Stretching and straining to live!

Letter 14

Dear friends, 

Greetings and from Anna and myself. The last week was even more unsettling for all of us as we witnessed the ugly events in the legislature in the state of Rajasthan. All those responsible in attempting to dislocate a government, when the country is battling with saving lives and controlling the spread of corona infection, have made us wonder about the wisdom of our political leadership. They could have waited for a better time!

 

People are stretching and straining to live. I got a closer view of this as I watched a Barbet strain itself to feed on a guava in our garden. It was a vivid reminder of how difficult it has become to live leisurely!

 

 

The barbet was stretching and straining itself to reach the guava. The first picture is revealing of the bird instinct. Having found its food, it was calling out to other birds to arrive for a meal.

 

 

The above three pictures show how effortful it was for the barbet to get a bite of guava!

From what I heard from some of you during the last week, I get a sense of your preparedness and readiness to face the weeks ahead, when the COVID 19 is likely to spread more. 

 

A village not too far away from where we live, has a volunteer group, who visits every home in the village at least twice a week and telephone each home every day. They follow all the protocols required and has received 100 percent compliance with wearing mask and physical distancing from the commuity. Out of curiosity, I drove past the village last week to find people in the roadside with masks and stay distant from each other even when they are in small groups of two or three. I stopped to have a conversation with a small group to hear them talk about their experience. They referred to this volunteer group who made a significant difference to them. They got three tailors stitch the masks they use and created a fund in the village to look after the immediate needs of those who have lost their jobs and are home bound. Those families receive a packet of five kilos of rice, every week. Some volunteers visit homes where there are young children with toys and books to occupy them in the evening. The senior citizens are taken care of by the volunteers arranging for their medicines, insulin injections, etc. There is a team who would arrange for ambulance when anyone needs to go to a hospital. Another volunteer group is working on helping alcohol dependent people to go through de-addiction. 

 

There was an elderly gentleman in the group whom I was talking to, who lived in that village for forty five years.  He had not seen the village so peaceful and collaborative anytime in the past. He attributed to the efforts of a group of young people, mostly college going students. I was keen to meet one of them.  I was guided to one of them who was gathering trash form the street. He told me that he heard the story of the Good Samaritan in the school assembly and ever since that he was looking for an opportunity to offer some help to people in need. Most of his friends in the volunteer group according to him, are those who are keen to offer some help to the community because they like helping others. Normally they would gather together to watch movies in the evening. Since they started helping others, they have no time for entertaining themselves. They prefer this to their earlier routine.

 

Out of a difficult situation, a new consciousness did dawn on most people in that village. This is one favourable outcome of the trials we go through. It is when we are stretched or feel strained, we find a way forward. The difficult times are also formative and restorative times. 

 

Naaman was a successful warrior but was suffering from leprosy (2Kings 5: 1-14). It was a girl in captivity from Israel, waiting on Naaman’s wife, who said, ‘I wish that my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would cure him of his leprosy (v.3). That is what made Naaman go to Elisha (v.9). He came back healed after dipping himself seven times in the river Jordan at the suggestion of Elisha. He had to stretch and strain himself to go to Samaria to receive healing. The difficulties and challenges bring a gain at the end of it. 

The girl in captivity through whom Naaman received healing transcended her helpless situation   and responded sensitively to a needy situation. Most people who feel stretched or strained bring the best out of their lives because they live resiliently and hopefully.

 

It is during the difficult times we shall be surprised to find some changing experiences! There is a greater good awaiting us beyond COVID 19! Can we turn our attention to this possibility!

Each of us can be a means to usher in a favourable outcome that await us by doing the little good we can do now! 

With much regards and good wishes,

 

M.C.Mathew, 19.7.2020