We are now in a series of unlocking the Lockdown, which is a positive step towards reclaiming our normal life. The resultant Lockdown amidst protest and support brought about by the deadly novel coronavirus becomes a worldwide phenomenon, which had jeopardized our way of life for more than half of this year.
Let’s not debate about the origin of Covid-19, which was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation affected each of us in several ways. It gives one a grateful heart for being spared as we’ve seen the numbers of death and active cases climbing relentlessly.
The wisdom of humankind can’t do much at the face of this staggering attack among the inhabitants of the earth irrespective of caste and creed, wealth, and poverty.
It is time now, I think, it suits best to talk of how we spent the Lockdown periods imposed in various countries around the world.
1. How does it affect your rights, liberty, or freedom?
Living in an independent country with full rights, liberty, and freedom is the goal of mankind since the very beginning. Most of the counties and citizens of the world enjoy this freedom in this contemporary world.
However, there is a sudden jolt to our projects, livelihood, developmental works, and protecting humanity. We stayed home to keep ourselves safe and our immediate neighbors. In reality, we’re afraid this pandemic might wipe us out. Our movement becomes limited; our way of life becomes sluggish at some level. Partying with our mask on wouldn’t be fun enough.
2. Sudden Change in Lifestyle:
The excruciating pain of following the new developments with regards to the pandemic is tiresome. Every morning statistics of the cases and death as per data collected by the World Health Organisation and several news agencies get alarming.
With the few pennies in our pockets we have on the night of the announcement of Lockdown in our city, we bought some essential commodities so that we do not face danger by running out of rations at least for some days or weeks or months. We hardly venture out after that.
3. Spending Quality Times with our Precious Ones:
The Lockdown becomes a good opportunity for spending time with our loved and precious ones. Each day and night were spent closely keeping watch with the devastation caused by the pandemic.
Since no one ventured out of the house, it is a special time that is given to us to spend our time talking and getting to know each other. For those of us with young children, it becomes a good time teaching and answering their questions about life and beyond.
4.Time in the Hospital:
The unexpected turns of events had let many people ending up in the hospital – both as a patient and a dedicated worker. The positive patients ended up spending huge chunk of the year or Lockdown period in the hospital. Hospital stay was never comfortable.
Still, as we watch the data inputs and the statistics large number of lives were lost not returning back to their home. In some countries, the ruling government simply played the blame game politics over dead bodies. They must have been bucked up in their administration.
Since my wife is a health worker, she and her co-worker had spent most of the Lockdown period in the hospital taking care of the sick. Their working hours got twisted in these pandemic. When the roads and the streets were empty I’ve drove them to their workplace as they also have to take utmost care to themselves and their family in this tumultuous period.
5. What do you Anticipate?
In the course of the lockdown period, it is important to keep our minds encouraged and anticipate what to do when it opened up. Joseph in the Bible had anticipated better things from God while working as a slave or while he was in prison for no fault of his. Genesis 39 & 40
He anticipated good tidings after the famine. What do you anticipate for you and your family? I’m very sorry to state here that many of you would lose your loved ones to the pandemic. May you be comforted and your mourning is turned to joy if you anticipate good things in the future. What do you anticipate during the Lockdown Period.
6. Physically locked down but Set Free Spiritually:
I likened it to the time when the Son of God visited mankind in his physical being. We lockdown by our sins and under the rule of the darkness. Yet he set free the souls that believe in him.
Their freedom is not the way they expected. But they remained content just by witnessing his grace and mercy. Not all had this privilege since they rejected him.
In the process, many people are locked down physically during these hard times while many are set free by the spirit. They have peace in their heart, which no one can steal away from them. They seek him and they did found him.
7. A Long Way of Spiritual Journey
In this hard time, a certain number of people had progressed on their journey with their Savior. They walked more closely with him. It is a good time for those who are lonely at heart for they are comforted by the spirit.
Many had walked a long walk with the Lord. We step closer to our God for we do not know when is our time coming. We might not panic but we want to get ready at all times. Blessed are those people who walk with the Lord!
8. Bonding and Family Fatigue
While scanning through the news almost every hour in a day it is sad to know many families had developed the so-called family fatigue. There have been reports of a rising number of domestic violence over the world.
On the flip side, many couples and or people in their relationships rediscover their love blooming into a beautiful atmosphere in the quarantine center or in their home where they are isolated.
9. Insecurity and Grief
Due to the surrounding silence and unpromising nature of the future in different sectors, many are affected psychologically. The reports os us heading economic depression brought in insecurity in the human mind. Mental health becomes a huge issue.
Grieving at this time seems worst than normal times. There were ‘no or very less’ person who could pay physical homage to the departed souls. However, the comforting Holy Spirit remains the same.
10. Financial loss, job loss, and uncertain future
Let me take these three together as they are correlated with each other. One may go through financial loss due to job loss or lay down policy of their employer in the process of downsizing their company to survive the uncertain future.
Many were hugely affected by the closed down of workplaces and the chance of reviving them was grim. Do you spend the Lockdown worrying lots about the future? The world is always facing a close-down, find peace in your God.
11. Homemade food popularity, home-baked.
Be happy if you’re still baking; it means you are not running out of food items and you are still eating what you desire. Due to the Lockdown affect many are running out of work and their source of income remained terminated.
Your impressive work might leave viewers salivating uncontrollably. As time goes by their palate becomes less impressive of anything or they become allergic to it.
12. Learning the DIYs of Living in a Bio-bubble
Living in Bio-bubble is what we called the new normal. As we continue to carry on with living with the virus still not disappearing from the face of the earth. We are busy learning DIYs of almost everything which becomes a popular trend for survival and the best way to spend the Lockdown period.
As the unlocking of the Lockdown takes place steadily in most of the world, people become innovative to adapt to the new normal of life. In that way, DIYs can save us from unnecessary spending of our money.
13. Questioning God – willing or unknowingly raising arguments
Why did the good Lord allow this to happen? God is love, you say, some started arguing. Some of the arguments although are in our mind while some have the time to carry out forward.
Our journey will vary. This is not the end of time nor the end of difficulties. These are for his glory. We come to the destruction of the diminutive virus which until now we are unable to develop the vaccine or cure. A deep-thinking mind with an open heart by now will discover the glory of our Creator.
14.Vulnerability of Chronic person:
There are many queries in the online community of whom we were suffering chronic illness. The question asked by many if their safety and vulnerability. There is scarcity of healthcare and medication other than the prevailing pandemic.
However, the hope and security of many patients remain unmoved because of a strong support system even during the pandemic. I have already talked about it here, in my previous post.
15. How do you tackle a day’s trouble that has brought you up or down to this day?
This is the question I want to ask each one of you. Your answer will give us the courage to face the world. Even if you think you are not living up to the mark there will be lessons to learn.
As for us, we started our day with prayer and end with thanksgiving and prayer. We prayed for the blood of the Lamb to cover us through these hard times. It is the angels of God guarding us. So, we did not have constant fear.
16. What is your next step?
Lastly, as we continue living in the bio-bubble, it is challenging and arduous at the same time.
We can live joyfully or also live a dull life. It is high time we seek peace and love each other thereby working together for a better future.
The uncertain future becomes more uncertain today. But as we put our trust in the Lord our next step will be determined by him.
You may add your Lockdown experience according to your choices. Together we will give a new definition of life.
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