During the past week I received the following in a WhatsApp from one of my friends. I do not know who wrote it, but I think it is an excellent description of the current situation.
“Never have I seen such a mess in life
The air is pure but wearing a mask is mandatory
Roads are empty but it is impossible to go on a long drive
People have clean hands but there is a ban on shaking hands
Friends have time to sit together but they cannot get together
The cook inside you is crazy, but you cannot call anyone to lunch or dinner
On every Monday the heart longs for the office, but the weekend does not seem to end
Those who have money have no way to spend it
Those who don’t have money have no way to earn it
There is enough time on hand, but you can’t fulfil your dreams
The culprit is all around but cannot be seen
A world full of irony, so be positive and stay (virus) negative”
Use the internet
Because we are only allowed limited traveling and not allowed to gather in groups or even with friends or clients in a coffee shop, we all turn to the internet. We Skype, we Zoom, we WhatsApp, do church on YouTube and whatever to stay in contact with other people.
We really need each other.
Bottle neck
One thing though that I became increasingly aware of during these last couple of weeks is that the price of data has a severe limiting effect on the extent to which we can access or participate on the aforementioned platforms. One can almost say that we are held ransom by the suppliers of data. Many people would say I cannot attend a certain meeting or I cannot talk long because I’ll run out of data.
It has become like a bottle neck that limits your ability to socialise.
# No man is an island
Yet, as I mentioned earlier, we are social beings and we need each other. In 1962 Ricky Nelson released a song I Need You where he sings to his girlfriend “No man is an island and I need you, honest I do.” I believe that our need for interaction with other people, besides our significant others, are similar – no one is an island.
Groups in society
That is why we love to participate in team sports or we join some or other club or society where we feel valued and accepted. That is why strong families are important in any society because children need to grow up knowing they are accepted, valued and loved. We all have need of that.
At work
Also at work, every worker has need for encouragement and recognition which is something not to be forgotten when each employee works from his or her home.
We still need that sense of community.
At church
Also churches fulfil that role. It is a place where we meet with like-minded people for a common purpose. In Hebrews 10:24-25 we learn “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another.”
At present, although churches broadcast services via YouTube, the difficult part is to still connect with members in a significant way. That’s why I really appreciated a phone call from my Pastor today.
So let each of us follow the Pastor’s example and take time to make those calls to our friends, colleagues and family, because – no one is an island.
Maybe after this time of turmoil, you’ll be looking for a job or business that will better match your personality. If you are that person, a Career Direct Assessment (available online) will help you find the right direction. It will not only show who you are, but will also point you in the right direction.
