MESSAGE FROM FR. DENNIS:

WE ARE NOW LIVING ON ANOTHER PLANET

One of my first experiences in refugee sponsorship – by the way, this happened over 30 years ago - was the resettlement of a family from El Salvador.

You’ve heard of the expression, “Go big or go home!” Well, being young and looking for adventure I went big, because Rosa and Mauricio Rodas had 8 children, the youngest was a new born and the oldest was 16 years of age. Added to the challenge was that the family arrived in the middle of winter. Thus, the first order of business was to get everyone outfitted for winter clothing. This task, of course, took a couple of days, as I could only take two or three members of the family in my car at a time, along with a translator, to a second hand clothing store to be outfitted for boots, mitts, toques, ski pants, jackets – the whole winter attire.

On the second day of this project, on yet another foray to the second hand store, two of the younger kids in the backseat, looking out the window with big eyes at the winter scenery, were chatting excitedly about what they were seeing for the first time – in Spanish, of course. All of a sudden the two adults in the car started to laugh hysterically over something one of the kids had said. I asked the uncle, Antonio, what the laughter was all about. He said that one child had explained to the other, “You know, we’re now living on another planet!”

That’s what has happened to all of us because of the Covid-19 pandemic - we are now living on another planet. It’s a new and different world – and we need to get used to it.

New realities can unsettle us. We are creatures of habit and routine, and when that is disturbed there is an adjustment period. Experts say that there are three phases in this transition time: that we go from a “fear zone,” to a “learning zone,” to a “growth zone.” Here are some features of each zone:

1) FEAR ZONE: I complain all the time and transmit my anger and fear and other related negative emotions to others. In this zone I might hoard food and toilet paper.

2) LEARNING ZONE: I start letting go of things that are out of my control, I identify my emotions, I make myself aware of the situation and think about the best way to act, and I acknowledge everyone is trying their best.

3) GROWTH ZONE: I find a purpose in the changes, I think of how I can help others, I use my skills to the service of those in need, I show empathy to myself and others, I live in the present and hope for a better future, I show gratefulness, I find ways to adapt to the changes, I practice calmness and patience in my relationships.

Let us remember that the disciples of Jesus were faced with some monumental changes in their lives, as they were challenged with a whole new faith reality after his death and resurrection. They had to understand and appreciate a new covenant sealed with the blood of their friend Jesus on the cross and a new faith response to this reality. They also needed to come to grips with a new way of living and a new way of worshipping. It was a whole new world for them.

Someone once told me, “It is what it is - deal with it.” Let us deal with all these changes with a strong faith, mature responses and lots of humour.

Peace,