SHIFTING PARADIGMS THROUGH A PANDEMIC : PART 1 - 3 min read

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.

 

 (To be continued - "Unlock the Lockdown")

Images: Courtesy Google Images

https://www.claremontlincoln.edu/engage/social-impact/shifting-paradigms-change-way-view-world/

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