Like many people this year, I have done most of my Christmas shopping online. As I have spent time scrolling through the pages of trinkets, clothing, chocolates and other thousands of Christmas marketing gift ideas that appear in my social media feeds, I have considered each person I was buying for. I realised I would give anything, pay any amount, just to spend one more minute of time with them, to feel one more cuddle, to share one last giggle together before I knew I would not be seeing them this Christmas — or for some family members and friends, not seeing them at all during 2020.
This has been the shared reality for thousands of families this year, not only in Australia, but throughout the world due to COVID-19. We have been profoundly shaped by a virus that has stopped us all in our tracks, seemingly slowing the spinning of the very Earth we live upon. Amidst this shared reality, there remains incredible difference in the individual experience. I offer a few stories as examples...
A new mum’s story:
I experienced the COVID-19 shutdown as somewhat of a blessing. I was 25 weeks pregnant when the virus was first discovered and the shutdown meant that I could work from home. My husband was also working from home, which meant that we spent precious couple-time together, more than since before we were married. We shared lunch every day; we finished working on time, prepared dinner together and talked with one another about our dreams for parenthood. Our baby was born and we had a very slow stream of visitors, blessing us with food and bub with cuddles. It was slow, and gentle, and I think bub knows her loved ones individually now because of the time spent together, rather than being incessantly passed from one person to the next as often happens in the excitement of a new baby. It wasn’t all bliss: a very dear friend and colleague died suddenly and whilst I personally was able to attend his funeral, hundreds of people who loved him, worked closely with him, admired him and learned from him had to celebrate his life by watching his funeral online and consoling themselves, rather than being able to console one another and celebrate him together. I feel like when we can, we should have a grand party and tell stories of him – his legacy, his wisdom and our love for him will be carried in our hearts forever.
A young man’s story:
COVID-19 has been incredibly stressful for me. The business I was employed in is a small company, and the boss immediately began giving instructions that we had to take reductions in our pay, work more hours to get the job done, and he even told us that we should put our mortgages and rental payments on hold because he didn’t know if he was going to keep us. The thing is, there was no less work – we were busier than ever, so I didn’t understand why we were suddenly being pressured to change our working conditions. I was able to get some free legal advice 
over the telephone, but every day for a few months I wondered if I was going to come home early because I had been let go. I was worried about paying my bills, about having enough to survive the virus and about all the “what ifs” that might happen. I was grateful to have some family support around me; without their encouragement I am not sure what might have happened. I have now started in a new company and am feeling a little more confident. I know I am one of the lucky ones though, because I see the lines for social support growing longer every day. I nearly had to join that line, and I still may have to. Christmas this year will be quite isolating. My family live overseas and usually I would fly home for three weeks to see them all. Not this year. I am grateful that I have the opportunity to work, which means I can support them still. Also, I am grateful for the technology which means I am not entirely without them – we can chat and see one another’s faces. It’s not the same as being there in person, but I can be patient until next year.
A story from an international friend, a pastor:
In our community we have experienced four big outbreaks of COVID-19. I have about 800 families in my parish and because of the poverty which already exists, the coronavirus has been fatal for most who contracted it, particularly for the very young and the very old people. We do not have a clinic close by, we only have a visiting doctor, and there is lots of mixed information coming through from the radio stations, politicians and health advisors. After some weeks, I think we understood that we needed to be staying apart from one another, but how can this be possible when we only have each other to help? I have been praying with my people and we have been trying to work together to keep safe, but this year, Christmas is one of deep loss and sorrow for many. We shall remember the joy of Jesus’ birth and pray for light to dawn in 2021. We are a strong community and we shall just keep going. I have faith that good health and prosperity lies ahead for us all.
These three stories are not only bound by the common element of COVID-19, but also by their raw humanity, by their obvious love for those around them, by their individual experiences of loss, love, and amidst all of it – gratitude. Each experience reflects something of the deep, abiding love of God, ever-present amid turmoil.
Christmas 2020 might be very different to previous years, or it may be the same. I feel that rather than focusing on any comparison, if we make sure that we live every day of the Christmas season, and the year to come, as if we were about to be shut down again, then we will make the most of every minute.
Be present to one another in our conversations – in person or online J; live with less – not so much online shopping, instead increase our online donating; play music, dance in your living room and sing at the top of your lungs; reach out and connect with the person you have thought about but not yet called; and most of all, in the words of Jesus Christ, our saviour born on Christmas day: “Love one another, as I have loved you.”
I wish you all a blessed Christmas season. May you feel the love and peace of Jesus, ever present in your heart.
Lana x
Words: Lana Turvey-Collins, who is currently on maternity leave, is the Plenary Council Facilitator
Images: Supplied
Tim and Lana Turvey-Collins
Lana and Sr Cynthia FMM with the children of Cheshire Home, Lusaka, Zambia
Plenary Council Facilitation Team in Adelaide, 2019. Olivia Lee, Fr Noel Connelly SSC, Peter Gates, Lana Turvey-Collins