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By Mélinée Le Priol | France
How do you go outside during almost two months of lockdown, when you could be fined if your self-declaration form for doing so is deemed unacceptable?
"One-hundred and thirty-five euro is a lot of money!"
How do you cope with the absence of social ties when you don't have Internet at home, or when psychological weaknesses make you suddenly "crack", requiring a stay in a psychiatric clinic?
There is no good answer, say people from the Sappel Community whose mission is to evangelize and assist the poorest of the poor.
The community was created in 1989 in the Alpine region of southeast France inspired by the thinking of Father Joseph Wresinski, founder of the ATD Fourth World movement.
"In any case, for years I have been living from day to day," says Françoise (first names have been changed), a mother in the Lyon area, who attends the prayer group offered by this Christian community.
"Every time I made plans, something would get in the way, so now I just 'take it day by day'," she says.
As with the ten or so people whose testimonies the Sappel community has been gathering by telephone over the last few days, faith seems to play an essential role in Françoise's life.
"When I don't pray, I feel really vulnerable, I feel uneasy, I miss something. I have lived through such hard things all my life and God has always given me strength," she says.
"Clinging" to God, "holding on", having a "less painful" life, thanks to faith...
These are common expressions one hears from these people familiar with poverty and exclusion. The COVID-19 health crisis and lockdown has sometimes seemed to them to be just one more trial in a lifetime of "struggles".
Being Christian, they say, helps them to bear their material poverty.
"We may have fewer things, but we realize that they are essential," says a 55-year-old named Véronique.
The difficulties resulting from lockdown, however, create a sense of rebellion in some people.
"How do those who don't have money do it? Do they let themselves die?" says an indignant Daphnée, who has just bought 100 gloves for €13 - "far too expensive".
"Everything I say, I say it to the Lord. I think he's overwhelmed, but he listens to us," she says.
"I find it hard to listen to God's answer because I am so revolted," she adds.
Jeanne, for her part, does not believe confinement prevents her from living her faith. On the contrary, she says it's actually "helpful" to her.
On days when she is not working at the hospital, this 23-year-old woman has more time to devote to her interior life.
"My God, I would so much like for the solidarity that is present during this difficult time to remain afterwards," she asks in prayer.
"May the poorest and most fragile continue to be helped, both psychologically and financially," prays Jeanne.
A community celebrating its 30th anniversary
In spite of the physical separation, the members of the Sappel have found a way to maintain their connections during the spring lockdown
The telephone, above all, has allowed moments of sharing around the Bible, prayer intentions, and even liturgical times such as the blessings of palms...
That doesn't even count the "spiritual gifts" that come with text messaging.
For its 30th anniversary, the Sappel community had planned a gathering of about 800 people on May 22-23.
But because of the coronavirus pandemic, the event will not take place as planned. Instead, it be "redeployed" differently during the second half of 2020, particularly through smaller meetings.
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