Lockdown 8

Lockdown Day 8 - 3 April 2020 

Rainy days have an enchanting air about them, especially when you're home. You don your comfy winter clothes, slip on your winter slippers and whip out that cosy top you always wear this time of year. And of course every hour or so you have a steaming cuppa to get you through the day's work. 

Which is pretty much how this day went after I tackled my walking route again, this time ditching a most unwilling dog ( to her this was getting weirder by the minute!) and keeping at it until I clocked up a proper distance. 

Later we had a discussion over the idiocy of people who still do not stick to lockdown rules. I was suddenly reminded of how humans react when confronted with isolation and incarceration. There was this study done on Nazi prisoners of war where the longest time span prisoners would wait while being tortured before they talk was 42 days, in other words 6 weeks. It didn't matter how badly they were tortured or for how long, they would talk after 42 days. It is also said that when on a diet, you should have whatever you want on day 42, otherwise you're going to binge after that anyway. Now I know this isnt a diet (maybe It should be), nor are we incarcerated (could've fooled me), but we are mostly isolated and 21 days is just half of that. But maybe we should plan to do something out of the ordinary on purpose on day 21. Also because it is entirely possible that we may indeed see day 42 in Lockdown. Sobering as that may be, we need to think differently about this, and fast. After seeing a video of an experiment showing how droplets are dispersed, I vowed to try online shopping (otherwise known as hurry up and wait), still not really believing this is happening to us. One thing I know for sure is I have a choice: I can let this beat me up or I can find tomorrow's music, and hearing it play, start to dance to the music today. Heaven knows God's well and truly got this. 

Lockdown 7

Lockdown Day 7 - 2 April 2020 

I read somewhere that if you desperately want something you first need to give it away. In Lockdown terms I imagine by this time the whole world would say that something is freedom. Lockdown caused this principle in reverse. A virus (come on, really.......a virus!) forced us to give up our freedom, and now we desperately want our freedom most of all. Although the homebound feeling is actually growing on me because of the fact that I can determine my own pace to get everything done, I simultaneously wish I could be in two places at one time. And this is not necessarily a physical thing, this Lockdown moves into spaces where you have to become brave and bare your soul.

A “-Got-Talent” judge recently said to a contestant who confessed to be on the spectrum “If you can’t fit into this world you should create a new one”. What an inspirationally stupid thing to say to someone who is already in his own world. Yes yes, I am probably interpreting this all wrong, but I am going to have at it anyway: a new world in an old one? Is this what the creators of this virus was thinking? Or maybe they just wanted to annihilate the old one to see if the survivors could sustain a new one? Either way, they obviously have missed one very important truth: this world was designed by a Creator with something much bigger in mind. To stand in a relationship with its inhabitants across all boundaries of natural and spiritual laws. To see who is willing to risk it all for the ultimate freedom that surpasses earthly restrictions. To see who is desperate enough to drop it all for a life in eternity. 

I shall stop wasting time on trivialities and focus on what I can do now to secure heavenly treasures. I shall do my job to the best of my ability, walk the proverbial extra mile with an eternity-driven attitude of gratitude, give and give again until this Lockdown is done and the Corona virus is NOT anymore. 

I retire tonight with another little feather in my jar, inspiration for tomorrow. And I know for sure that God’s got this.

Lockdown 6

Lockdown Day 6 - 1 April 2020 

This day started with a plan. First meditate and then exercise. I had a bad vision of myself ordering an Oros-Man suit (sidenote: that is the one onesy I will never desire) and decided to restart my exercise plan, which obviously needed to adapt to life in a matchbox dwelling. After stretching and core exercises on the mat I also shared with Roxy, our miniature Schnauzer, I mapped out a route from the corner of the garden through the garage out around our bakkie parked at the door, and back. The dog refused to participate sitting on the mat acting like someone watching tennis, probably thinking her human has finally gone mad. I decided to attach her leash to her collar and she took the bait! We did 5000 steps until the washing machine finished its load. Feeling absolutely stoked I resolved to do better next time (to all you who can walk aroud your house: you are blessed) and not to worry too much about the wet grass we were carrying in onto the floor. Oros-Man, go find another target because this woman is having a glass of Orange juice. 

I had a few laughter filled conversations which more than made up for coffee out. This sunny day just shone into my heart when I picked up another feather at the kitchen door and later, working in the sun, I saw a little rainbow on my shoulder. Another silent reminder that God's got this. 

Lockdown 5

Lockdown Day 5 - 31March 2020

This morning we woke to the sound of soft rain on the roof and a cool breeze running through the house. This in itself is a blessing. Partly because winter is on the way and we can use all the rain we can get. But also because water symbolises so much more. Being a water baby my skin suddenly felt alive. The cool breeze felt like the announcement of winter, my favourite season. Double whammy! And of course, this called for winter food and brain gymnastics. With a lovely lamb shoulder in the slow cooker and sweet potatoes roasting in the oven, I set up my laptop close to the window where I could see the droplets twinkling on the grass and in the tree just outside. Lockdown suddenly sank in backed by a weird kind of compliance. Not acceptance that I can't go where I want when I want, but complying for the sake of every person around me. Not acceptance of no work no pay, but to comply and look for ways to reinvent what I do. Just like the rain washes down the old and dresses nature anew in sharp greens, I should allow this time of isolation to clear out the cobwebs of life. To unlock my brain with the kaleidoscope of possibilities my Creator intended for me. To slow down and listen...... and to synchronise with the rhythm of heaven. And to relax, because God's got this. 

Lockdown 4

Lockdown Day 4 - 30 March 2020

4 Days, and if anyone finds a speck of dust in this matchbox it will only be Horton that lost Whoville. Today I encountered a broken microwave (LG, I'm coming for you), a superhero and an angel. The broken microwave happened in that post cleaning moment where you háve to have a coffee or else.... so I was peering through the micro's window (why is it not see-through?) waiting for the little cloud of steam from my milk which never comes. After trying again and the two engineers in the house also not succeeding, we realise: it's Lockdown and we can't return it to the megastore we bought it at. We call our local supermarket and voilà, they have a single little specimen in stock. Enter: Superhero! 🎺 Dressed in "virus clothes" and buff (the Ninja Turtles would've made him an offer), he grabbed the sanitizer and our frantically quickly compiled list of other necessities and scooted off to save the day❤️. 

Just a quick tip: nominate a pair of "outside" shoes you can ditch in the garage when going out...... the abonimable virus is now also said to travel like a creepy crawly. 

Earlier at morning teatime we discovered a little package of golden heaven delivered by an angel..... a friend closeby who baked a few too many of the most delicious lipsmackingly fresh scones and thought of us...... You are blessed in

ways I cannot describe. I am inspired to pay it forward. And now, padding through my pod, the smell of clean brings comfort, and with another feather in my hand I look forward to Day 5 knowing God's got this. 

Lockdown 3

Lockdown day 3 - 29March 2020 

Day 3 resembled a relatively “normal” Sunday, except for the fact that church was on a Youtube channel. Therefore no dressing up and wearing makeup...... whoohoo! But that, however, made me think of a few things to consider during this time. Can we follow our normal routine without the trimmings? Say for instance, you have a scheduled meeting with an important client. Ordinarily you would wear your “special” shirt , or power dress for such a meeting. Is it possible that these ergonomic (surrounding influencers) factors can influence  your performance as well as the nature and outcome of the meeting? I discovered I could also apply the same question to a baking session in the kitchen. Pre-lockdown baking happens when I have specifically planned to bake and especially feel like baking. So I would turn on Masterchef or Classic FM and bake my heart out, not at all worried about running out of ingredients, being interrupted by anything or anyone. But, should any of these ergonomics be changed, removed or be interfered with, whatever is baked can be compromised. So lockdown scenario sees one of the housemates requesting a baked pudding in a time I specifically did not plan to bake and especially did not feel like baking, while Masterchef or Classic FM was absent and the subsequent discovery of problems with ingredients. The outcome was a different looking pudding that tasted good enough. The result was most definitely influenced  by the ergonomical requirements for a good pud. Which brings me back to the original question: If we are supposed to continue as normal, show up and do our job, what would the quality be like if we change or omit the ergonomics? Now here’s a thought: what if you were to wear your most ridiculous outfit for “work” tomorrow, pretend you’re Ace Ventura on a mission to do whatever it is your job requires and view your day with a paradigm-shifting mindset; maybe, just maybe, lockdown could unlock a new mantra...... or at the very least induce ridiculous laughing every time you talk to your housemates. Who knows, you might just go to bed lighter, happier and more at peace. So, when I turn of my light tonight I shall be smiling, because tomorrow holds something new. And of course, God’s got this.

Lockdown2

Lockdown day 2 - 28March 2020 

As day 2 draws to a close, all I really want to do is be thankful. Thankful for a handful of little blessings. 

One was waking up late because the morning swish-swish sound of cars on their way to work did not wake me (although my little 5 am bird 🐦 still managed to alert me of the morning's first light). Another was taking a shower and washing my hair while the smell of crispy bacon and fresh toast wafting from  the kitchen reminded me that I am blessed to have a family. And there was the privelege of offering up a prayer for all of my family and friends. I also sat in the sun with my morning cuppa, truly thankful for a healthy body and mind and eternally so for my Creator who afforded me the luxury of walking this earth. An ancient quote keeps on playing over and over in my mind:

"Chop wood, carry water, walk the earth."

Keep on keeping on. Get up, show up and do your utmost. Doing the mundane things with diligence has the potential to unlock greatness inside. A greatness God put there for His purpose. A greatness that far surpasses all the restrictions of this lifetime, this lockdown and yes, this virus. 

God's got this.