Finding The Silver Crowning (Of COVID19)

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It has been a week and a half since I started working from home; 4 days since I last stepped out of our village; 3 days since the community quarantine was put in place.  

Execution is definitely not flawless and guidelines have been changing on a daily (or even less than daily) basis.  And I get it.  This is not exactly the kind of situation they teach in school, plus we live in a 3rd world country with limited resources (and corrupt officials ... but I digress).  The government and everyone in the country are learning as we go. 

Now, more than ever, the country needs to pull together to carry us through these difficult times.  And I am very happy to see the Bayanihan spirit shining through.  Various individuals, groups and organizations are finding ways to help the frontliners and those most impacted by the economy slowing down. This gives me tremendous hope.

"And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." (Romans 5:5; from Sunday's 2nd Reading)

Times like these the natural tendency is to feel anxious, helpless, exasperated or even desperate.  But remaining in this state of mind does not really do anyone good, so let's recognize and acknowledge the feelings and then move on --- lest we lash out on other people and do things we will regret later on; or that aggravate the situation.  Instead, we should cling to the hope God has given us and trust that the "love God has poured into our hearts" will show us the way.

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All "bad" things are blessings in disguise.  I am a staunch believer of this.  It's proven and tested.  Yes, there were "bad" things that really hurt, but they always ALWAYS redirected me to somewhere I was meant to be. And it's always better.

Reflecting on COVID-19 taking the world by storm, the following are, I think, its silver crowning 😉

• Pause. After the initial flurry of panic buying and setting up work from home, we are actually forced to pause and take a break.  All of a sudden, we have TIME.
• Families reconnecting. The community quarantine forced people to stay at home, allowing for more quality interaction among family members beyond the usual rushed hi-hello-bye.
• Bayanihan spirit (Lending a helping hand).  Yes, a lot of people started panic buying.  But zoom in on those people who, amidst all that, noticed a need and filled it.  Australia started the "elderly hour" which gave the elderly an hour's leadtime to shop before the rush. Movements sprouted to help provide for the needs of the frontliners (food, equipment, transportation), the poor families who have nothing to eat.  Companies have converted production facilities to produce masks, alcohol, etc. Policemen cooking food and distributing them at checkpoints.  A fitness instructor on a roof, leading a workout session; or various fitness companies publishing free online classes.
• Mindful Consumption.  With the economy being crippled by the community quarantine, we have a heightened awareness of how finite our resources are; so, we are more mindful of our consumption and are less wasteful.
• A return to God (or that higher power one believes in). This is something that cannot be resolved by a single individual.  There is no one solution to fix this.  All we can do is trust.

Lastly and most importantly, Reprieve for Mother Earth.  She is finally able to take a breath from humankind's battery.  Companies shutting down drastically improved the air quality in different countries.  There is marked reduction in carbon footprint from transportation, especially air travel. That's how many days of no air conditioning in offices!

I think this is the number one lesson we all should take away from this.  We were brought into this world to be its stewards yet we had been greedy and irresponsible, to say the least. There is a consequence to every action.  This was a consequence to years of mismanagement of Earth's gifts. 

It is my hope that we all take seriously the lessons COVID19 (and the past natural disasters) is trying to impart and take proactive steps to ensure the future generations do not forget. 

"Moses spoke to the people and said: “Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decrees which I am teaching you to observe, that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you. 5 Therefore, I teach you the statutes and decrees as the Lord, my God, has commanded me, that you may observe them in the land you are entering to occupy.

... , take care and be earnestly on your guard not to forget the things which your own eyes have seen, nor let them slip from your memory as long as you live, but teach them to your children and to your children’s children." (Deuteronomy 4:1,5,9; from today's 1st Reading)

Art by Inadoodles