online life
Two funerals and a wedding
During this period when the epidemic is still unknown when it will end, many things are done online. Talking about the past with old classmates, we all like to live a physical life. Never thought that in this life we can experience the days from not having mobile phones to "can't miss the opportunity"; we miss all the things in the "peaceful period", such as traveling, shopping, and watching movies. Movies, meeting friends for dinner and chatting, etc. The ordinary things in life have now become Yiyi’s nostalgia and unknown expectations.
Perhaps we should really be thankful that we can live in the Internet age. Even when people cannot contact each other safely, they can still interact with each other online. Counting these days, I have attended two funerals, one wedding, and a baptism to be held by the church online, at least three online doctor consultations..., regular Sunday worship services, and fellowship gatherings. Not to mention.
For people born in the 1990s and 2000s, this method should not have much impact, because they have been born with "No Wi-Fi no life; no network is disadvantageous." Some even said that by playing games online with his brothers and sisters during this period, he felt closer to each other! All vegetables and radishes have their own merits. Of course, this cannot be denied. However, due to my upbringing and personal preferences, I really have no appetite for online games or similar entertainment, and I reluctantly refuse to play.
▲The author participated in a simple online wedding, omitting flowers and wedding banquets, but the vows made before God were still solemn.
There are too many unpredictable surprises in life. Among the two funerals I attended, one was an elder whom I respected very much, and the other was a young man under 30. The elder's funeral was planned and planned in a very short period of time and everyone spent a lot of energy on it. Everyone has so many reluctant thoughts. Even if it is held online, the participants can still be deeply moved by remembering the fragrant lives lived by their elders! This made me realize that no matter what form it is, as long as it is sincere and has a heart, it can emit heat and touch the heartstrings! Any medium is just a tool. Only the inner feelings can echo the soul deep in the human heart.
As for the wedding, everyone who knew the couple said in unison: "Ah, this really suits their style!" Because both the couple were very frugal, although the wedding was held in a church, due to Massachusetts' restrictions on the number of people allowed in the venue, There can be no more than ten people at the scene; after calculation, there are two grooms and brides, three photographers and on-site staff, one officiating priest, one translator, one pianist, and two spectators, which adds up to exactly ten people! The key point is that there is no need to hold a wedding banquet, prepare refreshments, arrange flowers and decorate the venue, print program notes, prepare small gifts for guests, and worry about the accommodation of parents, relatives and friends from far away. The bride didn’t buy a wedding dress, so she wore a long white dress, a veil, and a bunch of sunflowers (even the bouquet was omitted); the groom wore a yellow tie and a yellow bouquet. From the camera, the effect was amazing. Very good too. Everything is simplified, and the most important thing is that it saves a lot of money! There must have been over a hundred people watching the ceremony online, and most of them turned on their cameras and dressed formally, showing their importance to the wedding.
▲The epidemic has prevented everyone from attending weddings, but through the Internet platform, relatives and friends can still toast, dance and have fun together to bless the newlyweds.
How do you want to Zoom?
When I was shopping for groceries, I happened to meet a sister from the church on the street corner. She told me that she was very busy recently and had many things to do, such as teaching singing to the elderly using Zoom in a senior center. It is obvious that people over the age of 80 are rarely active on Zoom because they still have difficulties in operating it and need the help of their children or grandchildren. If they live alone, they have no chance. Also, as we grow older, we naturally cannot keep up with new things. Thinking about it, if it were not based on the needs of life, I would be too lazy to learn new knowledge, especially 3C products, which are changing with each passing day, one generation after another, it is really endless! The euphemistic name is to encourage mass consumption and invigorate the economy, but is this really the "daily diet" in our lives?
In line with the current situation, Zoom has many functions. Classes, fitness, chatting, dating... can all be carried out in the "room". After staying for a long time, I still yearn for the blue sky outside the window.
One time, I made an appointment with a young brother born in the 1990s who lives nearby, and we went out for a walk to get some fresh air. Behind the mask, he sighed: "I still need to talk to real people. When I work from home, sometimes I can't even say a word. It's really uncomfortable!" Look, after being held in the virtual space for a long time, except for super otakus and otakus, as long as He is a normal person and should not be tolerated by anyone.
Of course, everything has its pros and cons. The online world has reached a point where it is almost infinite. The external situation is changing rapidly. Who knows what will happen in the next second? In such a generation, it is easy to indulge and drift along, but it is also a time to be light and salt for the Lord. Crisis is also an opportunity. When things happen, God has hidden good intentions. It depends on how we accept them. Why not grasp the pervasive nature of the Internet like a virus, use this tool creatively, and use every possible means to occupy unreached territories, so that this "special period" will not be wasted!
Don't let the current situation stop you from moving forward. May you open the skylight and be inspired. Have you thought about how to live your online life next?
▲When can I go back to walking and chatting with friends under the blue sky? Even if the epidemic restricts activities, creativity is not limited, and neither is salt and light.
Mai Neng, a full-time painter, was awarded the Guggenheim Fellow 2007. He loves colors and painting. He uses personal symbols to tell life stories with God, people, and nature.