Lockdown Lessons #2

Hello readers,

I know you’re probably thinking, how long is a day, seeing as in the last post I said “I’ll continue tomorrow” and then tomorrow never came! Until now, now tomorrow is today and I will let you into the two other lessons I have learned through lockdown.

Those of you who are regular to this blog will know that before lockdown started I made a load of ‘survival’ plans. I wrote about them here. My Type 2 enneagram brain, was on a roll! Lists were made, preparation was prepped(!) and I felt confident it would be ok. At that point I was thinking at the worst, I would have to self isolate for 14 days if I showed signs. Then I got mis-categorised and was told I couldn’t go further than my front garden. I was going to have to tell people I had need, I was going to have to let others help me, on top of the fear of loss of contact, I wasn’t sure I would stay emotionally well. This lasted just under a month.

I am so thankful for those lists. Not just because it helped me process and plan but because they allowed Jesus to speak peace to me. They showed me, that although I have been thinking about how I could help others, I could ask others of the same. In worrying about needing people to help me, I realised I taken my self back to the very tightrope of panic He had taken me from and allowed fear to enter my home again. I had to face this insecurity head-on and banish it!

People are Incredible

There have been so many showcases of amazing people throughout this era. The NHS staff, those who have baked and cared for people, neighbours sharing and looking out for each other, teachers who in 48 hours turned their life upside down and still turned up daily for work. Yes, there are those who perhaps we would use ‘incredible’ in a different format for. On those days I have had to remind myself, we are all reacting in fear of something, and fear can manipulate our thoughts, words, and actions.

Then there are those who have turned business around in a matter of days or weeks to serve their clientele – I include in this my place of work Brogdale CIC who manage a Cafe, College, Gardening Service, Day Service, and Youth work and adapted to changes as they seemingly daily, came about. I also must include Wasted Kitchen without who I think I’d have found life very difficult and who on Friday gave me the best dinner to date!

I am so thankful, for people who have text, called, left fish fingers (don’t ask), and chocolate bars on my doorstep. For people who have sent me care packages, bought my shopping, involved me in virtual choirs and dramas. For those who dressed up as Spice Girls on Zoom, organised quiz nights, gatecrashed a google hangout for my birthday(!). For neighbours, who checked in on me (and their cats who also appear to check in on me!); for friends who took time out to walk with me when I could take no more Zoom, for my church family who turned up at my door, organised outdoor communion, changed tyres. For the family who moments after the government announced social bubbles invited me around.

can you see me?

People are incredible and I thank God for all of you.

Hope is Constant

Finally above it all, I have learnt that I have a gift of hope. I think secretly I knew this but lockdown has not just shown me my weaknesses, it has given me a mirror to my strengths. Perhaps it is part of having prophetic gifting, there is always more to see; perhaps it is just a gift all Christians have but don’t always access. All I know is, no matter how low I get, hope always finds me and draws me back to the surface. Hope is my constant and Hope has a name: Jesus

Hope has a name

In my last post, I was thinking about how lockdown had helped people find out what was important to them and how I didn’t think this true for me. I still stand on that, I think I knew what was important and I was scared that it would be taken from me. What lockdown has done is heightened what I am passionate about; music, overcoming, people (good food) & hope. This has been my story.