Making Christmas More Meaningful Means Striving to Do Things for Greater Public Good
FESTIVE SEASON
On this day last year we were enjoying months of no COVID-19 community cases. We were leading the war against the killer virus.
Despite the loss of jobs and businesses we celebrated Christmas as usual.
Just as we were about to mark one year with no community cases the Delta variant arrived on our shores and spoiled the party for us.
Today we celebrate our freedom once again with the reopening of our borders and the resumption of normal economic activities.
It coincides with our celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour - the source of this freedom.
For the past 12 months we went through a lot of trials and tribulations.
Today we are grateful that we have come out from those terrible months more resilient. That experience came with a heavy cost - the loss of more than 600 lives and livelihoods.
But we are in a better position now to move forward using the new knowledge we gained and taking opportunities arising from the pandemic.
Sometimes what we plan, think and do may not go the way we want. Adversities, tragedies and accidents are part and parcel of life in our sojourn during mortality. The COVID-19 pandemic is one of these adversities. They try our faith in God and our humanity.
When we learn to cope with adversities we grow in stature and wisdom and the experience increases our capacity to reach out and help those in need because we feel that empathy.
The words of the prophet Isaiah in the Old Testament of the Holy Bible should reinforce our faith in God as individuals and as a nation.
When things don’t happen the way we want read Isaiah 55 8-9., we should accept it In these passages God tells us:
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
When our leaders refer to the pandemic or a natural disaster as an act of God it means he is in control. Indeed he controls the elements.
Our responsibility is to make the necessary changes that are compatible with the prevailing circumstances.
Hence the term new normal was coined.
As we return to a semblance of normality there is a pressing need to innovate to survive or get left behind and die.
The ability to bounce back is what we mean by resilience.
The other aspect of this pandemic is the incredible outpouring of the spirit of love and compassion.
It sits well with the spirit of Christmas.
Jesus Christ is the epitome of love, compassion and everything that represents good.
That’s why his birth is celebrated worldwide.
Christmas is more meaningful when we live his teachings.
When we do we will eliminate the spirit of the devil which thrives on contention and conflicts and fights against peace, stability and unity.