It is by no means an exaggeration to say that COVID-19 dominates life today in most parts of the world. Hardly anyone is exempted from the impact, one way or another, of COVID-19. For most people their every waking moment is filled with news, conversations, thoughts, and yes fear of the virus. Perhaps an equal claim could be made that it occupies our sleeping moments too. The people working on the frontline of the war against this disease such as medical people, scientists trying to find a vaccine, politicians trying to reassure their people, business owners, workers, those infected by the virus, worried folks who fear being infected, and grieving people who have lost loved ones must dream about the virus. One of the countless ways this virus has changed our lives is that it brought into our every-day conversation new language. Since the Corona virus struck words like social distancing and self-isolation have become part of our vocabulary. These two expressions and the reality they birthed forced churches into distant-worshipping.
COVID-19 has heightened our appreciation for social media. For its perceived abuse by people, mostly the younger population, the social media got a bad rap and reputation. One might say that in these times of COVID-19 the social has been redeemed in the eyes of many who were critical of it. Since we cannot gather in the usual ways and meet
face to face we now do so on social media. The faithful gather around computers and other technology to worship in the privacy and safety of their homes, cars or wherever they may find themselves. At the beginning of March who would have thought that this was the way we would be worshipping, more especially at Holy Week and Easter. Let us give thanks for social media. Amidst these difficult times of COVID-19 there are many good things happening and being learnt. Locked in their homes and unable to live life normally, people are learning the true value of things such as face to face communication, community, spending quality time with family, gathering with friends and family, freedom to go where and when they please, among many more. Those who are accustomed to being in control are learning how to live without being able to control things. Now is a time for people to understand that they are only mortals, even if they like to think and often do act as if they are more than mortals. People will not always be able to be in control of events, situations and life. It is called being human. This may bring feelings of helplessness, frustration, impatience and even anger. As humans we have limitations.
The days of COVID-19 are days for serious reflections, sober actions and a sensible approach to life in the post-COVID-19 era. COVID-19 can make us better people, nations and a better world, if we learn its lessons. One of those lessons is humility.
It is a virus; not even a living thing. Yet humans with all their power, intelligence, knowledge, military might and resources are brought to their knees, if not literally, then metaphorically, by the virus. But we are humans and so we will overcome this. It will pass. Life will go back to normalcy, even if it will be a new normalcy. Stay safe. Be safe.