Crisis Occurs, Value Is Developed (COVID)

Few weeks ago, I had a serious and meaningful conversation with a friend priest about the pandemic that we are currently facing. He enthusiastically and beautifully shared his insights and reflections on the dreaded disease. According to him this Coronavirus 2019 has brought different reactions to all of humanity. Who would never be worried when it is all over the news that the numbers of infected persons and deaths related to it are increasing in numbers every day? Many countries and localities are doing their best in preventing the spread of the ghastly disease. Some people are overwhelmed with panic and anxiety. Some, however, are able to transcend from the initial reactions of panic and make significant steps in responding to the crisis.

After all, the word ‘crisis’ in contemporary days is especially used to refer to “times of difficulty, insecurity, and suspense” (and that in particular “in politics or commerce”). More originally, ‘crisis’ refers to “a vitally important or decisive stage in the progress of anything”, to “a turning-point” or to “a state of affairs in which a decisive change for better or worse is imminent”. These more original meanings have been brought in from the word’s etymological roots, namely from the Greek ‘krísis’. This Greek meaning may generally refer to acts of separating, distinguishing, making a decision or judgement, or to an interpretation (of dream or portent). ‘Krísis’ itself is thought to have originated from the Greek verb ‘krínein’, meaning ‘to decide’, with which we have found the most elementary meaning of ‘crisis’.

In a crisis, the acts of interpretation, distinguishing, separation, judgement, decision, insecurity and suspense take place. In other words, this New Coronavirus 2019 crisis is humanity’s decisive moment. Each one of us will decide what to do and our decision will determine what kind of person we are. This present crisis has brought out the best and the worst in us.

Crisis though may not be desirable and enticing but it hones someone to become a person of genuine values. We need to be extra tolerant with the pain or suffering for it teaches us something. We need not focus only on seeing the illness but looking at the lessons as well. Moreover, suffering is not a deprivation of something, it is a presence of something in order to appreciate a good thing. The lessons we learned from this crisis would hopefully become integrated values in our lives.

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, these are some ways people develop values: a front liner’s sacrifice in caring and serving the sick, people staying at home as a show of respect and obedience to the law and loyalty to one’s country, works of mercy to those in need such as sharing of food, and the Church at intense prayer.

Despite the havoc, our trust in the Lord is clearly animated. Human beings tend to turn to prayer in times of crisis. Unfortunately, COVID-19 curbs religious freedom but it enkindles faith nonetheless. The seed of hope can sprout even in a hostile soil. There is always hope on a promise of a new day. There is always something better to happen. There is always a moment when the impossible becomes possible – all because we trust and believe in Him. God is our refuge in the midst of the storms and catastrophes that we face. Let us put our trust in the Lord because it is that one great love from Him that will sustain us and we can depend upon. (Oliver Alidon Ganas)