When dark clouds gather!

When dark clouds gather we know that it is often a signal to a downpour. 

There are several signals in the geo-political scene in the horizon. America-china trade war is leading to break down in the diplomatic communication with America closing down the Chinese embassy in one city and threatening to do so in more places. There is tension in Indo-China borders and Indo-china sea. There are tensions between Israel and Palestine over West Bank; there are unfortunate developments in Iraq; the COVID 19 is spreading with its second and third waves in some countries. The educational front is in serious crisis as students are unable to return to their colleges as the colleges remain closed. The trade front is in serious peril. The Airlines have suffered so seriously that their recovery is under great threat. Even a petty shop keeper who made his living from it, is now left with only 25 percent of income. A daily wage earner gets a job once a week if he is fortunate. 

I remember a verse in the Bible from the book of Isaiah1:17, 

'Learn to do good, 

Seek justice, 

Reprove the ruthless, 

Defend the orphan, 

Plead for the widow'.

As I kept looking at the clouds and their movements, I lost sight of the sky for a while. The sky was still blue in its normal majesty.

Certain things do not change.

Some things change and bring disaster. 

Isaiah in the same chapter, verse, 16 offers an invitation: 

'Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean;

Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight

Cease to do evil'.

When dark clouds gather, it is necessary to keep reminding ourselves of the bright blue sky, which is the same and follow the path Isaiah prescribed for us, 'Cease to do evil'

I struggle with it a lot. To remain sober in a volatile situation needs inner readiness. The vocation for all of us to live by learning to do good, seeking justice, reproving the ruthless, defending the orphan and pleading for the widow.

Our interest ought to transcend our comforts and conveniences. 

Humanity is bound in a bond of shared living where those who suffer or are unjustly treated receive our support!

As I listen to families during the on-line consultation, I sense the exhaustion that has set in as they are home bound and children would have lost one academic year by the time the COVID 19 pandemic settles down!

We call this as the 'new normal'! 

I wish we would take time to ponder if we have departed from 'neighbour friendly' living as nations and individuals! Has the evil of profit and success at the cost of others come to stay as the 'new normal'!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)