Easter

When I first heard about the Corona virus related social distancing I didn’t give it much thought. All I thought that it was good to reduce the chance of infecting others, good to make us all aware that this pandemic requires changes in our lifestyle.

What happens to humanity when whole cities are taken hostage and hospitals are flooded by patients who can’t breathe. People in the countryside feel protected by distance, living their lives in touch with nature away from the rat race of city life.

The inability to visit elderly parents (to prevent infection), makes me painfully aware and reminds me of what isolation can do to people. Isolation has many forms. When any of the senses is not working, we feel deprived of sensations that make us happy.

Touch is just one of these, and many experience lack of touch through social distancing for the first time. But what about smell, hearing, seeing? What about people who don’t have the strength to go out, travel and stay in touch with their loved ones and nature....

My recent experience with losing much of my muscle mass during 6 days recovery from surgery is described by Corona patients after leaving the IC unit. Inability to move around freely due to other reasons than a pandemic is also ‘normal’ for chronically ill.

Let’s be mindful of this experience and not forget these lessons after life returns back to normal. We can continue to care for our fellow man, forget our differences or not let our ego or nationality get in the way. We could make some drastic survival decisions because its good for our planet as well.

It’s Easter. It’s a time to remember He who died at the cross for us. We are asked by Him to carry the torch and spread the light. We are all capable to radiate care, warm the hearts of those in need, and reach out to the ones who feel isolated.

We are capable to change our lifestyle when the reasons are compelling enough, or.... when change is brought upon us by nature. Those no longer strong enough to fight new and old diseases pass on. We know this, yet, why are we caught off-guard?