EDITORIAL: Life After Lockdown

Lockdown has been amazing — a resurrection experience. Even while COVID-19 spread death around the world, new life paradoxically emerged before our eyes. Our world suddenly tipped. We housed the homeless. We received public money for basic necessities and wages. We went home and stayed home — obediently. We listened to problems — hungry families, citizens trapped overseas — and endeavoured to address them immediately. We heard informative updates in language we could understand and act on. We took responsibility for everyone else in the country. We behaved with kindness, caring and creativity in our bubbles. We tried out new things. We relieved some of the burden on Earth and reduced air pollution in our cities. We prayed, contemplated and celebrated church and national feast days in new ways. We starved COVID-19’s spree of  illness and death in our country — for now.

We did this together. Good leadership convinced us and we encouraged one another to accept the restrictions. Our solidarity has been impressive and infectious. We kept to the rules because we wanted to safeguard those most vulnerable to the virus in our communities. Although we were strictly in  bubbles, we felt together.

We enlivened the symbols of Holy Week. Our frequent hand washing expressed service — our loving ministry to one another to prevent the virus spreading. Cooking and breadmaking symbolised eucharist — our loving gratitude shared with whānau and family. Zoom connections with family and friends — our walking the way of the cross with others in isolation. Receiving the news of infection rates and death — our participation in the reality of suffering and death and solidarity with those who mourn.

But we can't stay in our bubbles because we fear the future. Soon education will move from home back to school. All the work that keeps the country going and connected in the world will resume. We’ll travel around the country again and our borders will reopen to visitors from other places. We’ll have to deal with the lockdown effects on people and the economy. And we will start up again knowing that we can be threatened with COVID-19 again.

Despite our fears, we trust in Pentecost — our hope in the strengthening, enlivening Spirit among us. We’ll call on the gifts of care and good sense, of wisdom to devise plans of action. We’ll call on advice and counsel from many sources to increase our understanding. We’ll call on contemplative thoughtfulness and patience. And we’ll remind ourselves that we live in the presence of a loving, creative Divine. These gifts belong in the community rather than to us individually, so together — with our government, our scientific and medical professionals, our leaders — we will discern the best ways forward.

Our experience of lockdown has highlighted what we value most. As we move into Pentecost we’ll need to embed our common values into our ways forward. This is our new chance.

We thank all our contributors to this 248th issue — our first digital production. Their combined gifts of writing, research, art and craft offer thoughtful discussion and reflection on making choices at this time — and much more. 

You are welcome to share this issue with others you think might enjoy it. We need as many subscribers as possible going forward.

We expect to be able to print the June issue of Tui Motu magazine and post it out to you — but these are uncertain times. We live in hope.

And as is our custom, our last words are of blessing and encouragement.

Tui Motu Magazine. Issue 248 May 2020