My neighbor is a fisherman. Walking the dogs near our home one morning, I saw his little boat safely anchored in the small harbor. It was a lovely day, and the sea was calm. As I looked beyond the boat to the large expanse of sea beyond, I began to wonder how it must feel to be out earning a living in that little boat when high winds are causing big waves to throw themselves at the rocks and crash against the sea wall. I asked myself, “How would I feel? Would I be afraid? Would I panic and fear for my life?” As I stood pondering this, the thought came, “But boats are made to stay afloat!”

How important, then, to keep the boat watertight. Any chinks in the hull, and the water will find them and seep in. And if they go undetected, we might soon find our boat filling with water, which would lead to trouble.

The coronavirus pandemic has been causing huge waves of disturbance worldwide, and in the midst of this challenge the government of the United Kingdom has often used the familiar expression “We are all in this together.” It is comforting to know that we are supporting and helping each other during this difficult time through deeds of kindness and unselfed love. Of course, while we are all facing the same crisis, our experiences may be vastly different.