Look
for Comforting Coincidences!
Sometimes I feel discouraged and feel my work’s
in vain. But then the Holy Spirit
revives my soul again. (African-American
Spiritual)
These two doves appear to be observing ‘social distancing’
in accordance with the present Government ruling!
Back in March I was not too worried about the strange new
situation. After all, I have lived on my
own for years, so self-isolation (because of my age) did not seem too daunting
a prospect. I am fortunate enough to
have a comfortable house, a garden where I can happily potter about in the
sunshine, the means to order food online and – best of all, kind neighbours who
offered to buy any extra items I needed from the shops. One special couple have
even provided me with a hot roast dinner, plus a glass of wine, every Sunday
evening! So yes, I have been truly
blessed.
However, over these last four months my outlook has
gradually changed. I have become more
and more aware of the importance of social interaction, and the value of conversation,
which reinforces one’s sense of personal identity in the midst of the
struggle to create a new ‘normality’.
Constantly bombarded with alarming news on radio, television and
newspapers, people like myself who live alone have tended to become more and
more inclined to stay at home, thus avoiding public places, including
shops. Recently, when I jokingly told a
friend that I was beginning to feel like a tortoise, withdrawing farther and
farther into its shell, she agreed, saying, “Oh yes, that’s how I feel too –
only I think of myself as a snail!”
Afraid of sinking into depression, I have prayed for
spiritual strength and inspiration. Then
last weekend I was greatly cheered by news of a special ‘coincidence’ which
reminded me that our ‘Golden Network’ is still very much in existence – an eternal
invisible source of connection, of wonder and of comfort. Here is what happened…
Several friends and family members have birthdays in May,
June and July. This year, although sorry that I couldn’t shop for presents for
them, I managed to send vouchers or cheques to those in the UK. But that left three French friends. If I
managed to make up parcels for them, these would have to be weighed at the Post
Office. Since that is located in a local
pharmacy, I hesitated to risk going there, for fear of coughs and sneezes which
might spread the virus.
For Marie I had found a suitable book via Amazon, and it
was now ready to send to Asnieres, near Paris.
But I was at a loss to know how to find presents for Pascal in Brittany,
and his three-year-old son. All three
birthdays had come and gone, and I was becoming more and more frustrated at
being unable to go shopping. Finally, in
desperation, I decided to choose some items from my own ‘private
collection’. I found four little Mr
Men books – two in French and two in English - which Pascal, his Papa,
could read to little Laouenan.
Now for
Pascal. In the past I have sent him DVDs
with English subtitles, so I searched through my own DVD collection. As I did so, it occurred to me that I was
about to send two presents to a family of three, which didn’t seem fair! I felt that Pascal’s wife Soizic should be
included, although I didn’t know the date of her birthday. Aware that Soizic doesn’t speak fluent English,
but knowing that she loves animals, I decided that the DVD about Lassie the
collie would ‘suit the bill’.
Having assembled the presents, I now looked for a suitable
‘post-birthdays’ cards. For
Pascal and Soizic I chose a card showing a bright butterfly on a flower. Along with my best wishes I added my sincere
apologies for the long delay. Then, with
my new facemask at the ready, I set off for the pharmacy/post office – my first
venture into a shop for over three months!
The parcel bound for Brittany arrived on 24 July. Completely unknown to me, that was the sixth
anniversary of the death of Soizic’s mother.
After a long illness, she had died in their house. Remembering that sad occasion, Pascal and
Soizic had taken Laouenan out for the day.
On their return they found the parcel – and were amazed when they opened
it!
The butterfly card. At her mother’s funeral service, Soizic and
Pascal were surprised to see a beautiful butterfly resting for several minutes
on a friend who was sitting just in front of them, and even more surprised when
it appeared again at the reception afterwards, apparently determined to
stay! Its beauty and unusual behaviour
helped them to cope for the rest of that sad day, and ever since the sight of a
butterfly in their house has been a reminder and a comfort to them.
Lassie, the collie dog. Again, I had no idea of the effect which my
choice of DVD would have! As a child,
Soizic loved the story of Lassie, and Pascal has often read it to Laouenan, who
also loves “Maman’s favourite book”. Now
they would all be able to watch the film together!
This two-fold surprise brought them great pleasure and
comfort at the end of the sad anniversary, Pascal told me in an email. How to explain this timely arrival? – except
as another example of ‘kairos’ (God’s time), as opposed to ‘chronos’
(our familiar chronological time), used as a reminder of the golden network of
love which transcends both time and space.
Deo
gratias
Postscript: This is
not the first ‘collie coincidence’ I have known in France! For five years I used to walk a Border
collie. Like Lassie, (a so-called ‘rough
collie’), Tara was descended from the shepherding breed of dogs which
originated in the border country between Scotland and England. Very intelligent, she was a great companion. Here we are in a local park.
So, I was very sad when she and her owner moved to another
part of Scotland. As souvenirs of our
friendship, I bought two identical ornaments of a collie at rest and gave one
to Nicola, Tara’s owner, on our last day together, 20 September
2007.
The very next day I
flew to France with a Town Twinning group.
Because my usual hosts in Le Pecq were away on holiday, one of their
neighbours had kindly offered me accommodation.
As she showed me into my bedroom, she exclaimed, “Oh dear, I forgot to
take away that ornament from the windowsill!
I’ll do that now.” I laughed out
loud when I saw what it was: a collie with her puppy!
So, another
coincidence which confirmed the end of a chapter in my life but which at the
same time, by its very strangeness, brought me a familiar sense of comfort.
Bless the LORD, my soul; bless his holy
name. Bless the LORD, my soul, and
forget none of his benefits. (Psalm 103, 1- 2)
