Letter-13
Dear friends,
Greetings and good wishes for another week of living with your calling, at a time when the COVID 19 pandemic is spreading at an alarming proportion, leaving us perplexed, about what to await next! Anna and I keep you in our thoughts and carry you in our hearts.
Let me share with you a scene of a Red-wattled Lapwing (above) and a Yellow-wattled Lapwing (below). I sighted these birds in the MOSC Hospital campus last week on a cloudy and drizzling morning. They were about three hundred meters away. The light conditions were not suitable for sharper pictures. I also did not have a suitable telephoto lens with me at that time. They were about twenty meters away from each other. It is uncommon to find a red-wattled and a yellow-wattled Lapwing as a pair. That was my first surprise. I approached them carefully to have a close-up view. But the red wattled Lapwing, known to be ever vigilant to sense any intrusion, raised an alarm with its loud and penetrating bird call and both birds flew away. I had by then taken these pictures.
The second surprise was that the Yellow-wattled Lapwing shifted to stand on one leg (last two pictures). It continued to be on its one leg till it flew away. To carry its body weight on one leg is a straining experience. The body balance is rather difficult. It was evident from the last two pictures above that it opened its feathers partly to be able to stay balanced. Although standing on only one leg, it looked relaxed and alert. There are some birds who practice being on one leg as part of its daily exercise regime. That might be their way of staying fit to fly. This sight stayed with me during the rest of the day.
Most Mission hospitals are under several constraints. There are some mission hospitals mandated by government to be involved in caring for COVID 19 patients. Some other mission hospitals have volunteered to be available to take care of COVID patients as and when needed. Some other hospitals have equipped themselves to be ready if they have to step in to take care of COVID patients if other dedicated hospitals have no more beds due to the overwhelming numbers of patients. In all these situations, the hospitals would experience a resource crunch which would impair the normal functioning. The physical exhaustion of the staff is a serious impediment. The emotional and mental fatigue is another compounding factor. The quarantine if needed for any hospital staff would dislocate the normal functioning of the hospital. From all the conversations I have had, I sense that the fear and anxiety of contracting the infection is resident in most of us.
This is similar to standing on one leg. It is straining but has become necessary in this difficult situation. Our strength to stand on one leg and still serve with grace and steadfastness comes to us from God.
‘He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labours increase
To added afflictions, He addeth His mercy
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.
When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving has only begun…
His love has no limits, His grace has no measure
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth and giveth again’ (Annie J flint, 1902)
The second source of our strength is shared life and living. I feel most encouraged to read and hear about collaboration between mission hospitals as never before. I hope it evolves into a normal phenomenon between hospitals. There is so much sharing of information and resources between hospitals that it is a sign of a new climate of trust and togetherness. Even a red wattled Lapwing was seen to pair with a yellow wattled Lapwing. The mission hospitals do not have to be similar to come together to associate and collaborate. That is how we find strength form our togetherness.
Let this continue and grow even more! With warm regards and much appreciation.
M.C.Mathew, (photo and text)
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