Page 15 - C.A.L.L. #46 - Summer 2020

While these preventive actions by our communities have mostly preceded and exceeded
official guidelines, the crisis has highlighted the vital role that legitimate public authority
should play in protecting society, especially the vulnerable.

New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo recently called on citizens to be “socially distanced,
spiritually connected.” While staying home physically, we continue to engage with the wider
communities surrounding each Bruderhof. In place of house visits to struggling neighbors,
we’ve set up pick-up spots for food and are providing other help where we can, coordinating
our efforts with government leaders. While our manufacturing businesses have been hard hit
by the mandatory closure of our workshops and the pandemic’s repercussions in the

marketplace, some of our facilities are being repurposed to produce parts for COVID-
related medical devices. Farther afield, we continue to support the work of humanitarian
organizations such as Save the Children. Life in lockdown is far from boring.

As for my own family, despite the always-sobering news from elsewhere, I’m enjoying having
my three school-age kids at home for these early spring days. In the mornings, we improvise
something resembling schoolwork, then landscape around the yard, take birdwatching
rambles through the woods, train the dog, call housebound friends around the world. (Plough
readers, have you yet rediscovered the joy of calling people up?) With more family time on
our hands, we’re pondering how to expand our vegetable garden and orchard, maybe get a few
pigs to raise …

Of course, for many this time is far grimmer: for those solitary in their isolation, those
who’ve lost jobs, those grieving loved ones or facing death alone. And before long, the crisis
could grow grimmer still. Only hindsight will show whether it proves a short if painful
interlude or triggers deep civilizational changes. Either way, these interim days (weeks?
months?) can be fruitful for focusing on the big questions to which this magazine is
dedicated: How can we live well together, and what gives life meaning? We at Plough look
forward to joining in this search for the things that matter most in life together with
friends far and near.

Valsølillegård, Denmark

The 35 year old community of Valsølillegård has divided ourselves into families / couples. So
we do not associate as much as we usually do. Several of the people consider themselves as
being vulnerable since they have pre-existing conditions and we are all older than 60. Eating
together has been suspended and so have the meetings until things change. I am the only
single person here, so I am more isolated than the others, but two of the other women have
checked on me to see if I am still alive, and I go on bike rides with one of them. We talk

together when we meet outside - at distance. I am a nurse, so I do get out and meet other
people at my job. None of us are ill yet. May it stay so.

Dorte Gringmuth Aagaard

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