Warm Greeting!

By Rhiannonw

Mon, 27 Jul 2020
  • 1188 reads
6 comments
 

A handshake,
or kiss —
    don’t touch!
    no skin contact!
a hug —
    too close!
elbow nudge,
shoulder grip —
    keep apart!
warm smile —
    wear a mask!
Locked eyes still try,
muffled words,
cheerful tone,
hand signals,
text or email:

lonesomeness spreads.
[IP: The New Normal]

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Comments

Submitted by Tom Brown on

"Lonesomeness spreads" is very true it was seen to be the disease of the times even before Covid19 it is a terrific social problem. People are social beings it is so. I was just wondering Rhiannon you being such a big church person, what are the measures taken by your church apparantly it is quite a problem here especially as goes funerals? Marraiges?

Keep well, look after yourself! Tom

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Yes, come the autumn it could be very lonely for Mums with young children if toddler groups and soft-play areas cant reopen.

Churches are now allowed to reopen, but with the congregation very spread out, and no singing. Marriages and funerals are limited in numbers still I think. When the churches couldn't open at all, ours and many others started having services either on 'zoom' or youtube. Our pastor puts his sermon on youtube every Sunday morning and in the evening we have zoom time of share and prayer. Mid week has been zoom, with sometimes the Bible study on Youtube. Next week we hope to start having a midweek meeting back in the church, but link it to zoom I think so others who can't attend can join in. They hope to start live services at the chapel building at the end of August, but again, live-streaming it in some way so that those who can't attend because of frailtiy of health or age etc can 'join in'. Such an odd situation. We make CDs of the internet sermons for those who aren't on the internet, and of course keep in touch by phone and writing!

I gather things are rather tough in South Africa at present. Rhiannon

 

 

Submitted by Tom Brown on

Thanks it is very interesting I think churches here do the same kind of thing. And yes things look very bad here and there's all kinds of in-fighting etc. At the start people were very scared and there was all this talk of unity, and now people are not so scared anymore everybody is bickering and making accusations and throwing insults and criticism while numbers just suddenly picked up and going through the roof. But you probably know as well as I do.

And even now still they persist with this stupidity that cigarettes cannot be sold, this business is going to backfire badly.

It is a bit uncomfortable with the church hey? That's another thing if you look at sect and not mainstream, people are not cooperating partly because of irrational beliefs. You can imagine it is a matter of faith and people are very gullible and get carried away and those doomsday stuff and revelations and end of the world. So who cares about social restrictions? And on the other side of the scale poverty hunger and desperation.

See you, keep well Rhiannon. Tom

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

You speak of many things. There's a lot of 'blame game' of those honestly struggling to make wise decisions, not easy to always understand the issues until later. And the main concern needs to be protecting life, keeping the hospital services working, and looking after those in real poverty. We need to pray for those in authority trying to make the day to day decisions, and for those working for vaccines etc and for many to find God's care in all.

It is uncomfortable to have restrictions on worship services, but true Christians are knowing the support of their Father in all.

You will always get some who think they know more than scripture and don't want to obey reasonable government restrictions. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Isn't it crazy how this time last year if you'd said we would be in the throes of a pandemic a year on nobody would have believed it. I remember thinking back when this all started how glad I am to be retired without the problems of loosing a job or looking for one. 

Can you imagine then how hard it must be for those with children, and the worry of loosing a job and paying bills with added pressure of covid too. Life certainly isn't getting any easier and I wonder how much harder it's going to get. 

Our town in Swindon is starting to feel like a ghost town with all the shops closing down, even our Sainsbury's in town could close and I never thought I'd see that day. When I lived in town it was where I did my local shopping and also where I'd meet people I knew and have a chat, but no more.

I was talking to the checkout girl on the tills and she was so fed up with having to wear a mask all day while working, it makes it hard to communicate. Can you imagine wearing one all day? It's another reason I'm glad I'm retired.

Come the Autumn it will be cooler and me and my partner can't wait to get out on the ridgeway again and go to the forest. Just the thought of being in nature has me excited. I bet you will be out walking again in the fresh air. Oh well for now it's just a case of having patience and waiting.

I did find your poem appropriate to how I'm feeling.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Strange situations can arise suddenly like a hurricane. From when the crisis first struck, I've been so reminded of the beginning of Psalm 46: 'God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.' – symbol pictures of really great unexpected troubles that can really threaten to engulf. And a real refuge is appreciated, who can be trusted through all.

I haven't been able to get out walking because of a difficult health issue, but hope soon I'll be able to again, and then it will be so appreciated! Rhiannon