How has the quarantine been treating you?

It’s been more than 5 weeks since the words “quarantine” and “social distancing” became the new norm for everyone in the world, and although it there had been tough days, there are also good ones. I am thankful that Warren and I both work from home, and in January we pulled out Yelly from daycare in order to save money and (hopefully) potty train her. Quarantine has actually been normal for us a little longer—except now we can’t go to parks or to the indoor playground Yelly loves during the winter. Warren is the only one who does grocery runs, and I only go out for my now weekly check-ups as my due date grows near. Upcoming spring and summer events have been postponed to fall and winter, and a few of them even moved to next year. This means less income for me this year, but more time to take care of the girls, especially when this little one comes out in a few weeks.

 

I can’t complain. I see TV news and read them online every single day and feel for those who are struggling more, especially in the Philippines. Being a part of Joseph Feeding Mission has opened my eyes completely with how much HUNGER people are experiencing. It’s completely heartbreaking. I also feel for the front liners (from healthcare workers and first responders to bankers, grocery attendants, cashiers, garbage collectors, police officers, public transportation drivers… and the list goes on) who still need to go to work every single day knowing they can be exposed to the virus, who can’t spend time with their families and would choose to isolate themselves instead of exposing their loved ones. I feel for the nurses and doctors and other healthcare professionals who not only do their work, but also give extra comfort, share hope and empathy for their patients. I cannot imagine going through a dreaded illness alone, apart from my loved ones—the same way I cannot imagine having a loved one going through a dreaded illness all alone, and not being able to say goodbye when they succumb to the illness.

But even in the comfort of our own homes, this ISOLATION changes us all. Some in ways we see more than others.

How Isolation Changes Us

We now tend to give in to fear and let it rule our lives.

Even when we don’t get to experience the virus ourselves, just watching and reading the news from experts and of those who experienced it first-hand can leave us fearing for our lives. It’s also scary to step outside and see the usually packed cities and tourist spots eerily empty—a scene straight out of the movies. Not to add the uncertainty of businesses closing, gatherings halted, and even closing of boarders/lockdown in some areas. Creeping into our minds slowly but surely, fear takes over. Fear of the future. Fear of getting infected by the virus. Fear of exposing our loved ones to the virus. Fear of everything not going back to normal anytime soon.

This fear affects our mindsets and our decisions. It even justifies being selfish and putting ourselves first. I really hope and pray that fear doesn’t take over our lives so much.

 

We become too quick to judge.

With so much information available online, and so many people sharing their own opinions, their own “remedies” and ways to avoid getting sick, we sometimes tend to act like we know more than others. We overshare information that we see and hear. One of my biggest pet peeves is forwarded messages on Facebook. Ugh. Especially from invalidated sources.

I always remind myself that just because others don’t do things my way, does not mean they are not doing the best that they can. It’s the only way I stop myself from judging others. Sadly not everyone sees this, and I’ve personally experienced being judged and even reprimanded because “I’m not as thorough as I need to be” at these scary times.

I watched Hillsong NYC’s service yesterday with my sister and was struck with these words during the sermon:

How we think determines how we feel. How we feel determines what we do.

– Pastor Carl Lenz, Hillsong New York

As it grows more and more difficult for us being in isolation, not being able to work and spend time with friends and relatives, we need to work harder to get our mind right, not let it wander, in order to beat the battle that this pandemic has left in our mind. We need to find ways to practice fear over faith.

 

How can we practice Fear Over Faith

 Spend more time in PRAYER.

Within days I have watched more series and movies than I would in over a year—and this is probably what everyone else is doing. But I joined a daily life group from my church back home in the Philippines (they do it from 9pm-10pm Manila time, so it’s 9am-10am for me). It has been a perfect addition to my morning routine, especially since lately my little girl has been sleeping in.  I think now, more than ever, we need to have daily devotionals, spend time in worship and prayer, and share these with friends. Thank God for technology! Even as this pandemic has closed churches, technology has opened our homes for fellowship and human connection.

 

Let ANXIETY end with YOU. Don’t spread it.

One of my pet peeves is receiving forwarded messages on Facebook or Viber or Whatsapp—especially if they seem fake and unverified. I hate messages that is meant to spread fear and paranoia. I know the person sending them to me means well—like it’s meant to warn me and remind me to be careful. But as I’ve said with the abundance of information out there, we also need to mindful about what we put in our minds. So I let those messages end with me. I don’t forward it, I don’t spread fear. If I can, I also talk to the person who sent me the message.

 

HELP those in need, in any way you can.

Being isolated can’t really stop us from coming together during this time. I always say, any help is a big help, so whether it’s offering to do groceries for your elderly neighbor, keeping up tithes in churches and giving a little extra to food banks and those who raise funds for PPEs and allowance for those who lost jobs because of lockdowns, or tipping your local restaurant a little more than usual when you get a curbside pickup dinner—I know that it is greatly appreciated now more than ever. Helping out also sparks hope in those who give, that no matter how hard things are now, we are coming out from this stronger than ever.