Lockdown-Pray


European Robin singing out loud.

The image is from https://ellenlandreth.wordpress.com/2012/03/20/.

 Brother Richard Hendrick, a Capuchin Franciscan living in Ireland, has penned a touching poem about coronavirus.

Lockdown – A Poem by Fr. Richard Hendrick, OFM (March 13th, 2020)

Yes there is fear.
Yes there is isolation.
Yes there is panic buying.
Yes there is sickness.
Yes there is even death.
But,
They say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise
You can hear the birds again.
They say that after just a few weeks of quiet
The sky is no longer thick with fumes
But blue and grey and clear.
They say that in the streets of Assisi
People are singing to each other
across the empty squares,
keeping their windows open
so that those who are alone
may hear the sounds of family around them.
They say that a hotel in the West of Ireland
Is offering free meals and delivery to the housebound.
Today a young woman I know
is busy spreading fliers with her number
through the neighbourhood
So that the elders may have someone to call on.
Silhouette of helping hand between two climber

Today Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples
are preparing to welcome
and shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary
All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting
All over the world people are looking at their neighbours in a new way
All over the world people are waking up to a new reality
To how big we really are.
To how little control we really have.
To what really matters.
To Love.
So we pray and we remember that
Yes there is fear.
But there does not have to be hate.
Yes there is isolation.
But there does not have to be loneliness.
Yes there is panic buying.
But there does not have to be meanness.
Yes there is sickness.
But there does not have to be disease of the soul
Yes there is even death.
But there can always be a rebirth of love.
Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now.
Today, breathe.
Listen, behind the factory noises of your panic
The birds are singing again
The sky is clearing,
Spring is coming,
And we are always encompassed by Love.
Open the windows of your soul
And though you may not be able
to touch across the empty square,
Sing.

The note from my I-ching teacher-

After the vernal equinox (March 20, 2020), there was a light that appeared at the end of the tunnel. Wuhan, the epicenter of the Coronavirus pandemic, announced that it had controlled the epidemic and had no new confirmed cases!  One by one, the factories opened and people returned to work. With their example, other countries will also gradually overcome the ravages of disease. Slowly but surely, we will resume the life we had before. By losing our freedom in dealing with the virus, people suddenly realize how precious our “ordinary” lives were. We now have a better understanding, a different perspective on what we had, and now we can cherish our “ordinary” lives instead of taking it for granted.

Today, March 24 at 6:00 pm on the first day of the lunar calendar, the sun will start to descend, and the moon will appear at the same time. It is the best time to pray when both the moon and sun show up at the same time and same direction (Southwest).

Let us join at this time and pray together. 

First, let’s honor the earth where we have a place to live and be thankful for all the things it has given us. 

Second, let’s reflect and ask for the forgiveness of our shortcomings. 

Third, let’s pray for the epidemic to recede as soon as possible. We must promise that we will no longer violate the law of nature, and pray that we will be able to get through the upcoming economic hardships.

No matter where you are and how busy you are, please put down everything and join me at 6:00 pm facing Southwest direction to pray today.

May God bless us all and keep us all safe.

封城

是的,有恐惧。
是的,有隔离。
是的,恐慌抢购。
是的,有疾病。
是的,甚至有死亡,
但他们说,武汉经过这么多年的喧闹,现在又能听到鸟叫了。

他们说,经过几个星期的平静之后,天空不再烟雾弥漫,而是蓝色,灰色和晴朗的天空。
他们说,在阿西西的街道上,人们隔着空旷的广场互相唱歌,打开窗户,这样那些孤独的人就可以听到周围家庭的歌声。
他们说,西岛的一家酒店提供免费午餐,而且送到家中。

今天,一个我认识的年轻女子正忙着在附近發送传单和她的电话号码,以便长者可以找人打电话。
今天,教堂,犹太教堂,清真寺和寺庙正在准备欢迎和庇护无家可归的人,患病者和疲倦的人。

全世界的人们都在放慢脚步,反省。
世界各地的人们都在以新的方式看待邻居。
在世界各地,人们正在意识到一个新的现实。
我们到底有多大。
我们的控制力是多么的渺小。
真正重要的是-
去爱。

因此,我们祈祷,我们记住。
是的,有恐惧,但不必憎恨。
是的,有隔离,但不必孤单。
是的,有恐慌购买,但不必刻薄。
是的,有疾病,但不一定有灵魂疾病。
是的,甚至有死亡,但总会有爱的重生。

唤醒您对现在生活的选择。
今天呼吸。
傾听,在恐慌的工厂噪音背后,鸟儿又在歌唱。
天空正在晴朗。
春天来了,我们总是被爱所包围。
打开心灵的窗户,尽管您可能无法穿越空旷的广场……
唱歌。

 

 

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