Firstly I want to acknowledge that some experience vicarious trauma on hearing of lock down restrictions and enforcement.
Much depends on how the restrictions are communicated.
- weather announced harshly or with empathy.
- weather a limited time eg two weeks and residents can make plans or weather it sounds indefinate
how well the restrictions are clear or imprecise lacking detail
eg "no singing"
only the production crew and Pastor at church
restrictions on Weddings, Funerals and family gatherings
produced vicarious trauma for many
and fed "conspiracy theories" by their insensitivity
and some rules came accross as secular minds dismissing religious observance
to other outright persecution.
This is the only time in modern history when Churches were not open for prayer
during a time of national crisis.
How did I respond?
- by focusing on infection control being the legitimate objective
- by socialising at 2m wearing a face mask
- wearing mask and gloves to the Supermarket and sanatising groceries at home
- I get it. there is a virus and it spreads easily it can stay on surfaces for hours.
We are people, created in God's image.
Last time we were caught unaware. fear pervaded.
there was a lot of aloneness.
My Christian response.
- This time let us edify one another.
- Let us spend more time in prayer, in reading the Bible and in Praise.
- Let's live stream and hold zoom meetings
- let us hold to the promise in Romans 8 v 28 for God uses everything for good,
even that which was intended for evil.
God can turn social control on it's head
eg Have we become too dependant on "church" ?
When our first love and devotion ought to be towards God Himself.
Have we been spending more time in fellowship with each other than with the Lord?
Have we relied on listening to our Preachers when we ought to be searching the scriptures ourselves?
How we manage during restrictions depends on many factors such as:
- what support is available
- access to food and supplies
- how many live in a home or apartment and access to private outdoor areas