Former hostage Terry Waite CBE has offered a message of hope to readers during the Covid-19 lockdown measures.
The Church of England envoy, who spent nearly five years alone in an underground cell in Beirut from 1987 to 1991, is self-isolating at his home in Hartest.
He told the Suffolk Free Press that the first key to coping at this time was an ability to learn quickly to adapt to the new situation.
“A lot of people will be very worried for the future, for their jobs and businesses and their own welfare.
“The way to deal with that is to recognise that we have to learn to live one day at a time,” said Mr Waite.
“It is no use to be worried about the future. Life is today and not tomorrow, so plan to live it.
“The second thing is, although being in isolation can be difficult, it can be creative and there are all sorts of opportunities.”
Mr Waite said that when he was held captive, he had nothing and slept on the floor of a dark room for almost five years.
“If you’d told me I would experience that, I’d have said I would never stand it. But you find you have reserves that you didn’t know you had,” he said.
“This is also a time for perhaps some experimenting. This time may never come again.
“What I’m saying is, use it well. Your life is now and not tomorrow. I used to think my time in captivity was a wasted experience, but it wasn’t.
“I do understand how difficult it is for people. All we can do is our best. A crisis can bring out the best and worst in people, but the best always comes to the surface.”
The 80-year-old has been isolating at home for more than three weeks, with Hartest villagers helping out by buying his shopping and delivering it to his home, prompting Mr Waite to praise the “brilliant” sense of community.
“One of the positive things coming out of this is that we’re really discovering the importance of community,” he added.
“It is something we have always known, but we are realising it again afresh. Maybe good things will come from this.
“I’d like to underline how important it is to stay at home. It is really vital if we are to support the NHS.
“I’d also like to express thanks to all those who are serving in shops and keeping us going. They are doing a great job.”
Report by Camille Berriman, courtesy of Suffolk Free Press 21 April 2020
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