Lockdown Diary Reflections

LOCKDOWN DIARY

INTRODUCTION

After following the Covid-19 outbreak, worldwide, for the past 4 weeks, as closely as I can, being in contact with friends and family WORLD-WIDE as well as observing the online behaviour of people in South Africa for the past couple of weeks, I have some reflections on this matter.

I want to document (for my own record) how I see and feel about this issue.  I also want to see how my opinion about this might evolve during this unfolding worldwide crisis and defining moment in history.

For those of you who read this:

It is important to note that I am a Bible Believing Christian.

I believe God is completely Sovereign and in control.  I believe that if I accept the GOOD from God, I also need to accept the BAD (Job 2:10) and that He works out EVERYTHING to its proper end, even a wicked day of disaster (Proverbs 16:4)

I believe that by doing GOOD, the ignorant talk of foolish people will be silenced (1 Peter 2:5) - during this period in history I truly believe the Christian is called to proclaim Christ, (doing good spiritually) and assist those who are suffering due to this crisis (doing good physically and economically) and urge people to only listen to the TRUTH (expose false doctrine, false theories about COVID-19 etc)

I believe that my HOPE is in Christ who died on a cross for my SINS – that HE came to die for my SINS – NOT that it will go WELL with me, that indeed .....

“We (Christians) are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed” ( 2 Corinthians 4:8–9).

I believe it is UN-BIBLICAL, arrogant and foolish for Christians to think they will be “exempt” from suffering in this period – whether financially, physically or emotionally.  We are guaranteed suffering if we are born-again, Bible Believing Christians.

Discernment in this time is CRUCIAL for Christians.  It is also a time for non-Christians to perhaps seriously consider eternity.  My prayer is that you will consider your source of HOPE in this time.

If you are NOT a Christian but realise that you need HOPE and SALVATION, please email me and I will share resources with you that can help you find true HOPE and SALVATION by believing in Jesus Christ.

Click here if you have questions about God in relation to COVID-19

Watch the video below if you are a Christian and need comfort and perspective

CLICK HERE FOR THE OFFICIAL SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT COVID-19 WEB PAGE - PLEASE TRY AND REFRAIN FROM FOLLOWING RANDOM SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES THAT MOSTLY SPREAD PANIC AND FEAR.

DIARY ENTRY 29 March 2020 - Day 3 of being in NATIONAL LOCKDOWN in South Africa trying to FLATTEN THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK CURVE

South Africa went into a national Lockdown ordered by our current President, Cyril Ramaphosa.

There has been a lot of criticism against him about LOTS of things before COVID-19 arrived in South Africa.

There are SO MANY valid issues in South Africa to complain about.  South Africans, therefor, are master complainers.  

They can complain about EVERYTHING.  But, before I also become a "complaining statistic", I need to change direction fast...

We live in the year 2020.

Nothing is private.  EVERYTHING spreads like wild fire – they call it “something goes VIRAL” when a video someone shares, a FACEBOOK comment, a Tweet on Twitter or a WHATSAPP message is spread within minutes around the globe.

People don’t bother to check if the “news” they receive, is verified.  They indiscriminately simply press FORWARD/SHARE/COPY etc and keep spreading whatever it is they received.

I am, therefore, extremely surprised that a lot of people in South Africa, as well as the world, are now suddenly blaming governments for the spread of the COVID-19 Virus.

You see, over the last 40 years, society has been demanding FREEDOM.

Freedom of speech, freedom of movement, freedom of association – FREEDOM.  All of this in the name of Human Rights.

I was one of those "FREEDOM-FIGHTING-people".

30 years ago, when I was a student, I was an anti-apartheid Activist.  I protested against our then government, demanding Freedom of Speech as a journalism Student and truly a LIBERAL in those times.  I was condemned by the community I lived in, and treated like an enemy of the state (which I suppose I was) because I TRULY believed that all South Africans deserved the right to work, receive education, freedom of speech, freedom of association, freedom of religion etc etc etc.

I still believe that.  I do, however, question how society (and I include myself here) have embraced the RESPONSIBILITY that comes with so much Freedom.  

I don’t have kids.

But...

I wonder if I had kids, and I gave them a whole bag of sweets, and told them only to eat one at a time, if they would listen.  

I wonder if they would listen if I warned them that their teeth would rot if they eat too much sweets. 

I wonder if they would listen if I said they needed to share it equally and keep some for later because there might not be another pack.

I wonder about that and then I apply it to society.

(Surely I don’t need to explain how that is applicable to society, but just in case someone misses the analogy, here goes:)

Our governments ask for responsible reporting – most journalists, instead, chase sensationalism

Our governments ask for restrained and conservative use of resources – most citizens, instead, ignore their Governments pleas or believe their "taps will never run dry".

Our governments impose laws to keep citizens safe – warning them against abuse of alcohol, cigarettes, over eating, driving too fast, sexual promiscuity, washing hands, obeying all kinds of laws for THEIR OWN GOOD and most citizens simply ignore them or think certain laws/warnings (for their OWN good) simply don't apply to them or they are untouchable

They evade and avoid the paying of Taxes in ANY way, shape or form.

They ignore almost all laws imposed by Government (in one way or another) – because they claim some of the laws, infringe on their HUMAN RIGHTS - OF COURSE I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT COUNTRIES LIKE NORTH KOREA, but democracies world wide.

Well, here in South Africa we are at a point in our Country where our government is TRYING its best, in an IMPOSSIBLE situation, to PROTECT each and every South African.  And once again, I see and hear COMPLAINTS about HUMAN RIGHTS being infringed.

Selfish, selfish, selfish people who only care about themselves, their own comfort, their own pockets.

Companies who are profiteering from this disaster.

Individuals looking for loopholes.

Groups bringing court action AGAINST the Lockdown order, claiming it infringes on their Human Rights???  (this has to be the most outrageous)

People insisting to walk DOGS and JOG while we are all BEGGED to stay home - for the GREATER good.

IRRESPONSIBLE and FRIVOLOUS Social Media Posts from supposedly “educated” people.

Opposition Political Parties wanting to tell the Government HOW to manage this - WHY on earth?  There is NO TIME for political meetings, every person who thinks he/she has a better opinion etc - it is time for PREVENTION.

I am so sad.  

Because truly, how can we be surprised that a TRUE VIRUS is going VIRAL, when we could not even CONTAIN FALSE RUMOURS about ANYTHING sensational, before this Event.

PLEASE DO NOT SPREAD FAKE NEWS.

PLEASE OBEY OUR GOVERNMENT

PLEASE EDUCATE YOUR IMMEDIATE PEOPLE

PLEASE EDUCATE YOUR COMMUNITY

PLEASE SHARE CONFIRMED NEWS

If we don’t act together now, we are going to have a STATE OF EMERGENCY announced soon.   No one wants that, but I am actually thinking that it might be the only way to get the “kids” to eat the “sweets” in a controlled manner, for their own good.

We all have a role to play – even if you just do ONE THING – STAY HOME, for now! 

♥