STILL A TIME OF HOPE

Last year at this time, with vaccines on the horizon, we looked forward to putting COVID behind us in 2021. Amid the sense of melancholy, there was also a feeling of hope.

Now we have come to understand that COVID is a fierce and nimble opponent and that this pandemic is not linear, but more akin to Snakes and Ladders.

So on the eve of an event that is associated with light and joy for Christians around the world, the dark clouds have gathered once again.

The explosive spread of the Omicron variant has meant another holiday season of limited contact with family and friends. Of more challenges for businesses in our community. Of more strain on our health-care system, already battered by earlier waves of this persistent pandemic.

One day, this period will be over. Until then, we have no choice but to make the best of things. And to look for hope, a quality that feels particularly elusive at this time of long, dark nights and our dispiriting sense of déjà vu.

First of all, as bitterly disappointing as it is, we must do what scientists, medical professionals and our political leaders ask us to do. Wear a mask. Avoid large gatherings. Get vaccinated. Stay home if you can.

Second, we can take solace in some of the news that is emerging about Omicron. That it appears to be less lethal than its predecessors, even if its potential impact on those infected and our health-care system is not to be taken lightly. That this wave, however large, might at least be fleeting. That there might be a future in which COVID, if not eliminated, is endemic rather than pandemic.

And surely consolation can be found in what we have to be grateful for: the scientists who have helped us combat COVID; the heroes of our health-care system, who have fought through exhaustion and overwork to care for us; the teachers, who have pivoted continually to make sure our children are educated; the truck drivers and grocery store clerks who have quietly kept things running.

The end of the year is traditionally a time of generosity and solidarity, a time that we show that we are there for one another. Those acts of solidarity and generosity are needed more than ever this year. So please make a call to a neighbour. Donate to a worthy cause or a charitable organization. Not least, be kind to yourself.

Merry Christmas to those who celebrate the holiday. And here's hoping 2022 will bring better times for all of us.