might, you young people, because it is above all your destiny that is at stake. Let us devote the unlimited resources committed to weapons to the goals that we now realize are most necessary and urgent: health, hygiene, food, the fight against poverty, stewardship of creation. Let us leave to the next generation a world poorer in goods and money, if need be, but richer in its humanity.

***

The word of God tells us the first thing we should do at times like these is to cry out to God. He himself is the one who puts on people’s lips the words to cry out to him, at times harsh words of lament and almost of accusation: “Awake! Why do you sleep, O Lord? / Rise up! Do not reject us forever! . . . Rise up, help us! / Redeem us in your mercy” (Ps 44, 24, 27). “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” (Mk 4:38).

Does God perhaps like to be petitioned so that he can grant his benefits? Can our prayer perhaps make God change his plans? No, but there are things that God has decided to grant us as the fruit both of his grace and of our prayer, almost as though sharing with his creatures the credit for the benefit received.[6] God is the one who prompts us to do it: “Seek and you will find,” Jesus said; “knock and the door will be opened to you” (Mt 7:7).

When the Israelites were bitten by poisonous serpents in the desert, God commanded Moses to lift up a serpent of bronze on a pole, and whoever looked at it would not die. Jesus appropriated this symbol to himself when he told Nicodemus, “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life” (Jn 3:14-15). We too at this moment have been bitten by an invisible, poisonous “serpent.” Let us gaze upon the one who was “lifted up” for us on the cross. Let us adore him on behalf of ourselves and of the whole human race. The one who looks on him with faith does not die. And if that person dies, it will be to enter eternal life.

"After three days I will rise", Jesus had foretold (cf. Mt Mt 27:63). We too, after these days that we hope will be short, shall rise and come out of the tombs of our homes. Not however to return to the former life like Lazarus, but to a new life, like Jesus. A more fraternal, more human, more Christian life!

______________________________

Translated from Italian by Marsha Daigle-Williamson, Ph.D.

[1] Moralia in Job, XX, 1.

[2] John Paul II, Salvifici doloris [On the Meaning of Human Suffering], n. 23.

[3] https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/coronavirus-a-spiritual-message-from-brooklyn (Yaakov Yitzhak Biderman).

[4] See St. Augustine, Enchiridion 11, 3; PL 40, 236.

[5] Giovanni Pascoli, “I due fanciulli” [“The Two Children”].

[6] See St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologicae, II-IIae, q. 83, a. 2.

Topics

POPE FRANCIS

CORONAVIRUS

HOLY WEEK

LENT

LITURGY

10th April 2020, 19:03

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firedingo · 4 years ago

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Long Time No Post.....

______________________________________________________________

So yeah......it's been a while.

What am I up to? Well let's see....

Obviously still at uni. I'm now effectively in my final year. I have 2 subjects, 1 software development project and 1 year and then I can graduate.

I can't believe I'm this close now after almost a decade at this degree (not counting the like 5 year break I took in that decade :P)

I'm well and truly engaged with the Christian Students group on campus. They're really frankly quite awesome. We put on a BBQ for the other students after a bar night recently. We're working through John in the Bible and I'm so keen for small groups to kick off and the events coming up this year.

In my first year in 2019 I didn't get involved in events and last year covid either stopped or radically changed events last year. So I'm super keen this year because it's my last year there.

In the face of everything.....childhood trauma, mental illness, covid, stress, family.....my church, my faith and the christian students group has been a huge anchor for me.

That of course leads to church and faith. So with covid we moved to a new location....the local christian school. That meant learning a new AV system....I actually feel quite confident running AV now.

The flip side means I run AV at one or both of the services I go to on Sunday almost every Sunday possible.....yes we need more AV trained people.

I love learning about AV and serving but sometimes you do need a break.

My mental health has been interesting to say the least. I have brilliant days but also really bad ones. I don't know what I would do without my faith. I've really been hanging on to a passage in Romans lately.

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."

- Romans 8:18

I've found this verse to a good reminder that eternal life is still better than letting the crap in life get the better of me.....What will anything matter in 10,000 years time in heaven? Nothing. Of course that doesn't mean it doesn't feel like the end of the world right now.

Oh we humans are such fickle creatures....

So I also signed up to do Introduction To The Bible, a subject run by my church through an organization they help manage along with a couple other churches. It has been hugely interesting to see the bigger picture of the Bible. I remember someone told me early on that the whole Bible points to Jesus but it's actually really cool to see how that works, especially with the Old Testament and be hugely encouraged by what I've read and learned.

A highlight for me was seeing how God so deeply cares and loves in Hosea.

" “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. But the more they were called, the more they went away from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images. It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them."

- Hosea 11:1-4

Another highlight was realizing that the Exodus - the Israelites being saved in Egypt, lead out to God and eventually to their promised land with blessing given to them - is a mini example of God's plan of salvation. It encourages me when I wonder if God will ever return, or on the mentally tough days when I wonder if God will save me.

He can, he has and he will!

I've also begun helping teach scripture classes in school. It has been wonderful to have kids to love and care for in scripture class. I don't know if I will ever have kids of my own but I do know I care about people, I am deeply moved by my faith and I think how can these kids ever make a choice if they never hear, so my aim is to give them the best understanding of what I believe.

The hardest thing is the exhaustion, the complete and utter exhaustion. I want badly to have a break yet I don't get one. I've tried asking for so much help and support only to find out I don't qualify.

I still care for my dad too. I don't get any support there.

I probably do 60-75 hours of "work" across any particular week right now. Some of it I didn't need to agree to right now but much of it isn't a choice. I'm tired and worn out.

The system here is broken because someone like me can study, care nearly full-time, do volunteer work and somehow not qualify for any support or help. Hell I can reach the point of being suicidal and still not qualify for help. That's how broken the system here is.

I have no hope things will actually get better....the only hope I have is that one day I will get to rest when I see God.

Honestly I feel like canon fodder to the government. I don't have the resources or capacity to change much of my circumstances, the government does and yet I genuinely believe that they don't care at all, in fact I reckon quite a few wish I were actual, legitimately dead.

Honestly what's the bloody point any more? If things are never going to improve, what's the bloody point to life? Keep getting beaten to a pulp until I finally burn out and kill myself?

Frankly it'd be better if I did it now in the face of that. Only my faith gives me a reason not to......You know who's around the corner that needs to hear about God.

I know being a disciple of Jesus isn't easy in fact hardship should be expected yet I don't think suicidal ideation was what that meant.

So I hold on to my faith and what I know and pray like hell that I don't act on the thoughts.....

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

- John 3:16

"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!"

- Romans 5:6-10

#update #religion #scipture #university #student #government #mental illness #depression #study #faith #church #jesus #agriculture #suicide #carers #covid 19 #blog

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theliterateape · 5 years ago

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We Will Get Fooled Again...and Again...and Again

by Don Hall

I'll tip my hat to the new constitution Take a bow for the new revolution Smile and grin at the change all around Pick up my guitar and play Just like yesterday Then I'll get on my knees and pray We don't get fooled again Don't get fooled again, no, no

Yeah Meet the new boss Same as the old boss

What does a pandemic and the ensuing reaction to it reveal? We have the time now, away from the grind of what we accepted as the best we could have in this world, to fully reflect upon that question. For the tiniest percentage of human beings, things were going pretty goddamned well — I read about a wealthy cat who couldn’t be bothered with a deal on securing a permanent seat on a private jet for just over regular business class prices because he never waited in line at the airport. For the overwhelming majority of us, we have accepted the paycheck-to-paycheck existence.

The lifestyle that requires working for just enough to pay for the things we need (but mostly want) to survive. Being told in corporate mantra that if we take a sick day, we’ll be penalized for succumbing to illness. Bowing our heads to the idea that our worth is only valued at the cost of cup of Starbucks coffee per hour of labor.

Most of us, when told by scientists the plain facts about pandemic, understand on some fundamental level, that quarantine is a reprieve from an economic model that doesn’t value us or our time and effort much. Sure, there are always some who get in line with the wealthiest as they advertise the fall of an economy that only truly benefits the rich and famous, but those are the folks with so little imagination as to only see hope through the lens of a camera handed to them.

None of this is new although it feels new because we have never personally experienced it before.

Social Distancing? Cancelled events? Closed businesses? Every modern pandemic has had these measures evoked by the reigning governments. Backlash against these measures, a refusal to take seriously the threat, and more death as a result? Every pandemic has resulted in this as well.

Economic and political fallout? Completely normal — Christ, we have these circumstances hit us almost like clockwork every 20-30 years. Gen Z, for all their obvious faults, have endured two major crises in their short lives. Born into the 9/11 chaos, coming of age during the COVID-19 world.

What we’re experiencing is not a “new” normal. It’s just normal.

I’m reminded of the look of horror and shock on Chris Evans’s face at the end of Snowpiercer, when Ed Harris casually explains that his revolution from the back of the train had been manipulated. That the resistance was both expected and necessary to keep the balance of power intact. Like Neo in The Matrix Trilogy, nothing about the rise up of the 99% is original. It is simply another predictable cog in a pre-ordained machine.

Meet the new boss Same as the old boss

What is revealed is not a sense of the inevitable although that response seems perfectly natural. Predictable, even. What is revealed is that in order to subvert this cycle we need to try something different than has been done in the past to see if different results occur.

I find it endlessly fascinating that so many embrace an economic model that has almost never worked for them as something essential to return. Is it better to be without a job and find a new way to survive or to go back to the meaningless dreck of hourly employment for entities that place such low value on your time and life? Is the unknown so terrifying that we’d all rather eat shit soup because, hey, what if we don’t find something better to eat?

Perhaps this is the point when I start wearing the duct tape and foil chapeau but it seems to me that the architects of this cycle have never been our political leaders. I certainly do not see the Democrats and Republicans as the same but I do see that both sides tend to protect the interests of the sustainers of this economy over those of us who labor to build their pyramids for scraps and peanut shells.

Capitalist? Socialist? Communist? All exactly the same when the same interests are in control.

I’m unsure if our competitive nature is hardwired into us. Dana believes we are naturally cooperative. Anecdotally, I can see her point as well as ample evidence to the contrary. She is also completely in touch with the feeling of relief this shutdown of America has engendered in far more people than are willing to admit it. The feeling of always swimming with your nose just above the surface isn’t unusual. To have a mandated moment in time when everyone has to stop is a grand time for reflection.

I remember reading The Loudest Noise in the World when I was a kid. It was about the son of the king of a very powerful country. For his birthday, he decided that what he wanted more than anything was to hear the Loudest Sound in the World.

So the king, loathe to disappoint his offspring, commissioned every diplomat, every emissary, every other king and queen and president and world leader to require that at noon on his son's birthday, every living human being would make as much noise as each could possibly make. Every gun would be shot, every cannon would explode, bombs, pots and pans banged, people shouting, all at exactly noon on the boy's birthday. Because this was a fictional tale, the king also employed the animal kingdom — all of whom could not only understand the directive but also somehow tell time. The world, ordinarily at odds with each other, was miraculously unified in this task to create the Loudest Sound in the World. On his birthday, the boy was incredibly jacked up. He was to sit at the top of the highest tower of the castle and close his eyes. And the clock ticked slowly to the appointed time …5 …4 …3 …2 …1. And the boy was hit square in the eyes with the overwhelming and beautiful sound of… silence. As it turned out, every person, every animal, everything wanted to hear the Loudest Sound in the World and at the appointed time, every living creature on the planet held its breath and listened. And it was the most beautiful thing anyone had ever heard.

It is that sound we’re hearing now. To ignore it for more of the same noise we’ve become accustomed to is a mistake. We will be fooled again...and again...and again. Unless we take this awful, wonderful opportunity and rethink ourselves, the new boss will be the same as the old boss.

#Post Pandemically #The Loudest Sound in the World #Snowpiercer

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tobinifesi · 5 years ago

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The Word I Needed To Know Right Now

How Tom Hanks called my attention to the word that emphasizes the essence of these crazy times

Words are capable of demystifying and filling blank spaces.

If you walk into an empty hollow hallway in a forgotten and mysterious building in the middle of nowhere, your eyes will capture the nothingness that surrounds you and your brain will calculate the probability of something - someone or some creature - springing out from one of the hollow ends of the hallway. However, the moment you make a sound or utter a word, an echo fills the hallway, detaches you from your anxiety and reminds you that you are, in fact, safe; thus weakening the mystery of the empty space.

Sometimes, our minds are filled with such empty spaces. When this happens, there are gaps in our thought, comprehension and interpretation of our reality. Things don’t add up. The details don’t make sense. It becomes increasingly difficult to control the narrative. We are thrust into a world of uncertainty and unknowns. So much might be said but none of it resonates with you. This goes on until you stumble on a word - somewhere and somehow - that bridges the gap and fills the blank spaces.

Amidst the realities of the world today, I recently stumbled on a word. The word doesn’t necessarily solve the issue at hand but it gives me some much-needed perspective on the state of things as they are and have always been. Most importantly, it sets me on a path towards having a deeper understanding of the nature of our societies during pandemics like the COVID-19.

Before January 2020, I had never heard the word ‘coronavirus’ despite my academic background in the sciences. I may be wrong but I do not believe that it has ever been a popular term amongst laymen and biology undergraduates. Keep in mind that the word ‘coronavirus’ isn’t the word I’m referring to in my last paragraph (or in this article’s title and subtitle) but I found it interesting when I heard it. It was a novel word to me and so, as I lay in my bed on the evening of January 23, I googled the word ‘coronavirus’.

The first two Wikipedia pages I read agreed that the coronavirus wasn’t exactly a virus. It was actually “a group of related viruses that cause diseases in mammals and birds” and the novel coronavirus (now known as COVID-19) just happens to fall into that group. Suddenly, the news article I had been reading earlier that day about the Chinese government imposing a lockdown on Wuhan, the capital city of the Hubei province, began to make sense. The news made sense but the idea of locking down an entire city didn’t make much sense. I marvelled at the thought of a lockdown. At the time, I could barely imagine what that would look or feel like.

It seemed crazy to me.

I needed some clarity on the current situation meant for us in the long run. I wanted to know what the world might look like after almost half of its population are either advised or forced to stay within closed doors and away from each other.

As of March 23, I had been on a province-wide lockdown in British Columbia for 12 consecutive days. By this time, the World Health Organization had labelled the novel coronavirus a pandemic. Even after 12 days of staying at home, I was still a little bit confused about what all of this meant - and how it could affect our societies. There was no news of a possible end date for the stay-at-home mandate. Later that week, an article written by The Atlantic’s Joe Pinsker suggested four possible timelines for the pandemic. His best-case scenario was one to two months and his worst-case scenario was 18 months. Neither of the two timelines made sense to me. I needed some clarity on the current situation meant for us in the long run. I wanted to know what the world might look like after almost half of its population are either advised or forced to stay within closed doors and away from each other.

The 13th chapter of the biblical book of Leviticus describes the mosaic law regarding skin diseases - specifically, leprosy. The law is quite straightforward: once an individual has been diagnosed with a skin disease, “the priest is to isolate the affected person for seven days.” (Leviticus 13:4 NIV). With the proclamation of the mosaic law, isolation became the ideal response for dealing with skin (and many other forms of) diseases in those times. By the time Jesus Christ arrived on earth, isolation was still the norm. In Luke’s version of the gospel, as Jesus “was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” (Luke 17:12-13 NIV). Notice the verse suggests the lepers stood at a distance. They did so because they knew they ought not to come in close contact with others. Hence, isolation.

By the 14th century, isolation was still a thing. At the time, the bubonic plague was ravaging cities and communities across Europe and Asia. Measures had to be taken to curb the continued spread of the infection. One notable measure was taken by the port authorities at Ragusa (now known as Dubrovnik in Croatia.) The officials established a trentino that ordered the isolation of ships arriving at the port for a 30 day period. Within the next century, other European communities - like Venice, Genoa and Marseilles - began to introduce similar laws. During this time, the 30 day period was increased to 40 days. In other words, the trentino became a quarantino.

Quarantino (or Quarantine) is derived from the Italian word for 40, quaranta. Many historians have suggested that the introduction of the 40 day isolation period was inspired by the biblical or Christian references to and significance of a 40-day period. The observance of Lent, the great flood in the days of Noah, Moses’ stay on Mount Sinai, Jesus Christ’s fasting period in the Judean deserts and the period between his resurrection and ascension have one thing in common - they all happened in 40 days. Just as many historians believe there is a correlation here, many others dispute it.

Nevertheless, the term ‘quarantine’ was born from the terms ‘quarantino’ and ‘quaranta’ in the 14th century. Since then, many quarantine laws have been passed in several countries around the world and the outbreak of any major diseases always calls for such laws to be invoked. Quarantine laws were invoked in the 18th century when the yellow fever epidemic hit Philadelphia, in the 19th century when cholera epidemic arrived in Canada’s Quebec City, in 2003 during the SARS pandemic as 30,000 Torontonians were quarantined (although in Canada, the law was actually introduced in 2005, its stipulations were observed in 2003), in 2014 when the Liberian government ordered the isolation of a local neighbourhood called West Point during the Ebola outbreak, on January 23, 2020, in Wuhan, and on March 25, 2020, when Canada’s Minister of Health, Patty Hadju, ordered all travellers entering the country to be isolated for 14 days.

Despite being such a significant term over the last seven centuries, the word ‘quarantine’ and its fascinating history don’t shed much light on the essence of the times we are in. One thing is for sure: history is being written as we speak. Generations will speak of the plague that caused at least half of the world to stay indoors. The stories that are being lived out right now will inspire the creation of books, artworks, movies, documentaries and music that will ensure these moments aren’t easily forgotten. Yet, you can’t help but wonder what the world will look like then.

Like most people, when I heard about the coronavirus in January, I didn’t think much of it. I knew it was a tragedy in Wuhan but I didn’t think it would become a global tragedy - one that would have large-scale disastrous impacts on global healthcare systems, economies, infrastructures and laws. On March 1, I was on a phone call with my friend - Solace - and we agreed that a pandemic was coming. 10 days later, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, charactered the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic. Later that day, an NBA player - Rudy Gobert - tested positive for the disease and as a response, the NBA 2019-2020 season was suspended. The next day, Tom Hanks, his wife and Sophie Trudeau (the wife of Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau) all tested positive for the disease.

That day - March 12, 2020 - was the first day I heard the term ‘flatten the curve’. I heard it while listening to a live broadcast of British Columbia’s Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry’s daily coronavirus update. She had urged British Columbians to avoid large gatherings so we could ‘flatten the curve.’ Another novel term that didn’t make much sense to me and although I now understand the message behind the term, it does little to help me understand the depth or importance of the situation we are in. It wasn’t until four days later that I found the word I had been looking for.

Four days after announcing he had tested positive for COVID-19, Tom Hanks shared an Instagram post. In the post, the Cast Away actor attempted to encourage his 8.7 million followers by sharing a picture of some toasted bread slices covered with spreads of vegemite, accompanied by a caption that read:

“Thanks to the Helpers. Let’s take care of ourselves and each other. Hanx”

There it was. The word I needed to know.

In Hank’s caption was one word that put the puzzle together for me. The caption references a famous quote from one of the longest-running children’s television shows, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. On the show, the host - Fred Rogers - is quoted as saying,

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”

Decades later, this quote - specifically the line, “Look for the helpers.” - continues to be repeated and referenced during times of discomfort or shared crises.

Tom Hanks must have been acknowledging the helpers when he gave a nod to Rogers’ quote in his caption. By including the word ‘helpers’ in that caption, he was calling attention to the individuals around the world who have been and continue to risk their lives or provide essential services or assist the elderly or make key and life-saving decisions or share messages of hope and comfort or obey the law and stay at home to help curb the rapid spread of the diseases he had just tested positive for.

The word ‘helpers’ is the word I was looking for.

I am a Christian. I believe my help from God and the ultimate helper - the Holy Spirit - lives within me and gives me more peace than I can actually fathom. According to my belief, the Spirit of God in me counsels and comforts me - and for that, I am grateful. However, just as I believe there is a helper within me, I believe that there are even more helpers around me. Some are within my reach and others are far from it but, as Rogers said, I must look for them and acknowledge them.

As you read this, there are healthcare professionals around the world who are risking their lives to care for and treat patients who have been infected with COVID-19. The majority of these professionals are working without adequate resources, information, time or physical and mental energy. They are being stressed and stretched by the influx of patients storming into their workplaces. Many retired professionals have come out of retirement and the elderly amongst them - who are highly susceptible to being infected - are knowingly putting themselves in danger. These are the helpers.

There are community and world leaders who have been forced to make key decisions despite the fact that they can’t guarantee the outcomes. Presidents, prime ministers, premiers, governors, government officials, religious leaders, activists and heads of organizations and families who, despite being personally affected by the pandemic, must still lead and speak to and for their communities. They must listen carefully to experts, make the right calls, invoke the necessary laws, enforce orders, inspire hope in a seemingly hopeless situation, mourn the loss and sufferings of their community members and continue to do this regardless of how long the pandemic lasts. These are the helpers.

There are employers and employees who should be at home. If they had their way, they would be with their families indoors all day and far away from scenarios that could get them infected with these diseases. However, our communities need their services. As such, they risk their lives by continuing to work at the grocery stores, deliver food and essential items to our homes, protect our communities by maintaining law and order, work in call centres for healthcare and emergency services, be first responders to emergency situations, work as caregivers for children, the elderly and individuals with disabilities, serve in organizations that support vulnerable populations, immigrants and refugees, manufacture goods and provide services necessary to keep our infrastructure and industries in good condition, and document and share information through media outlets. These (and many other essential occupations not referenced here) are the helpers.

Yet, there you are.

You are baffled by this crisis. It has affected your daily routine, income, wellbeing, peace of mind, plans for the future, family and fellow community members. You are not sure what the future holds for your family, career or immediate plans or what to do while you’re home or how you will fend for yourself after being laid off or what will happen if you get infected. Despite this, you listen to healthcare experts, obey the laws invoked by your government, stay at home as much as possible, practice physical distancing if you must go out, encourage people in your communities by sharing messages of hope and refocusing their attention on information that edifies them, work or live in uncomfortable conditions for long periods of time, donate to or volunteer with organizations supporting vulnerable populations, check in on family members, friends, and those in isolation, pray and virtually support those who are anxious, ill, mourning the loss of loved ones or in need, and maintain your sanity in these crazy times. You are the helper.

No words can describe how much the world is hurting right now but I realize that I don’t need such adjectives. I need a noun that defines who we are, have always been and will be after the pandemic subsides. We are helpers and this is a call to the helpers. Humanity can’t survive without human beings and human beings can’t survive without help. The good news is that, in many ways, we are the help we need. Each and every human being is the helper we need right now. Humanity needs us to do our part. More than ever before, it needs us to unite and stay united. This is the essence of the times we are in - to remind us that we need each other.

By acknowledging the word that defines us, we can weaken and demystify the mystery of this pandemic. The echoes of our daily, and sometimes seemingly small, decisions and actions can fill the void and remind us that we are not alone. We are safe because we are helpers and are surrounded by helpers.

I believe that my help comes from God and a helper lives in me. Yet, it is equally important for me to acknowledge and call on the helper that I am and the helpers that are around me.

Helpers, help!

#COVID-19 #help #Pandemic #Canada #History

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pope-francis-quotes · 5 years ago

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10th April >> (@VaticanNews) #PopeFrancis #Pope Francis celebrates Passion of the Lord, as papal preacher reflects on Covid-19 pandemic

Pope Francis presides over the Celebration of the Passion of the Lord, with Fr Raniero Cantalamessa reflecting on the positive fruits that God draws forth from the coronavirus pandemic.

By Vatican News

The celebration of the Passion of the Lord took place on the evening of Good Friday in a near-empty St. Peter’s Basilica.

Pope Francis presided over the liturgy, which was live-streamed to the faithful across the world through media outlets and social media.

At the moment of the Adoration of the Holy Cross, only the Pope was able to venerate the Cross with a kiss, in compliance with measures to avoid the spread of Covid-19.

The Preacher of the Papal Household, Fr Raniero Cantalamessa, preached the Sermon, reminding everyone that God has plans for our welfare, and not woe, even in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

Below please find the full text of his Sermon:

“I HAVE PLANS FOR YOUR WELFARE AND NOT FOR WOE”

Sermon for Good Friday 2020 in St. Peter’s Basilica

***

They shall beat their swords into plowshares

and their spears into pruning hooks;

One nation shall not raise the sword against another,

nor shall they train for war again. (Is 2:4)

***

______________________________

Translated from Italian by Marsha Daigle-Williamson, Ph.D.

[1] Moralia in Job, XX, 1.

[2] John Paul II, Salvifici doloris [On the Meaning of Human Suffering], n. 23.

[3] https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/coronavirus-a-spiritual-message-from-brooklyn (Yaakov Yitzhak Biderman).

[4] See St. Augustine, Enchiridion 11, 3; PL 40, 236.

[5] Giovanni Pascoli, “I due fanciulli” [“The Two Children”].

[6] See St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologicae, II-IIae, q. 83, a. 2.

Topics

POPE FRANCIS

CORONAVIRUS

HOLY WEEK

LENT

LITURGY

10th April 2020, 19:03

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