Being a positive person, I always like to take the position that all things happen for the greater good.
Corona caused me to miss, probably a once in a lifetime trip to Kenya in April 2020 and an upcoming trip to St. Augustine, Florida in May 2020 and I am still trying to figure out the greater good, but time will reveal all!
In the meantime, I must meditate on these wise words written by the late, great Bob Marley;
There's a natural mystic
Blowing through the air
If you listen carefully now you will hear
This could be the first trumpet
Might as well be the last
Many more will have to suffer
Many more will have to die
Don't ask me why
Things are not the way they used to be
I won't tell no lie
One and all got to face reality now
Get the drift?
As far as the planet which I now occupy is concerned, having an invisible virus which has taught many powerful people that they are not all-powerful, is wonderful for all who they sought to rule or influence.
You also need to read the essay called Quiet China written by a Chinese pastor to a brother who lives in Istanbul for some of his views have really made me stop to appreciate some really good aspects of this virus.
One observation that he made which I overwhelmingly want to associate myself with is;
"The 'wild animals' that were once held by humans in cages finally managed to put humans in cages'.
This is clearly in reference to the fact that the virus came from a wild animal that was infected by bats at a live market in China.
If this virus can deter the Chinese from killing and eating wild animals, especially exotic and endangered ones, it will be a great gift to mankind, especially future generations. For this craving of theirs to eat rare tigers and other exotic animals; kill elephants because of some so-called medicinal effect they say they get from the ground tusks, thus depleting numerous endangered species, has also cost many countries in Africa and Asia, dearly.
Affected African and Asian countries have had to spend billions in scarce resources to keep away poachers and save the species so future generations can enjoy these wonderful animals.
Let's hope the habit of putting wild animals that were once held by humans in cages, will be broken forever, even after the virus takes us, humans, out of our cages'
Another observation he made in his essay was;
'The air is getting fresher...the haze is gone...the sky is getting bluer.'
While his essay was specifically about what was happening in China, because almost every country has now had to restrict human activity because of this invisible virus, worldwide the air, sea, and sky will start to become cleaner and the planet will heal.
Already, in Italy, one of the countries most badly affected, a miracle is taking place. The news is that the waters around Venice have actually started to become blue and fish and even dolphins can now be seen swimming around happily.
I have been to Venice more than once and never ever imagined those waters could become blue!
Another way the virus is forcing us to stop destroying our planet is that it has reduced traffic as millions are being forced to park their cars instead of going to offices and schools.
Production has not stopped in most cases though simply because millions are now operating/teaching just as effectively from their homes. This has also cut into the heavy use of air condition in the vast concrete structures. For as you know, HFC used in air conditions, is a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.
There is absolutely no reason why after this virus teaches us that many workers including teachers can be just as effective working from homes, this should not NOW become the new norm.
In my book, anything that helps to heal this planet and fight climate change is good. So by forcing us to change the way we do things, the corona is doing mankind a great good.
As to forcing us to become more hygienic! By the time this is over, the measures we have been forced to take, should (I hope) become a habit. For good hygiene will not only fight corona and other viruses but also regular germs which are also hazardous to our health.
Importantly too, by forcing us to spend more time with our families, that can only be good for the welfare of most children.
In his final sentence in the essay referred to above, the pastor declared; 'THE VIRUS REMINDED US THERE IS AN ALMIGHTY AND HUMANS ARE JUST HUMANS.'
Need I say more?
It always helps too, when we, like Dietrich Bonhoeffer, remember that 'Gratitude changes the pangs of memory into a tranquil joy.'
So let's give thanks for small mercies.
Corona caused me to miss, probably a once in a lifetime trip to Kenya in April 2020 and an upcoming trip to St. Augustine, Florida in May 2020 and I am still trying to figure out the greater good, but time will reveal all!
In the meantime, I must meditate on these wise words written by the late, great Bob Marley;
There's a natural mystic
Blowing through the air
If you listen carefully now you will hear
This could be the first trumpet
Might as well be the last
Many more will have to suffer
Many more will have to die
Don't ask me why
Things are not the way they used to be
I won't tell no lie
One and all got to face reality now
Get the drift?
As far as the planet which I now occupy is concerned, having an invisible virus which has taught many powerful people that they are not all-powerful, is wonderful for all who they sought to rule or influence.
You also need to read the essay called Quiet China written by a Chinese pastor to a brother who lives in Istanbul for some of his views have really made me stop to appreciate some really good aspects of this virus.
One observation that he made which I overwhelmingly want to associate myself with is;
"The 'wild animals' that were once held by humans in cages finally managed to put humans in cages'.
This is clearly in reference to the fact that the virus came from a wild animal that was infected by bats at a live market in China.
If this virus can deter the Chinese from killing and eating wild animals, especially exotic and endangered ones, it will be a great gift to mankind, especially future generations. For this craving of theirs to eat rare tigers and other exotic animals; kill elephants because of some so-called medicinal effect they say they get from the ground tusks, thus depleting numerous endangered species, has also cost many countries in Africa and Asia, dearly.
Affected African and Asian countries have had to spend billions in scarce resources to keep away poachers and save the species so future generations can enjoy these wonderful animals.
Let's hope the habit of putting wild animals that were once held by humans in cages, will be broken forever, even after the virus takes us, humans, out of our cages'
 |
| The planet rejoices |
'The air is getting fresher...the haze is gone...the sky is getting bluer.'
While his essay was specifically about what was happening in China, because almost every country has now had to restrict human activity because of this invisible virus, worldwide the air, sea, and sky will start to become cleaner and the planet will heal.
Already, in Italy, one of the countries most badly affected, a miracle is taking place. The news is that the waters around Venice have actually started to become blue and fish and even dolphins can now be seen swimming around happily.
I have been to Venice more than once and never ever imagined those waters could become blue!
Another way the virus is forcing us to stop destroying our planet is that it has reduced traffic as millions are being forced to park their cars instead of going to offices and schools.
Production has not stopped in most cases though simply because millions are now operating/teaching just as effectively from their homes. This has also cut into the heavy use of air condition in the vast concrete structures. For as you know, HFC used in air conditions, is a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.
There is absolutely no reason why after this virus teaches us that many workers including teachers can be just as effective working from homes, this should not NOW become the new norm.
In my book, anything that helps to heal this planet and fight climate change is good. So by forcing us to change the way we do things, the corona is doing mankind a great good.
As to forcing us to become more hygienic! By the time this is over, the measures we have been forced to take, should (I hope) become a habit. For good hygiene will not only fight corona and other viruses but also regular germs which are also hazardous to our health.
Importantly too, by forcing us to spend more time with our families, that can only be good for the welfare of most children.
In his final sentence in the essay referred to above, the pastor declared; 'THE VIRUS REMINDED US THERE IS AN ALMIGHTY AND HUMANS ARE JUST HUMANS.'
Need I say more?
It always helps too, when we, like Dietrich Bonhoeffer, remember that 'Gratitude changes the pangs of memory into a tranquil joy.'
So let's give thanks for small mercies.
