During our present experience of living and dealing with a Pandemic, people express many and diverse reactions as to what is a reasonable and coping response. We are in an age that has become accustomed to having answers to all problems, and this was evidenced in our general acceptance of putting up with a serious but short blip in our normal lives. With the realization that we have a greater problem than first envisaged we need a permanent outlook that can sustain us.
Three thoughts have been of great help to me and I gently offer them for consideration together with quotes from great minds of the past.
FORBEARANCE =
Patience / Tolerance / Self-control
JUSTICE =
Treat Fairly / Appreciate Duly
MERCY =
Refraining from inflicting retribution on an offender who is in ones power 'For present joys are more to flesh and blood than a dull prospect of a distant good ' ( John Dryden The Hind and the Panther )
'If all mankind minus one, were of the same opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind ( John Stuart Mill 'On Liberty)
'If Love can persuade at all, or the Spirit we have in common, then be united in your convictions and in your love, with a common purpose and a common mind. Always consider the other person to be better than yourself, so that nobody thinks of his own interest first but everybody thinks of other peoples interests
instead ' (St Paul)
'The quality of mercy is not strain'd; It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath: it is twice bless'd; It blesses him that gives and him that takes (Portia in The Merchant of Venice)
'Two men look out through the same bars : One sees the mud; and One the stars (Frederick Langbridge 1849-1923)

Father Neil Gallagher,
St  Brides RC Church