When you have no choice there simply is no conflict
THESE strangely unique days that blend seamlessly into other strangely unique days bizarrely remind me of doing The Camino which I have done twice.
When I say I “have done” the Camino, I mean I did the 120k/140k option that on both occasions landed me in Compostela De Santiago. First time out was with a rarity gem-like troop of girls (you know who you are), fundraising for the Marie Keating Foundation.
The second time out was with a rarity gemlike individual of a man (himself ) who bored of the anecdotes, wanted to try it for himself. With me. Of course.
They were two different experiences unearthing two different treasures. My separate encounters with the Camino are incomparable with each other except for one aspect; the simplicity of the thing.
Both times, the remit was the same - to get up and walk; it was the purpose of the day, the “Way” of the day.
I find the same simplicity pertaining to these days of confinement. There is nothing complicated about what we are asked to do – to stay home. In doing so, we are serving ourselves and we are serving others - vital others. This is a win/win situation.
It evokes words said to me at another time in life; a time when not unlike today, the world went askew on me albeit with a cancer diagnosis. The words came from a priest who shared the same routine as me for a while – five consecutive weeks of five consecutive days of radiotherapy for a 15-minute slot of treatment.
Sometimes we had to wait, sometimes we got to go in straight away. Regardless, we always had to show up. It was the purpose of the day, the “Way” of our day. I once asked my priest friend, how he found the repetition of the treatment? How did it fit in with his life? Did he find it all pedantic? He answered me simply: “when you have no choice there is no conflict”.
Today we are in that position of having no choice; not if we care about each other, we don’t. And these times have evidenced beautifully how much we do care about each other.
We are prizing our elders, safeguarding our comprised and applauding our front-liners, praying for their protection.
In the quiet of our homes, we might regret our cancelled plans, curse opportunities lost and wail at the what if ’s but when there is no choice….
We call it a battle and liken it to war-times but the combat measure is simple – stay at home. What is uniquely redeeming in this ugly confrontation is that our battle plan is not in the interest of commerce, power or pride but in humanity and salvation. Is this not a triumph itself ?
No, the “battle” is not over and the “war” is not won, but the new order prioritises care above everything else and I see victory in that.
Still our defence continues with two counter-attacks; the hospital and the home.
Everyone has their orders and for those of us at home, being at home must be the “Way” of our day. It might be pedantic and repetitive but it is our purpose.
And, when we have no choice…let us try not to create a conflict.