Pandemic Prose by Sharon Heagy

 

With each step my boots crunched and squeaked on the snow and gravel mix on the grid road. It was a beautiful March afternoon during the first Covid shutdown. Gazing up at the clear blue expanse above, I realized something was missing. It was almost eerie. The sky was completely devoid of contrails, the white paths that crisscross behind commercial jets. Yet, as I closed my eyes and turned my face to feel the increased warmth of the sun, a sure sign of Spring, I could hear the trilling of a horned lark who had recently returned to Canada – no testing, no papers no passport required. The sun was still rising and setting, the earth was still spinning. Creation was carrying on as it always has, in God’s guiding hand. What a comfort to know that this current collapse of mankind was no surprise to God.  He would see us through to the other side.

That Spring many people were at home, painting, cleaning, building, cooking, reading and napping. There were many encouraging stories of people developing new skill sets and trying new activities they had never considered before. Covid cooking groups and Maritime Kitchen Party music sites popped up on social media. But here on the farm we were involved in a very unusual spring harvest caused by an early Fall snow. About one third of our crop was still in the field and we needed to get it off before seeding. While the rest of the world was put on hold, it seemed like little changed for us in terms of seeing people and being busy. When were able to meet in small groups again and heard shutdown stories, I found myself almost envious of those who had accomplished so many, wide and varied projects.

Though in person get togethers were verboten, we ‘saw’ much more of our families than we usually do as we Zoomed away. What a blessing technology can be. People were able to reach their loved ones anywhere in the world to find out how they were doing. How different from the pandemic of 1918-20.

            Surgeries for many were delayed, but when my husband needed emergency surgery to re-attach his snapped his quad tendon and when I needed a mastectomy to lop off the cancer from my body, the system didn’t fail us and God’s presence was tangible through it all. Was it different? Very. I never saw a doctor in person until the day of my surgery. Though I saw many technicians to confirm their hypothetical diagnoses, I only spoke to doctors on the phone. Yet we could not have asked for better care.

When we began our journey, the hospital staff gave excellent care but their stress level was palpable, some coping better than others. But as we progressed with appointments over the next year, staff morale had noticeably improved. There were more smiles and laughter added to their quiet, kind, efficient care. It was evident that God created us with an inner resilience and a creative mind to help us find new pathways for coping in times of trouble.

    Please understand, I am not trying to gloss over the extreme difficulties faced by many, especially those in Long Term Care homes whose decline in health was not only attributed to this awful illness but to lack of human contact. Those whose mental health declined for similar reasons including school aged children. We wept and prayed for people who lost jobs and businesses, families and relationships and, saddest of all in my opinion, for those who died alone. But a multitude of people were stepping up to the plate, delivering groceries and medicine to those now shut in. People found a way to visit loved ones through a window or on an iPad, new ways to share encouragement and words of hope. Humanity helping one another in practical ways, providing sustenance physically, mentally and spiritually. Random acts of kindness abounded and provided hope in a world turned upside down. Through the devastation, there was hope, through the darkness, light. How vast the grace and mercy of God.

 

Note - Covid enabled me to attend conferences that I would not have been able to attend in person, including Inscribe’s Fall Conference because they were online. What a gift.