Human kindness providing light amid the darkness
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is clearly a global crisis, bringing sadness and suffering as people die or are taken ill, causing an economic crisis, and exacerbating inequalities and divisions. At the same time, as crises often do, it has also brought out the best in many people. In some cases, people work through institutions that are designed to help those in need; in other cases, individuals are developing creative ways to help and connect with others.
Many front-line workers are taking risks to care for the sick and provide essential services. Health care workers, especially the doctors and nurses caring for patients with COVID-19, are particularly exposed to the virus, but many of them continue working to save lives. Many people that society often overlooks — such as grocery clerks, cleaners and taxi drivers — are now seen as critical to maintaining food supply and other vital services. They also take on significant risks, given their greater potential for exposure to the virus.
There are many examples of people making donations of money, food or essential items to help those directly affected by the virus or by the economic crisis. As the economic crisis has led to a massive growth in food insecurity, religious institutions, charities, food banks, restaurants and individuals have stepped up to provide food around the world.
Human beings, as social creatures, are designed to connect with each other in person, especially to celebrate important moments in life, participate in the rituals that define those moments, and comfort each other in mourning. Sadly, large gatherings for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations and funerals are not safe at this time. It does not feel normal for people to mourn or celebrate while physically separated from many friends and family, but there are still ways to show love and support.
People are finding creative ways to celebrate together. The pandemic has disrupted weddings around the world, but many couples and their families have still found ways to marry and celebrate. Some stream their ceremony online, scale down their ceremonies to a very small group, or prioritize being together over having the clothes and party they had planned.
Mourning the loss of a loved one is a particularly difficult experience while keeping to the social distancing rules. Still, people are finding ways to connect and support each other.
These include streaming funerals online, placing flowers in seats at a funeral to represent those who cannot be there in person, and virtual gatherings to remember the loved one with recollections, photos, music, etc. Of course, there are many more examples of how people are showing kindness and support during this difficult time. Many teachers continue to determinedly teach children, albeit online. Religious leaders are finding creative ways to minister to people and support them during this time of anxiety and need. Many physical trainers, yoga teachers and others are providing classes online, sometimes for free or at a discount, to help people remain healthy.
There are many ways that people can contribute to their communities in the middle of this pandemic. The really good news is that there are far too many wonderful examples of individual kindness to record here. They provide lights of hope in these dark times.