Editor's Note: There is a popular saying circulated online recently, "The best way to live is to read when being confused, exercise when being anxious, and recharge your batteries when being alone." This quote would be very inspirational and blessing for people living a normal life. However, for Shanghai residents who are currently living under the shadow of the epidemic, it is obviously not applicable. Dreams are always better than reality.
One of my friends based in Shanghai said: "They (Shanghainese citizens) don't want to eat home-cooked meals anymore. After the lockdown is lifted, they must go out to eat at restaurants and 'eat up' all the restaurants." He calmed down for a while and then continued, "But due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many restaurants have already closed before they can eat outside of home."
It is not easy for many people to get through this unprecedented period of the epidemic due to home-based isolation and community lockdown, which easily triggered anxiety, depression, spiritual suffering and other sorrows. Under difficult circumstances, we especially need to learn how to save ourselves spiritually, including Christians.
Recently Christian Times, an online Chinese Christian newspaper, interviewed several Christians living in Shanghai, with which we can truly understand how they have been able to transcend the real environment through leading an active life and the power of faith in the unfortunate situation.
The following is a summary of their sharing:
Believer A:
"After our residential compound was closed around March 10, I began to train myself to adapt to working from home with a routine, such as regular work, exercise, and guitar lessons. Three deliveries of supplies we have received, plus the food we had stored ourselves, are sufficient for the moment.
"Now I think about how I have lived previously all day long, activities such as attending church where I led praising and practiced the piano, working in the office, all of which have now become my fond memories. I actually miss the ordinary life I had before. I can’t step out of home now, except to go downstairs for PCR testing. Otherwise, I just stay at home.
"A lot of negative information reaches me every day, for which I have begun to meditate on life and death. In any case, I have faith that the power of the Cross can change hearts."
Believer B:
"During the COVID-19 epidemic, in my residential building, all families are elders, except that our family has two children. Our compound was locked down on March 11, which might be one of the first in Shanghai to be closed. At that time, the epidemic situation became more and more tense. It was my last day working in the office. At the time I didn't realize how serious the problem was. I just bought 5 kinds of vegetables for about 20 yuan. Back then, I thought they were too expensive. Compared to vegetable prices now, they were super cheap.
"The milk I ordered on JD.com (a large Chinese e-commerce company) has not been delivered for a month, and the delivery time has been put off every day. My children have been crying while holding the bottle when they had no milk to drink.
"We have two boys, but my wife and I have to work. So, our home became the 'battlefield' except when we slept. The children quarreled when they were happy, and fought when they were not. All we could do was to cut the fingernails of the little one, so that he wouldn’t scratch the face of his elder brother. The older boy took online classes, which could consume some of his energy. But the little one had no way to release his energy, for which he often woke up in the middle of the night and hung around everywhere. Waking up in the morning, sometimes we found him sleeping on the floor. In this environment, both adults and children could simply tend to have mental disorders. Later, my wife and I felt that we needed to do family worship and share the Bible among us, so that we could ensure good mental health.
"I believe that what seems bad can turn good. Everything works together. Shanghai will definitely recover."
Believer C:
"Before our compound was closed, we went to the nearby vegetable stores, but found there was nothing to buy. Some elder people had bought dozens of kilos of meat. Because they couldn't shop online, they’d go to these stores for panic buying early in the morning. Therefore, it was difficult for us to acquire vegetables at that time.
"At the end of March, the building we lived in was locked down because of a confirmed positive case. With the 7+7 policy, our building was to be closed for 14 days. Being notified early on one Sunday morning, we had only 2 hours to shop in the supermarket before the lockdown deadline. We had never seen such a scene, the queue at the cashiers’ counters was longer than that at farmers’ market at my hometown. We spent 500 yuan on quick-frozen dumplings, soy sauce, eggs, vegetables that last long such as carrots and onions. We also asked a colleague to buy some food for us near his home and delivered to us that day.
"A few weeks have passed since then. My biggest anxiety is that we won’t have enough food supplies. We're consuming food very carefully now. I panic every time when thinking that there could be no more food. Thankfully, I participate in some online prayer meetings held by some Christian brothers and sisters every day, which has restored a lot of peace in my heart."
Believer D:
"We are a married couple and a roommate, who are home-based isolated together. For the first week, we all felt very happy, because at other times it was difficult for us to have time to cook and eat together. I only started to feel anxious when we were about to finish all the food we had stocked in the second week. With no information from official channels, I inclined to believe the rumors I heard without knowing whether they were true or not, which made me feel very unsettled. Every time the group-purchase platform sent a notification of an order failure, I felt very upset and exhausted physically and mentally. I was on the brink of snapping. Later, I thought I had to live differently, so my roommate and I set up an exercise group and a book reading group, and invited Christian believers to join us. At the same time, we also joined the prayer group of the church. These activities helped comfort our souls."
Believer E:
"I was diagnosed with COVID-19 last Saturday and transferred to a mobile cabin hospital two days later. Before I was most worried about not being able to sleep well there with too many people present. Upon arrival, I found that there would be four people in one room, so I could rest well. Now I’m in a good mood and fed well, expecting to test negative in a week or so."
Believer F:
"During the epidemic, I read a lot of negative information on the Internet, for which I seemed to have PTSD. My heart was very hurt when taking both positive and negative information seriously.
"In reality, the most difficult thing is to buy food supplies. Fortunately, there are group buying leaders and volunteers taking care of it.
"Now the most respected people in Shanghai are the group leaders who are residents in communities and volunteered to be leaders helping purchase and distribute food. Residents in many communities in Shanghai organize “bartering", for example, some barter their Coke for sugar. Some people just give what they have for free when others need it. The kindness between people is heartwarming."
Believer G:
"My biggest gain from the pandemic is that I have repented much. I think that I used to be very ignorant and proud. Now my relationship with my mother has improved a lot. Before I often complained about my mother storing too many things at home. I couldn’t stand her shopping habits that she bought too much food that she couldn't finish eating before they went bad, for which she ate rotten vegetable leaves and sprout potatoes. Now that I have repented a lot, I have decided to stock up on necessities with my mother when the pandemic is over."
- Translated by Shuya Wang
编者按：最近网络上流行这样一句话：“一个人最好的活法：迷茫时读书，焦虑时运动，独处时蓄力。”这句话对于在正常生活秩序里的人来说是很好的激励和祝福，但对于目前处于疫情中心的上海居民来说，这句话显然是不适用的。理想很饱满，现实很骨感。
笔者的一位上海朋友说：“他们已经不愿再吃家里做的饭了，解封后一定要去外面饭店吃饭，把饭店‘吃垮’。”他淡定了一会又说，“不过疫情的威力下，很多饭店没等去吃，已经垮了。”
疫情居家隔离和小区封控，如何度过这段特殊的期间，对于许多人来说，并不容易，人很容易积累焦虑、抑郁、心灵等各种忧伤。艰难的处境下，我们尤其需要学会心灵自救，对基督徒也不例外。
笔者近来聆听了来自生活在上海的几位基督徒弟兄姐妹的分享。通过他们的分享，我们可以真实地了解到他们在艰难的处境下如何藉积极生活和信仰的力量超越真实的环境。
以下是他们的分享摘要：
朋友A：
“我们小区3月十几号封禁之后，我开始训练自己适应在家工作的状态，比如，有规律的工作、运动，学吉他。我们收到过三次物资投送，加上我们自己囤的粮食，目前暂时都是够用的。
我现在整天想着以前的生活，比如去教会带领赞美啊，去教会练琴啊，去办公室工作啊，现在都成为了我美好的回忆。我现在居然很怀念之前那平凡的生活，我现在足不出户，除了下楼做核酸，就是在家里待着。
每天有很多负面的信息进来，我的心开始对人的生死的事情有了默想。不管怎么样，我自己很确信十字架的能力是可以改变人的心。
朋友B：
疫情中，我们所在的楼，只有我们家有两个孩子，其他家都是老人。我们小区是3月11日封控的，可能是这上海最早的一批封控的小区了，那个时候疫情局势就变得越来越很紧张了，这是我最后一天在办公室上班。当时我没有意识到问题的严重性。我就买了5种蔬菜，花了20多元，当时觉还得贵，现在看那时候菜太便宜了。
我在京东下单的牛奶一个月都没有送过来，每天配送的时间都会往后退，孩子喝不到牛奶 会抱着奶瓶流眼泪。
我们家两个男孩，我们要工作，除了我们睡觉时间，就是‘战场’。 孩子们高兴就吵架，不高兴就打架，我们能做的是给老二剪手指甲，以免给哥哥脸过度抓伤。老大会上网课，精力可以消耗掉一些。老二没有什么途径释放精力，半夜经常醒了，就到处乱串，早上起来发现睡在地板上。在这种环境下，无论是大人还是孩子，很容易开始出现心理问题，后来，我和妻子觉的需要做家庭礼拜，给大人和孩子分享圣经，从而我们保证心灵的健康。
“我相信坏事会变成好事，万事都互相效力，上海一定会恢复过来的。”
朋友C：
小区封之前，我们去附近的菜店，已经没有可以买的了。有的年纪大的，他们买几十斤的肉，因为他们不会网络购物，他们一大早就去抢菜，当时买菜比较难。
3月底的时候，我们住的楼因为有确诊的所以成为封控楼，7+7政策，我们这个楼道就要封14天，周日一大早通知的，距离截止前我们就有2个小时的时间去超市买菜，我们从来没有见过这种场面，比家里赶集排的队还长。我们花了500元钱，买了速冻水饺、生抽、鸡蛋、蔬菜、 胡萝卜、洋葱等耐放的菜。我们当天还让同同事在他家附近帮我们买菜送过来。
现在已经几周过去了，我最焦虑的是担心吃的不够，我们现在吃的非常节省，每次想到如果后面就没有菜了，心里很恐慌。感谢的是，我透过网络参加每天一些弟兄姐妹做的祷告会，心里有了很多的平安。
朋友D：
我们夫妻和一个室友一共三个人一开始隔离的时候，大家都觉得很开心，因为我们很难有时间一起做饭、吃饭，这是第一周。从第二周最开始的菜快吃完的的时候，我才开始焦虑，后面听到很多谣言，因为没有信息所以很容易相信这些不知道真假的东西，内心很不安。每次都是团购的菜发出失败的提示，心理就是很沮丧，身体和精力非常疲惫，觉得内心消耗的差不多了。后来觉得不能这样了，我就和舍友一起建立了运动群、读书会的群，自发邀请弟兄姐妹我们一起。同时我们也加入教会的祷告群，通过这些方式，我们的心灵得到帮助。
朋友E：
我上周六确诊的，二天后转运到方舱。我之前最担心的是人太多睡不好，来了之后没想到这里是四个人一个房间，所以我在方舱会得到比较多的休息，心态还好，吃的也不错，期待一周左右可以尽快转阴。
朋友F：
疫情中，会在网上我看到很多负面信息，好像我也有了应激创伤综合症一样。正面和负面的信息进入到心里，心里就很受伤。
现实中最难的是抢菜，幸亏出现了团菜的团长和志愿者。
上海最让人受尊敬是团长，团长是小区里的人自发成为团长，从而帮助小区的人采购和发放食物的人。上海很多小区里面居民自发的“以物换物”，比如有的人有可乐，有的人有白糖。有的人是看到别人的需要就直接免费送。人与人之间的善意让人觉得很温暖。
朋友G：
这次疫情我最大的收获就是悔改了很多，我觉得自己以前非常的无知和骄傲，现在我和我妈妈的关系也改善了很多，因为我以前天天埋怨我妈妈囤东西，看不惯我妈买东西一买买那么多吃不完都坏了，还吃烂的菜叶、长牙的土豆。现在我悔改了很多，我决定疫情结束跟我妈妈一起囤东西。
上海疫情中几位弟兄姐妹的分享：艰难中如何心灵自救？
Editor's Note: There is a popular saying circulated online recently, "The best way to live is to read when being confused, exercise when being anxious, and recharge your batteries when being alone." This quote would be very inspirational and blessing for people living a normal life. However, for Shanghai residents who are currently living under the shadow of the epidemic, it is obviously not applicable. Dreams are always better than reality.
One of my friends based in Shanghai said: "They (Shanghainese citizens) don't want to eat home-cooked meals anymore. After the lockdown is lifted, they must go out to eat at restaurants and 'eat up' all the restaurants." He calmed down for a while and then continued, "But due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many restaurants have already closed before they can eat outside of home."
It is not easy for many people to get through this unprecedented period of the epidemic due to home-based isolation and community lockdown, which easily triggered anxiety, depression, spiritual suffering and other sorrows. Under difficult circumstances, we especially need to learn how to save ourselves spiritually, including Christians.
Recently Christian Times, an online Chinese Christian newspaper, interviewed several Christians living in Shanghai, with which we can truly understand how they have been able to transcend the real environment through leading an active life and the power of faith in the unfortunate situation.
The following is a summary of their sharing:
Believer A:
"After our residential compound was closed around March 10, I began to train myself to adapt to working from home with a routine, such as regular work, exercise, and guitar lessons. Three deliveries of supplies we have received, plus the food we had stored ourselves, are sufficient for the moment.
"Now I think about how I have lived previously all day long, activities such as attending church where I led praising and practiced the piano, working in the office, all of which have now become my fond memories. I actually miss the ordinary life I had before. I can’t step out of home now, except to go downstairs for PCR testing. Otherwise, I just stay at home.
"A lot of negative information reaches me every day, for which I have begun to meditate on life and death. In any case, I have faith that the power of the Cross can change hearts."
Believer B:
"During the COVID-19 epidemic, in my residential building, all families are elders, except that our family has two children. Our compound was locked down on March 11, which might be one of the first in Shanghai to be closed. At that time, the epidemic situation became more and more tense. It was my last day working in the office. At the time I didn't realize how serious the problem was. I just bought 5 kinds of vegetables for about 20 yuan. Back then, I thought they were too expensive. Compared to vegetable prices now, they were super cheap.
"The milk I ordered on JD.com (a large Chinese e-commerce company) has not been delivered for a month, and the delivery time has been put off every day. My children have been crying while holding the bottle when they had no milk to drink.
"We have two boys, but my wife and I have to work. So, our home became the 'battlefield' except when we slept. The children quarreled when they were happy, and fought when they were not. All we could do was to cut the fingernails of the little one, so that he wouldn’t scratch the face of his elder brother. The older boy took online classes, which could consume some of his energy. But the little one had no way to release his energy, for which he often woke up in the middle of the night and hung around everywhere. Waking up in the morning, sometimes we found him sleeping on the floor. In this environment, both adults and children could simply tend to have mental disorders. Later, my wife and I felt that we needed to do family worship and share the Bible among us, so that we could ensure good mental health.
"I believe that what seems bad can turn good. Everything works together. Shanghai will definitely recover."
Believer C:
"Before our compound was closed, we went to the nearby vegetable stores, but found there was nothing to buy. Some elder people had bought dozens of kilos of meat. Because they couldn't shop online, they’d go to these stores for panic buying early in the morning. Therefore, it was difficult for us to acquire vegetables at that time.
"At the end of March, the building we lived in was locked down because of a confirmed positive case. With the 7+7 policy, our building was to be closed for 14 days. Being notified early on one Sunday morning, we had only 2 hours to shop in the supermarket before the lockdown deadline. We had never seen such a scene, the queue at the cashiers’ counters was longer than that at farmers’ market at my hometown. We spent 500 yuan on quick-frozen dumplings, soy sauce, eggs, vegetables that last long such as carrots and onions. We also asked a colleague to buy some food for us near his home and delivered to us that day.
"A few weeks have passed since then. My biggest anxiety is that we won’t have enough food supplies. We're consuming food very carefully now. I panic every time when thinking that there could be no more food. Thankfully, I participate in some online prayer meetings held by some Christian brothers and sisters every day, which has restored a lot of peace in my heart."
Believer D:
"We are a married couple and a roommate, who are home-based isolated together. For the first week, we all felt very happy, because at other times it was difficult for us to have time to cook and eat together. I only started to feel anxious when we were about to finish all the food we had stocked in the second week. With no information from official channels, I inclined to believe the rumors I heard without knowing whether they were true or not, which made me feel very unsettled. Every time the group-purchase platform sent a notification of an order failure, I felt very upset and exhausted physically and mentally. I was on the brink of snapping. Later, I thought I had to live differently, so my roommate and I set up an exercise group and a book reading group, and invited Christian believers to join us. At the same time, we also joined the prayer group of the church. These activities helped comfort our souls."
Believer E:
"I was diagnosed with COVID-19 last Saturday and transferred to a mobile cabin hospital two days later. Before I was most worried about not being able to sleep well there with too many people present. Upon arrival, I found that there would be four people in one room, so I could rest well. Now I’m in a good mood and fed well, expecting to test negative in a week or so."
Believer F:
"During the epidemic, I read a lot of negative information on the Internet, for which I seemed to have PTSD. My heart was very hurt when taking both positive and negative information seriously.
"In reality, the most difficult thing is to buy food supplies. Fortunately, there are group buying leaders and volunteers taking care of it.
"Now the most respected people in Shanghai are the group leaders who are residents in communities and volunteered to be leaders helping purchase and distribute food. Residents in many communities in Shanghai organize “bartering", for example, some barter their Coke for sugar. Some people just give what they have for free when others need it. The kindness between people is heartwarming."
Believer G:
"My biggest gain from the pandemic is that I have repented much. I think that I used to be very ignorant and proud. Now my relationship with my mother has improved a lot. Before I often complained about my mother storing too many things at home. I couldn’t stand her shopping habits that she bought too much food that she couldn't finish eating before they went bad, for which she ate rotten vegetable leaves and sprout potatoes. Now that I have repented a lot, I have decided to stock up on necessities with my mother when the pandemic is over."
- Translated by Shuya Wang
Shanghai Christians During COVID-19: Having Faith in Difficult Times
