Like everybody, I have voluntarily stayed at home for the past few weeks, observing the government’s imposed community quarantine. With lots of idle time on my hands, I spent some of the time jotting down personal thoughts, reflections and ruminations about what’s happening.
Begging your indulgence, let me share the random jottings of someone who looks at these times from the perspective of more than six decades of accumulated experience.
Just like a scene from the movies where you have a mask-wearing desperado holding up a bank, now the whole world is wearing the ubiquitous mask.
But here’s the twist. We are the ones being held hostage by a hold-upper named Covid-19, pointing a loaded gun at our heads. We are told to stay down and not make a move.
As the clock ticks by we, the terrorized hostages, are being flicked like flies, one by one. This hold-upper is not only ruthless, it is an equal opportunity killer. He rolls the barrel of his gun and without warning, pulls the trigger relentlessly, over and over again as in a game of Russian roulette. We do not know who will get the bullet next.
Even worse, it does not appear to want to leave the place. It is not even making demands.
Meanwhile, the rescue effort is slow in coming.
It’s a scene that is just like in the movies. But this time the nightmare is for deadly real.
DOORS
Closed to the virus outside.
Closer to the Divine inside.
You may close your door to the outside world due to the pandemic.
But keep your heart’s door open.
As you close the door and stay home for the mandatory quarantine don’t leave Hope and Compassion at the doorstep.
Who knows but maybe the same door you have just closed to keep you and your loved ones safe from the pandemic will soon open to a path that leads you somewhere new and beautiful.
For the past few weeks,
I have travelled to and fro in time
visited far-away places,
encountered diverse cultures,
met heroes and villains of history,
discovered the fascinating works of unknown artists seen the chilling ravages of wars and plagues through survivors’ eyes,
conversed with enlightened sages and scholars, and absorbed their counsels in times
of uncertainty.
All thanks to books and documentaries at hand.
Staying at home boring?
I say it’s broadening!
The body can be quarantined and locked up inside the home. But not the mind for it can roam at will. Never is it more alive than in moments of long isolation as this. Let the mind breathe freely and savor the oxygen of absolute isolation without the incessant calls of duty, obligations, official business and functions.
When we go back to normal life, after this dark period is over, what are the valuable lessons (may nahugot) from the experience?
1. There are those who will die so others may live. We cannot express our gratitude enough for the sacrifices of the frontliners, who are falling down one by one. They did not shirk from their mission and commitment. When we get back to work, let us ask ourselves: am I true to my sense of mission and my commitment as a government clerk, artist, engineer, accountant, IT worker, in the same way the health-care professionals are being true to theirs?
2. Inspired by the example of an infected old Italian priest giving up his ventilator in favor of a younger patient because of the limited supply of ventilators, and other examples, we should seriously consider getting out of our comfort zones, and start asking what we can do to contribute to fight, alleviate, console, comfort, and boost the morale of our fellow men.
In being isolated from each other for so many weeks, we should now realize that we must work closer together than ever before. The greater sense of empathy and collective responsibility that we have rediscovered in our selves should now move us to reach out to each other, watch out for each other, be more considerate of the needs of our fellow workers, fellow human beings.
3. We should now strongly believe that no one should feel more important than others. Note how prompt and vocal we are in calling out those who display symptoms of entitlement and privilege due to rank, power and wealth. We now angrily shame those who get priority in Covid testing, in the face of scarcity of testing kits. So when we come out intact from this crisis, let us be mindful of the need to follow protocol, queue, and respect each other’s point of view or idea.
One last word: now that we have seen enough unhappiness, pain, sadness and frustration around us, let us strive to uplift this suffering world one heart at a time.