While we are physically distancing due to COVID-19, Louise Powell, member at Northway Uniting Church who is currently undertaking a Period of Discernment with the Uniting Church WA, reflects on the ‘time out’ many of us have been given.
Are we on a massive ‘time out’?
Maybe we can, during this time of COVID-19 physical distancing, take time to reflect on life and what we really need and want – where it is not going to cost another person or generation anything…
As a world, I feel like we are being put on a grand ‘time out’ – to be made, to be still, to hopefully quieten our souls and check in with our hearts and mind, and allow our spirit to guide us through reflection on all that has come before now.
Is this really the life and the way want to live?
I believe we have been teetering between established and emerging generations that represent a period in time in history. Where there is a marked ‘change of an era’ of cultural, environmental, industrial, intellectual, justice, material, religious, spiritual and social change.
The Earth is telling us – giving us signs – that the way we are living is not in balance; it is not sustainable. Yet, we are more interested in the drama of it, coveting and protecting against loss – comfort, convenience, lifestyle, position, power, privilege, status and wealth – when we need to act.
There are principles and laws in operation, whether we believe them to be there or not. We are in a time of the counter correct. How far the pendulum swings is up to us.
How we choose to engage with this massive ‘time out’ can be a sheer and blessed opportunity. We have been given time to reflect and embrace positive change; given time to create and develop new habits, simplified dematerialised living, getting into open pastures and nature and to choose life and all things living first.
To choose to care, to choose to participate, to choose to belong and embrace a collective community outcome. To stop the pendulum from needing to hit the widest arch of counter correction.
What are you gaining, or going to choose? To tantrum and lose your mind to the frivolous? Or are you going to engage and welcome this time out and let it work its way through you?
Will you let it, the time out, infect you? To change you in a way that brings you to the positive side for sustained, simple meaning-filled life – a life of otherness inclusive of self; being considerate, equitable and inclusively thinking, “what can I do and how can I live in a way that will benefit the communities I’m in and environment around me?”
We are being given time; time to prepare and act out changes. Some are on a much steeper isolation and learning curve; the curve where many lives are being lost to COVID-19. Fortunately, many are coming out into recovery too.
We are in a place to choose to be COVID-19 pandemic survivors together, though distanced and isolated. We can emerge radically transformed to live, bless and heal our communities and Earth.
What will you choose? Which side will you walk out on and with whom will we be journeying?
Top image: Camino Salvado: The Pilgrims Trail. Photo by Louise Powell August 2019