…the magi left for their own country by another way. (Matthew 2:12)

Rose Mary

A year back, on December 31, 2019, China first reported the spread of the corona virus to WHO, and January 1, 2020 saw the closure of the Huanan Wholesale Seafood Market, on the surmise that the wild animals sold there may be the source of the virus. What happened after that is now history!
Year 2020 is finally in the past, a year that toppled the most well-set schemes, plans and expectations of people across the globe. Just as faint signs of hope showed up in the form of successful vaccine production, we also heard confirmed reports of a mutant form of the corona virus which was rapidly spreading, and the 2020 syndrome may very likely be repeated this year too. Those of us who still remain in denial of the new world order created and directed by the pandemic may be disappointed, to say the least.
The changed circumstances of our lives call for a different set of new year resolutions. But before we make these, we need to pinpoint what has changed most. The first of these is the growing feeling that we had, during pre-pandemic days, that life was in our control, that we had built up scientific instruments using artificial intelligence and machine learning, that could transcend human capabilities and predict and plan our future, as well as its probable challenges, with high accuracy. We were mesmerized with false notions of our own security and our competence to find solutions for every possible contingency, from health care to lifestyle to business profit margins.
Now, all that has changed, and we are slowly coming to terms with the fact that a pandemic can be deadlier and more devastating than anything that is within the limits of our span of thought and imagination; that it can kick us in the face and then come back stronger and more virulent; that it does not respect anything or anyone. Our first resolution for this year would be to understand our own weakness and dependence on God (Luke 12:24). Gives us several examples of how we should develop our God dependence – “Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storehouse or barn; yet God feeds them.” To understand and accept this, we must humble ourselves before Him. Only when we develop a sense of humility, devoid of pride and ego and class distinctions of every kind, can we make our connection with the Almighty and allow His grace to flow into us, and through us, to others.
Our next resolution should be to get rid of the fear and angst that has gripped many of us during this period. Physical distancing was a precaution that everyone was warned about. But there is a fine line that separates precautionary measures from an associated sense of fear that often leads to a dislike of those who may come in uninvited, or who may need and ask for physical or financial help. The solution to this lies in our capacity to look at life from an objective distance, understand its fallibility and deal with the reality that Covid could strike inspite of our best efforts to prevent it. While we must abide by safety measures to prevent a community spread, we must be able to carry out necessary tasks, extend a helping hand when necessary, and control our anxiety about a financially strapped future.
Once we are able to stare at life fearlessly in the face, a few truths will become crystal clear to us. With or without Covid, our time here is limited and we have to carefully choose what we really want to do before leaving this temporary abode of ours. Our third resolution should be built around that. Restricting our activities to the tiny microcosm of family may be temporarily satisfying, but there is much greater happiness when we have looked after the interests of a few others alongside. Life takes us through many phases, the busy ones and the more relaxed ones, but at anytime it is always a pleasure to learn new skills from others, old and young. The millennials are the computer experts, while other skillsets like gardening, physical fitness, planning and organizing — anything which appeals to you – can be acquired from a sibling, or a friendly neighbor. In exchange you could generously share your expertise with others too.
This year should be different from all others, in the light of what the pandemic year has taught us. We have been created by the Almighty as intelligent and capable, but these must be used meaningfully in life’s sojourn. His power alone can protect us from whatever the future holds for us. Pride is a close cousin of fear, and both should be banished from our psyche. Like the Magi who visited the Divine Child in His humble abode, and were inspired to go home another way, its time for us to change direction and commit ourselves to a new way forward.