Feature
Finding hope in difficult times Revd Gerry Riviere School Chaplain
Over the past 18 months, we have been through a lot. We have been forced to learn to live with a level of uncertainty, which is a shadow that lingers over so many of our future plans. For some, this uncertainty and loss of control can be quite stressful. No longer, it seems, can we confidently chart the path of our lives, for the threat of a lockdown and its restrictions is ever present – but we can find hope in a seemingly hopeless time if we try.
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he question ‘Where is God in all this?’ is an interesting one. How does one’s faith stand up in the midst of such a difficult season? When things are going well, we can feel like we have full control over our lives. We celebrate family milestones, we plan holidays, we visit people who are significant to us, we share meals and we enjoy a latte and laughter with friends. When it seems like we are losing control we often feel vulnerable and anxious. At such times, we can feel the need for greater stability in our lives. The narrative of the bible is that God meets us in our vulnerability and need, providing strength in our weakness, hope in our confusion and peace in place of our anxiety. We can look to the stability provided by God, and accept that we can’t control everything, even in the best of times, so we must focus on the things we can. 4 | Torch
For example, it’s okay to disengage with the difficult news of the world sometimes and instead discover the good. Like our Wind Symphony students, who in spite of not being able to rehearse together in person, recorded a beautiful rendition of ‘No One is Alone’ by Stephen Sondheim and shared it with an even greater audience than they would have if they performed it live. Also, recently, a number of Afghan refugees arrived in South Australia, and the community rallied around them to make them feel welcome in their new home, with letters of support and donations of toys for children – this included Australian children’s book author Mem Fox, who wrote welcome messages in copies of her book Possum Magic for all the children who arrived. And in Shepparton, we saw another community gather to ensure those in isolation or struggling to afford or access food were taken care of through innumerable donations and hard work, making sure no one gets left behind. We cannot underestimate the value of community in difficult times. We are so fortunate that, at Carey, we already had such a strong, connected and supportive community before the pandemic began, and we have been able to lean on each other and find hope and positivity through connectedness.
‘A strong sense of community is so important for us as we endure the uncertainties of this period. I am thankful to God for this Carey community.’
