COVID-19 LOCKDOWN – A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

 By Mere Fong

Confusion, panic, fear, hysteria, claustrophobia…..my world had literally closed in on me! Had it not been for the internet, television and phone lines, I would probably also have died! Everything around me had shut down. As days turned into weeks, I found myself missing the primary school bell next door, the teacher’s amplified voice over the sound system, the 3 o’clock laughter and noisy chatter of home-bound children on the driveway next door, driving off with every intent to point A and wondering how I had arrived conveniently at point B instead; and strangely enough, even missing the despicable wild outbursts and random screaming and swearing from the heavily intoxicated bus stop group at odd hours of the night. The absence of seemingly ‘normal things’ suddenly became starkly noticeable. The churches were closed and I could neither go to Mass, nor to my sacred hour before the Blessed Sacrament on Thursdays, nor to sector/parish gatherings! I could not go to school! Although I was able to meet with my students and colleagues online, it was not the same. I missed my cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. I was groping in the dark! I was frustrated and angry! 

Then, from deep within the turmoil and silence, an encounter with Scripture; “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Needless to say, a glimmer of light pierced the darkness of my world. I was consumed by the AOS daily Reflections, live-streamed Eucharistic Adoration and Mass…on a daily basis! I found myself rising from the ashes, as the Scriptures and the homilies we heard throughout the lockdown spoke powerfully to our situation. It was uplifting, empowering and priceless! It inspired and encouraged time for family intimacy and prayer, and as adult children brought their varied life experiences to the table, the opportunity also to continue our family catechism! I must add that sharing confined living spaces, following the same restrictive routine, and (dare I say!) bumping into the same faces day in and day out, was quickly becoming a novel experience which challenged every creative bone in us! Amongst other things like building a wall cabinet and planting, we were also able to achieve a life-long family dream to record some of our songs, which we did! 

Then the raw realities of job losses set in and we were faced with the ensuing struggles of the families around us. At parish level a one-off supply of food packs was distributed throughout the parish in May. Small communities were then challenged to sustain the assistance in creative ways. Our community leader visited all the homes in our community, both Catholic and non-Catholic/Christian, and gathered the data we needed. Volunteers then came forward and sponsored families as necessary, by supporting their efforts to meet their basic needs: food and school requirements. We envisage this support continuing by the grace of God, until such a time as the families are able to regain reasonable self-reliance. We have since enjoyed sharing each other’s company and this has included a few bowls of yaqona and a meal. This is Eucharist! 

Glory to God!