Page 25 - C.A.L.L. #46 - Summer 2020

contribute to the group of 60% immune people, let us be a family where the sick can move

about in the house and the healthy can keep some distance but if they want to console
someone, like a mother consoles her sick child, it is also ok. And when one is cured, let us
assume it was corona, after all, it’s a pandemic! And let those who are likely to be immune
free. They have suffered enough from the virus, let us not suffer even more from the
measures.

As you may have noticed, there is quite a bit of tension in my heart. I am still secluded from
the community and I hear the others are doing fine and seem to be happy with these rules
(though none of them but one have yet to be behind a closed door) and spirits are high and a
lot of beautiful things are also happening because of corona, so mine is a minority viewpoint.

It is undoubtedly biased, not necessarily reflecting the ultimate truth, and a little bit bitter.
You probably would hear something different from me in two or three weeks, because my
insights and the insights of the community do evolve, especially in this time of crisis.

Community can find truth more easily through discussion and exchange, but it’s hard to
discuss when you don’t meet people anymore, not in the kitchen or on the balcony or in the
chapel, and for the meetings you are behind your door and are allowed to be present only by
phone, but you cannot see and often hardly hear all the others in the room.

Luckily I am blessed with not only a room, but with an appartment, where I can see my wife
and son who were also sick, and with a balcony, and a door, so I can go to the garden where
nobody else goes, even though I’m infected, I am not likely to cause any harm. But for our

illegal refugee housemates, to imagine them having to obey such measures of confinement,
even though the healthy illegal refugee housemates themselves promote these measures, I
find it very hard to bear.

Isle of Erraid Community, UK

We are finding life on Erraid continues much in the same way, as we already lead an isolated

existence in a remote location. We have a full community and a long term guest unable to
return to his home. Two members ‘self-isolated’ for a fortnight on their return from
elsewhere, and now we are closed to new arrivals. We are well stocked and gardens are being
planted out with this season’s vegetables.

Many of us feel enormous gratitude for this extended family where living is supported by
daily, weekly and seasonal rhythms. Of course, no guests means no income, but we can ride
this out for a while. Daily sharings and meals grown, cooked and eaten together reinforce the
benefits of community living.

As an island off an island, we are also engaging outside our Erraid family to offer support to
the local island community. For example, we are donating eggs, of which we have an
abundance, to local children for their Easter celebrations.

We live one day at a time, however, and count our blessings to be here, now.

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