#686 Irish Franciscan Monk & Poet Richard Hendrick on Coping with The Pandemic - a podcast by David Van Nuys, Ph.D.

Brother Richard Hendrick is a Capuchin Franciscan priest-friar, living and working in Ireland. He teaches Christian meditation – and has written some beautiful poetry too, including his poem, Lockdown, which has gone viral during the current Pandemic.

Lockdown by Brother Richard:

Yes there is fear.



Yes there is isolation.



Yes there is panic buying.



Yes there is sickness.



Yes there is even death.



But,



They say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise



You can hear the birds again.



They say that after just a few weeks of quiet



The sky is no longer thick with fumes



But blue and grey and clear.



They say that in the streets of Assisi



People are singing to each other



across the empty squares,



keeping their windows open



so that those who are alone



may hear the sounds of family around them.



They say that a hotel in the West of Ireland



Is offering free meals and delivery to the housebound.



Today a young woman I know



is busy spreading fliers with her number



through the neighbourhood



So that the elders may have someone to call on.



Today Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples



are preparing to welcome



and shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary



All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting



All over the world people are looking at their neighbours in a new way



All over the world people are waking up to a new reality



To how big we really are.



To how little control we really have.



To what really matters.



To Love.



So we pray and we remember that



Yes there is fear.



But there does not have to be hate.



Yes there is isolation.



But there does not have to be loneliness.



Yes there is panic buying.



But there does not have to be meanness.



Yes there is sickness.



But there does not have to be disease of the soul



Yes there is even death.



But there can always be a rebirth of love.



Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now.



Today, breathe.



Listen, behind the factory noises of your panic



The birds are singing again



The sky is clearing,



Spring is coming,



And we are always encompassed by Love.



Open the windows of your soul



And though you may not be able



to touch across the empty square,



Sing

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