PCN Newsletter 23rd April 2020

Thursday 23rd April 2020

In the fifth of our weekly newsletters we ask 'what next?'

What can we learn? This time last year few, if any, would have imagined that the world would ‘lock down’ in fear of an invisible enemy. That so many have complied is testimony to the seriousness of the threat. “It’s an ill wind…..” ; although there is much sadness and frustration there are also benefits. We see, via the media and personal experience, many acts of kindness, much altruism, donations and much more, the community spirit bursting out, often in the most unlikely places. The reduction in transport has led to cities without air pollution and less noise. People report hearing birds for the first time for many years and are able to breathe more easily. Our lifestyles have created conditions that mask out the natural world like the clouds mask the sun. We know it is always there but cannot experience it. This reminds me of the story of Martha and Mary. They may have been two women, but I think of them as two sides of each of us. We have our busy side, always on the go attending meetings, tidying up, going to work, doing good and so much more. There is also the quiet, meditative, spiritual, contemplative side of each one; this is often crowded out by our idea of ‘getting on with things’. Both sides are important but only effective when they are in balance. This will probably differ from person to person but the total dominance of one over the other will distort the quality of our lives. I hope that, when the present situation ends we will not return to the old ways but consider how we can alter our lifestyles to adjust the balance. David Kemp, PCN member. April 2020

I’ve learned a lot through my life by doing the laundry. Occasionally, when pegging out a pair of jeans, or pre-soaking a grubby rugby shirt, I get an epiphany. That happened to me while I was hanging out some hankies on the line the other day. Coming back into the kitchen, I saw one of my daughters, and decided to bless her with my new found insight. “I tell you who would have been really good at ‘lock down’, cowboys would.” She turned to face me with a world weary look that I have come to know well. “Cowboys?” She said. “Cow-people…” I attempted, although the words didn’t sound right. “Cowboys would have been terrible at lockdown.” She said, as though I were a small child. “No no, think about it” I replied, they already have the masks, they like being on their own…” She regarded me with a look that I interpreted as her questioning my sanity. “Cowboys don’t like being locked down.” She said. “They like being able to roam. Out on the prairie. Roaming.” “Oh yeah.” I said. “I forgot about the roaming.” I looked at the ground for a moment. “What about highwaymen?” I asked. She looked at me with a long cold stare. My wife walked in to the room. “What’s going on in here?” She asked. “Dad thinks highwaymen and cowboys would be good at lockdown.” Two pairs of eyes are focussed on me. I struggle to explain my thinking. “is it because of the masks?” My wife asks. “Umm, yeah.” “Highwaymen wear masks over their eyes, not their mouths.” “Oh… yes.” I suppose everyone copes with lockdown in their own way. Simon Cross, PCN Trustee and laundry slave