There is No PLAN(ET) B
Phew!! A virus comes
from somewhere causing illnesses, deaths, and commotion. It quickly goes on to decelerate the pace of
an already slow world economy creating dips in an ever-volatile stock
market. There is fear across borders, within the countries and almost
every corner of the earth.
A pandemic declared. Quarantines,
social distancing and lockdowns jump out of crossword puzzles into our regular
conversations. An unprecedented time in our history arrives; an
uninvited guest makes the earth it's home.
The COVID-19 pandemic
continues to impact the health of the world, the businesses we rely upon, the
global economy, every object we hold dear and the way we live our daily lives. Lockdowns
have affected places of worship, made sceptics mock God and devotees cry in
fear. Schools, colleges, places of employment, shopping malls,
theatres, stadiums all heard the rolling of shutters and screeching of iron
gates. A silence that was louder than every hustle we heard.
Socially,
historically, environmentally and scientifically perhaps this has been one of
the most complicated if not the gravest crisis the world has seen in many
years. The question is why so? Records show deadlier diseases,
wars and fierce calamities have taken much more lives than COVID-19. Then why
does this phenomenon look and feel so different? Why and how has it
united the world by gripping fear on one hand and hope to salvage what is left,
on the other? Why has it put our Universe on hold?
As we all continue to
navigate through these unique and evolving challenges, I am sure each one of us
is gaining new insights, sharpening our mental agility and seeing different
perspectives. Not with the intention of getting ahead by reiterating
survival of the fittest. Not insights of being stronger, dynamic,
highly intellectual or exceptionally capable. Just simple lessons of
continued existence learnt from meaningfully engaging ourselves and aligning
our souls.
Today we are
unlearning; simplifying life to cope with the demons we have meticulously
crafted. Complications that emerged out of our own misdoings have
finally confused us.
We were almost
forgetting to read, converse, hum tunes or tap our heels. We have
become slaves of our own inventions. Living assisted lives that
leave us challenged even at a moment’s disruption. We have
essentially lost our independence to our conveniences that had promised to
liberate.
In my experience,
since the crisis hit home I have made adjustments; fine-tuning myself to
different environments and being calm. I am striving to be more
resilient, self-reliant and have had realisations that go beyond the
now.
Above all,
appreciating every moment as it comes, taking nothing for granted and
understanding faith over fear.
My belief allows me
the privilege to look at it from two angles; the scientific viewpoint and my
Creator’s perspective. However, when I tried to study them
separately, I was reasonably amazed that there was no difference between the
lessons of my textbooks and my Bible.
Therefore, I will
merge them to reflect on my take away thus far.
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