One day... — Sydney Anglican Ministry Wives

I still remember the utter shock and disorientation, when it felt like in one day, my whole world had been pulled out from under me! Church, school, Bible college - nothing was left untouched. I had to keep going for walks to remind myself that not everything in life had stopped; the sun and clouds were still in the sky and the trees hadn't gone anywhere!

Then we entered lockdown, and I actually began to enjoy myself - scrapbooking projects were completed, coffee dates became walks with friends, and I was thankful for a time to slow down. Then came the frustrating season of decision making - do we or don't we meet? Should church start back? Should my Bible study group be face to face? Can we start gathering women again?

…just live one day at a time and trust God for tomorrow.

This year, I’ve been learning the meaning of "you do not even know what will happen tomorrow" (James 4:13). I am normally a ‘planner’ - my diary would run my life! COVID-19 is teaching me to just live one day at a time and trust God for tomorrow. I have felt a sadness that relationships have become so disconnected - at church, with family, and beyond. People I would normally see at occasions, but those occasions didn’t happen - or not face-to-face. I look forward to a time when we can meet freely again and "encourage one another as we see the Day approaching" (Hebrews 10:25). But whatever happens in the new year, 2020 has taught me - to live one day at a time, in expectant hope for ‘the Day’.

Janine Clarke has served in parish ministry in Western Sydney alongside her husband, David, for over 20 years. They currently call Hoxton Park Anglican Church home. She survived her two children sitting HSC subjects in 2020, and has herself, enjoyed studying part-time at SMBC for the last 6 years.