OF BOATS AND STORMS

A friend of mine shared the following post yesterday, and it resonated with my heart. A quick google search showed that it has been making its rounds on the internet, but the original author is unknown.  It has been added to, edited and modified several times, the version I share below is the one I read.

These words arrived as the forecast was for a beautiful week of sunshine and with it a ray hope as we heard the plan for the slow reopening our the Colorado economy and a gradual ending of the stay at home order.  

I heard that we are all in the same boat, but it’s not like that. We are in the same storm, but not in the same boat. Your ship could be shipwrecked and mine might not be. Or vice versa.

For some, quarantine is optimal. A moment of reflection, of re-connection, easy in flip flops or pajamas, with a cocktail or coffee. For others, this is a desperate financial & family crisis and you don’t know if you will survive it or where your next meal will come from.

For some that live alone they’re facing endless loneliness and depression. While for others it is a peaceful time full of rest & time to get caught up with things you’ve neglected or time with their spouse, mother, father, sons & daughters.

With the $600 weekly increase in unemployment some are bringing in more money to their households than when they were working. Others are working more hours for less money due to pay cuts, hours cut, or loss in sales.

Some families of 4 just received $3400 from the stimulus while other families of 4 saw $0 and are still anxiously waiting.

Some were concerned about getting certain candy for Easter while others were concerned if there would be enough bread, milk and eggs for the weekend.

Some want to go back to work because they don’t qualify for unemployment and are running out of money and need to pay their bills. While others (both those still earning a paycheck and those who are not) want to kill those who break the quarantine.

Some are spending 2-3 hours/day helping their child with online schooling while others are spending 2-3 hours/day to educate their children on top of a 10-12 hour workday. Some are teachers trying to juggle teaching kiddos online while holding down their own home and teaching their own children all while holding a baby on their hip.

Some have experienced the near death of the virus, some have already lost someone from it and some are not sure if their loved ones are going to make it. Others don’t believe this is a big deal or think it’s some kind of a conspiracy.

Some are extremely worried about the elderly. Some think because the majority of the people dying are elderly, it’s ok to go out and make the risk higher for them as if their lives don’t matter.

Some have faith in God and expect miracles during this 2020. Others say the worst is yet to come. Some don’t believe in God or believe in a different higher power and hope things will eventually get better.

So, friends we are not in the same boat. We are in the same storm but even the storm looks different for everyone. We are going through a time when our perceptions and needs are completely different.

Each of us will emerge, in our own way, from this storm, but we will all emerge different and with a new normal. It is very important to see beyond what is seen at first glance. Not just looking, actually seeing.

We are all different ships during this storm experiencing a very different journey. Let’s be kind to each other and respectful of those different journeys.

How about we love each other and extend grace, mercy, kindness, and smiles…even if they are hidden under our masks.