Isolation

Father Joji and I in front of LAMP's Piper Lance

Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
    if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
    your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
    and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
    the night will shine like the day,
    for darkness is as light to you.

Psalm 139:7-12

 Isolation is a big part of living in a remote, northern community. With no roads to many of the communities, coming and going is not always easy and people can easily feel cut off from the rest of the world. The current state of the pandemic has not helped matters either, and there are many people that struggle with feelings of seclusion and loneliness throughout the year.

Along with the First Nations people living in reserves, there are pastors, priests, missionaries, teachers and nurses that have come from thousands of miles away to live and help in these communities.  Separated from their families and friends, they are not immune to the feelings of loneliness that are all too common.

Ministering to these people and the local church is also a part of LAMP’s work, and sometimes they go through difficult and challenging times.  

Father Joji is a young man that came as a missionary from India and was sent to the most northeastern part of Saskatchewan to a community called Wollaston Lake, where he serves as the Catholic priest.  I first met Father Joji shortly after he started, about six or seven years ago. Over the years, he has been instrumental in helping us arrange for the VBS there and is always excited to have us come and visit.

Every time I have gone to visit Father Joji, he has always been so thrilled to see us. Greeted with a warm smile and a hug, he’s always eager to share what’s been happening in the community. His hospitality knows no bounds as he often wants to cook for us and offers his home for us to spend the night.

However, a couple of years ago, as we prepared to go and visit with him, we spoke with him on the phone to let him know we were coming. I could tell something was wrong.  His voice was not filled with the joy and excitement that it usually is. 

When we arrived at his home, his face was downcast and filled with sadness.

After talking for a while, he began to open up about what was bothering him. His father, back in India, had become seriously ill, and he longed to go visit him.  However, his Canadian visa was expiring, and though he had been trying for months to get it renewed, if he left, he would not be allowed back into Canada until the renewal was completed. 

Given all of the delays that had occurred, he didn’t know how long or even if his visa would be renewed.  He was torn between going to see his ailing father and continuing in his ministry to the people of Wollaston Lake.

Looking out at the community of Wollaston Lake

Although we could not help him with the visa situation, we were able to spend some time with him in prayer, bringing these issues and his feelings of isolation before God, reminding him that though he may be isolated and far away from his family, he is not alone.  As we prayed, his spirit began to lift and, as we finished our time there, he seemed to be getting back to normal.

A few days later, we heard from Father Joji that his visa had been approved and he had been able to book a flight back home to see his father and family, a true answer to prayer.

Right now, I’m sure many of us are dealing with feelings of isolation. In the midst of a lockdown, without churches gathering, families meeting for birthdays and holidays as they normally would, or friends being able to get together, it’s very easy to begin to feel alone. 

What some of us are experiencing now are feelings that many in secluded and isolated places all across northern Canada deal with all year. As we approach winter, with the colder temperatures and shorter days, the feelings of loneliness and despair only seem to intensify.

We look to bring the message of hope that Christ gives us to those suffering from loneliness and isolation.  Though we may be separated from each other for the time being, we can never be separated from Christ.  The lonely and isolated can be assured that even during the darkest times, there is no distance can ever take us away from the presence of God.