(photo Kelly Burke)
It seems that we are all at least a little preoccupied with the virus of the year. If we could think back to Christmas and New Years time it would be hard to imagine where we are today. Things move rapidly these days.
Karen our Bureau Chief in Cambridge, England expressed some fear this morning in her post. Well, yes we are all a little unhinged as I put it. So, I thought that I would keep her in mind as I write today to give my thoughts some direction. I will be writing mainly to her there on another continent across the Atlantic.
It seems to me that the main culprit in these times is uncertainty. The stock market hates it and it shows. We all hate it, some more than others. It really messes with our standard everyday mind that appreciates the statis quo that likes the trains to run on time.
But consider two things Karen, two reminders. One is that most all of us that are reading this have spent enough days on the Camino to understand the idea of the Camino provides. Yes? We know how that works. And we know that is with us today right here, right now still. Just a reminder that we have to remain trusting that things will work out for the best.
And two, for characters like us who have been dealing with cancer or other serious maladies we know about uncertainty to the max. Right, we already have our doctorate in this one. Remember what works for you. Maybe, quelling panic. Maybe navigating to avoid getting overwhelmed. Maybe, doing a good job at one thing at a time. Maybe, celebrating our small victories. At least those are my tricks.
And of course we have to buoy each other up in our walk. There is no substitute for this. It just is important. And as a foundation to all this is a belief that God loves us and walks with us in whatever “valley of the shadow of death” we happen to find ourselves.
This is us, we are the tough ones. This is our secret that is no big secret. This is the Way.
with you loves, Felipé.
Ahhh. Thank you for this. I’ve had a good day met with my cancer support gang on just this topic. It’s been a challenging month, my recurrence is spreading very slowly, I lost a good friend and another (who has my kind of cancer) is in the hospital and unlikely to come out and now Coronavirus.
I’m trying to still live my life albeit with hand washing! But an old college friend who lives in Santa Cruz wrote me this morning. Her and her hubby have decided to isolate until it’s all over. They have supplies for four months.
I’m not ready for that. I am sticking a couple of weeks food in the cupboard. And I’m grateful I’m not in treatment right now.and I’m trying to be kind to myself. To sleep. To make good food.
And I’m reading about the Camino… healing dream.
K
Karen ~ strange times, yes. Be strong, be steady. Let’s believe in each other. Felipé.x
Dear Phil,
What a tender post, Boss! I haven’t read Karen’s but I can imagine what she wrote. All of us are right now confused and overwhelmed about the coronavirus. And I have noted too that there are a lot of people who are on the other side, like disregarding what is going on. What we need is a middle point: to be realistic, this is a viral disease that seems to be spreading too quickly, that seems to cause a serious disease in some groups, but it doesn’t mean the end of the world.
What means is that we have to be cautious. How much cautious we should be? What kindness tells us.
With this I try to say that I see the virus as the best opportunity we can have as a humanity to care for the others. If instead of thinking that we may get coronavirus and we could think that we have already it, what would we do to avoid the other to get sick too? I think of all those moments that you, my dear friend and teacher, may have thought to yourself with a dear friend in mind “I am so glad you don’t have to go through this”. So what if we do have the opportunity in our hands to avoid passing on the disease to someone else? Would we be complaining about cancelled flights? would we be complaining that we cannot go to the movies? would we be unhappy for staying at home and cancelling our activities with our friends? … I am convinced I would not.
And what if we are the ones who are healthy, and have not gotten the disease, could we be kind to our neighbors who maybe, have to be locked out, and do some groceries for them? can we just think that if we all will end lock out as it is happening right now in Italy, that we can buy the groceries we may need and leave some in the shelves for our neighbors who will be in the same situation than us?
This is the best opportunity we have, globally, regionally, as a community, as neighbors, as individuals, to be kind, considerate and caring for the ones who are around us, whether we know them or not.
Fear of getting sick or our loved ones getting sick is part of life. And not of the coronavirus infection only, there are lots of other things threatening to kill us, some already doing it, and we still keep going. I am not underestimating the risk by no means, I think it is actually quite serious, but I think that if we act with kindness, we can not only take care of ourselves and the others better, but also get a 24 hours infusion of the best antidote to fear, that is kindness.
To me, this would be like in the Camino, when after a late dinner, we would be entering to the bedroom, dark, all the pilgrims sleeping… we would be so quiet, so gentle, so caring (all attributes of kindness) to avoid awaking any of them. We know we can do it. And we know that we learned a lot from that experience. I can only imagine how much we can learn from this coronavirus outbreak.
With loving kindness,
Cris
Cris ~ you are something friend. You are the first voice to say that this outbreak is an opportunity! I see that. I’m working on that now that you have planted that idea in me. i will maybe write more later. Felipé.x
Dear Karen,
I am cheering for you from the Southern Hemisphere. If you look southwest, I am the one who is waving you!
I am happy to have Camino talks anytime, if you have the need to talk to a new pilgrim and imagine you just met outside your home, we can fake that via FaceTime!
Virus free hugs
Cris
Cris, Phil, wonderful inspiring words from you both. It’s so wonderful to be connected to this circle of pilgrims. I’m so coming to believe that this whole life we are all walking is a pilgrimage to our true selves. A chance to simply be and know who we are.
Last night in my dreams I walked the Frances into Astorga and met Ron and Anne. We were all on our way to a healing retreat….woke up feeling held by the Spirit of the Way and this circle.
K
Karen ~ Marvelous! Can you quote you on this: “I’m so coming to believe that this whole life we are all walking is a pilgrimage to our true selves.” And “A chance to simply be and know who we are.” And your dream… Wow! We are really getting connected. Felipé.x