17 Nov 2020

As one Australian state emerges from their horror run of coronavirus issues, another one is suddenly experiencing a cluster of infections that promises to get out of hand if not squashed down immediately. That particular state is about to go into a six day hard lockdown in the hopes it might nip it in the bud.

So, of course, the panic buying commenced again. Supermarket shelves are stripped of toilet paper and anything else deemed necessary to survive six days at home.

Did we not learn from the first time this panic buying happened, that we only need enough for our needs. We don’t need enough to survive a six YEAR lockdown, we don’t even need enough to survive a six week lockdown. Six days is all they are asking for, and even then supermarkets will still be open and systems will be in place for people to get what they need.

But our perception of what is ENOUGH has changed a little in this world of the virus, don’t you think?

I did have a little moment when I heard the South Australia virus concerns, wondering if I have enough food in the house to survive six days. And do you know – yes I have. I have enough toilet rolls, I have enough mince in the freezer, I have enough dishwashing liquid, I have enough milk, and I have enough coffee pods. I don’t think I have enough washing powder to last more than a couple more loads of washing, so that is something that would obviously have to be a casualty of whatever lockdown could theoretically happen.

I have enough.

I’m reminded of a Facebook post a little while back that told a story about a tender farewell scene at an airport with a very elderly mother (assumed to be not long for this earth) was farewelling her daughter who it’s assumed would not see her mother again before a funeral visit. Both the mother and the daughter said to each other “I wish you enough”. The author of the post enquired as to what it meant, and the mother told him it was a family thing, coming from this poem:

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.

I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

It’s beautiful, isn’t it? How much better would our lives be, if all we ever wanted, all we ever needed, was enough?

To not wish for more than we could ever need, to dream only in big numbers and big events, but to hope for each other that we have what we need. That we all have enough.

The starving children have enough food and water. The sick and injured have enough access to medical aid. Homeless people have enough security and shelter.

I could go on, but I’m throwing the door open to you all.

What do you wish others had enough of?