Easter Week Despite COVID-19
Despite the ongoing social distancing, economic slowdown, and financial market turmoil, it's still Easter Week. We're all here in the midst of one of the most grace-filled weeks of the Liturgical Year.
Are you celebrating?
I'm doing my best to keep the Resurrection front and center in my daily spiritual exercises, even throughout the workday. Despite the massive impact of this Coronavirus, we can all do this.
Of course, even in more normal times, it's not always been easy to keep the Resurrection front and center in my heart and mind, especially when I'm busy at work. But I try. We can all try.
If you, like me, are working more or less normally, then this week's experience will more closely mirror a normal Easter Week. But added to the usual busy-ness of the workday, you may be dealing with additional distractions:
Each day includes thoughts of family and friends who remain "distanced" - even if they live close by. I want to stay in touch. That means taking breaks to contact them in one way or another. FaceTime, always a special treat, has been a godsend during this time of separation. We even used Zoom once to have a kind of virtual "family gathering." We've occasionally used Zoom for work purposes too.
Meanwhile, the workload hasn't lightened up much. When things occasionally do get slower, it does afford some downtime for making contact. But you still have to keep your discipline or the day flies by and - lo and behold - you're behind the eight ball scrambling to catch up with work tasks.
As always, one thing leads to another: If you don't manage your time and stay on top of things, you'll also find that the awesome glory of the Resurrection may slip out of sight, out of mind. Don't let it happen.
If, on the other hand, you're out of a job, or been furloughed because of the Coronavirus, you perhaps may be facing some special challenges during this Easter Week. Being out of a job is never easy. And with our current economic slowdown - for some industries, a shutdown - prospects for employment may be slim. I know if I were facing this situation right now I'd find it daunting. It can weigh you down, in some cases cause you to feel depressed.
Some things to keep in mind:
First, you're not alone - if that helps. Unemployment numbers have surged far beyond those during the last financial crisis in 2008. In fact, they may turn out to be worse than numbers seen in the Great Depression. So it shouldn't surprise you if you're feeling a bit overwhelmed. When I and other members of my family have faced the financial and emotional effects of unemployment in my life, we've always found support amongst each other. Besides emotional support, financial support may be available.
You should never feel shy about expressing your concerns and/or distress to your family (assuming you have reasonably good relationships with family members) under any circumstances. But our current circumstances are, by any measure extreme - the most extreme any of us has faced in our lifetimes.
Heck, my auto insurance company granted an unexpected 15% credit towards my premium this go-round. If a basically anonymous corporation can extend a generous hand, why not family?
Our Lord's Resurrection showed us the reality of eternal life. While it's not always easy to see in the midst of our daily grind or in the throes of being unemployed, we need to remind ourselves that all of this - whatever it is in your circumstances - will pass. Some day, none of this will matter. But the resurrection He promised to each of us will.
Turn to Him now, in His glory. Seek comfort in His promise of eternal life.
Christ is risen! Allelujah!
Are you celebrating?
I'm doing my best to keep the Resurrection front and center in my daily spiritual exercises, even throughout the workday. Despite the massive impact of this Coronavirus, we can all do this.
Of course, even in more normal times, it's not always been easy to keep the Resurrection front and center in my heart and mind, especially when I'm busy at work. But I try. We can all try.
If you, like me, are working more or less normally, then this week's experience will more closely mirror a normal Easter Week. But added to the usual busy-ness of the workday, you may be dealing with additional distractions:
Each day includes thoughts of family and friends who remain "distanced" - even if they live close by. I want to stay in touch. That means taking breaks to contact them in one way or another. FaceTime, always a special treat, has been a godsend during this time of separation. We even used Zoom once to have a kind of virtual "family gathering." We've occasionally used Zoom for work purposes too.
Meanwhile, the workload hasn't lightened up much. When things occasionally do get slower, it does afford some downtime for making contact. But you still have to keep your discipline or the day flies by and - lo and behold - you're behind the eight ball scrambling to catch up with work tasks.
As always, one thing leads to another: If you don't manage your time and stay on top of things, you'll also find that the awesome glory of the Resurrection may slip out of sight, out of mind. Don't let it happen.
If, on the other hand, you're out of a job, or been furloughed because of the Coronavirus, you perhaps may be facing some special challenges during this Easter Week. Being out of a job is never easy. And with our current economic slowdown - for some industries, a shutdown - prospects for employment may be slim. I know if I were facing this situation right now I'd find it daunting. It can weigh you down, in some cases cause you to feel depressed.
Some things to keep in mind:
First, you're not alone - if that helps. Unemployment numbers have surged far beyond those during the last financial crisis in 2008. In fact, they may turn out to be worse than numbers seen in the Great Depression. So it shouldn't surprise you if you're feeling a bit overwhelmed. When I and other members of my family have faced the financial and emotional effects of unemployment in my life, we've always found support amongst each other. Besides emotional support, financial support may be available.
You should never feel shy about expressing your concerns and/or distress to your family (assuming you have reasonably good relationships with family members) under any circumstances. But our current circumstances are, by any measure extreme - the most extreme any of us has faced in our lifetimes.
Heck, my auto insurance company granted an unexpected 15% credit towards my premium this go-round. If a basically anonymous corporation can extend a generous hand, why not family?
Our Lord's Resurrection showed us the reality of eternal life. While it's not always easy to see in the midst of our daily grind or in the throes of being unemployed, we need to remind ourselves that all of this - whatever it is in your circumstances - will pass. Some day, none of this will matter. But the resurrection He promised to each of us will.
Turn to Him now, in His glory. Seek comfort in His promise of eternal life.
Christ is risen! Allelujah!
Happy Easter!
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