by Elisa Spain Comment Closed

A friend of mine shared this essay in his weekly letter. It resonated for me, so I am passing it on to you.

I have heard that we are all in the same boat, but it’s not like that. We are in the same storm, but not in the same boat.  Your ship could be shipwrecked and mine might not.  Or vice versa. 

For some, quarantine is optimal.  A moment of reflection, of re-connection, easy in flip flops with a cocktail or coffee.  For others, this is a desperate financial and family crisis.  Some who live alone are facing endless loneliness. While for others it is peace, rest, and time with their mother, father, sons & daughters. 

With the $600 weekly increase in unemployment, some are bringing in more money than they were working.  Others are working more hours for less money due to pay cuts or loss in sales.  Some families of four just received $3,400 from the stimulus while other families of four saw $000.  Some were concerned about getting a special candy for Easter while others were concerned that there would not be enough bread, milk, and eggs for the weekend.

Some want to go back to work because they don’t qualify for unemployment and are running out of money.  Others want to punish those who break the quarantine.  Some are home spending 2-3 hours each day helping their child with online schooling while others are spending 2-3 hours each day trying to help educate their children on top of a 10-12-hour workday. 

Some have experienced the near death because of Covid-19, some have already lost someone, and some are not sure if their loved ones are going to make it. Others don’t believe this is a big deal.  While some have faith in God and expect miracles during this 2020, others say the worst is yet to come. 

So, friends, we are not all in the same boat.  We are each on different ships during this storm, experiencing a very different journey.  We are going through a period when our perceptions and needs are very different.  Each of us will emerge from this storm in our own way.  And for all, it will be important to see beyond what we see at first glance.  Not just looking, but seeing and understanding.  

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