Dear Parents and Carers,

One of the loveliest things about working at St Mary’s and in the Milton Ulladulla communities is the connection with the water and the sea. Our students share stories of surfing and diving and being out on and in the water. Our community, like all of NSW, is hyper-vigilant  and anxious about many things at the moment, some to do with COVID and others unrelated but equally concerning to each person that is navigating each day. So this week I wanted to share this reflection one of our teachers shared with staff. Our school sign this week says “Gratitude, empathy and prayer’, let’s try this week to understand and pray for each other in our varied boats and the stormy waters we are travelling through….

WE ARE NOT IN THE SAME BOAT ...

I heard that we are all in the same boat, but it's not like that. We are in the same storm, but not in the same boat.

Your ship could be shipwrecked and mine might not be. Or vice versa.

For some, quarantine is optimal. A moment of reflection, of re-connection, easy in flip flops, with a cocktail or coffee. For others, this is a desperate financial & family crisis.

For some that live alone they're facing endless loneliness. While for others it is peace, rest & time with their mother, father, sons & daughters.

With the weekly increase in unemployment benefits some are bringing in more money to their households than they were working. Others are working more hours for less money due to pay cuts or loss in sales.

Some families of 4 just received benefits from the stimulus while other families of 4 saw $0.

Some were concerned about missing out on their annual holiday while others were concerned if there would be enough bread, milk and eggs for the weekend.

Some want to go back to work because they don't qualify for unemployment and are running out of money. Others want to kill those who break the quarantine.

Some are home spending 2-3 hours/day helping their child with online schooling while others are spending 2-3 hours/day to educate their children on top of a 10-12 hour workday.

Some have experienced the near death of the virus, some have already lost someone from it and some are not sure if their loved ones are going to make it. Others don't believe this is a big deal.

Some have faith in God and expect miracles during this 2021. Others say the worst is yet to come.

So, friends, we are not in the same boat. We are going through a time when our perceptions and needs are completely different.

Each of us will emerge, in our own way, from this storm. It is very important to see beyond what is seen at first glance. Not just looking, actually seeing.

We are all on different ships during this storm experiencing a very different journey.

May your waters be calm this week……

Yours in partnership,

Laurinda Nelson