Joy Marie Ibsen
Pandemic Parables was written during the COVID-19 pandemic when our world had become topsy-turvy! The COVID-19 Pandemic (2020-2023) was a time of great political and personal unrest. Worldwide, more than 7.2 million people died. While many accounts describe causes and statistics, few books have been written about life during the pandemic when the effect of COVID on our culture and society turned us inward. This book is divided into two parts. The first ⅔ of the book contains stories about people during the pandemic who attend a fictional congregation in Albuquerque, NM. Various characters include a restaurant owner, a recovering alcoholic, an avalanche victim, the loving son of a man dying from COVID-19, a couple eager for a big wedding, a relocating grandmother, and several others. Pastor Maria presents messages over Zoom, which I based on Harald Ibsen’s (my father) old sermon notes with added new love sprinkles.The book ends with a description of The New Paradigm--Love, Truth, Wisdom, Openness, Light, Gratitude, Compassion, Intuition, Individuality, Community, Service, Equality, Justice, Cooperation, Balance. Our basic nature has changed due to a new balance of Divine Female and Male energies. Hopefully, life on earth will change. Sadly, numerous natural disasters are likely to continue-- storms, earthquakes, fires, famine. We must do everything we can to preserve the world we have. We can make a new world happen. New forces will dominate. The New Paradigm will be cosmic and personal. Help make it happen.
