We pray for the virus to not to spread to our city, at least not to our neighbourhood. We cast evil eyes on people who do not wear masks. We want to keep anyone coming from the Mainland, at least not anyone coming from Wuhan or have been to Wuhan, away from our city, at least away from our neighbourhood. We want to buy up all the masks that we can find, or least enough to last for half a year. We may feel sorry for those who thus cannot buy any, or we might not. We might use the threat to score political points. We might start rumours for some selfish purpose. We might even collect used masks and resell them for a tidy profit. It is all part of human nature, to look after ourselves, even to be selfish.
On the other hand, we can pray for ourselves, our city, China, and the world. We can share our spare masks with those who could not get one for some reason. Those of us who have the relevant expertise can offer help to those in need, while doing what we can to protest ourselves. We can put down our political or other differences and work together for the common good. We can offer comfort to those who are worried. We can help to dispel rumours. We can fellowship with each other, strengthen each other, and join together to do something good. We can choose to be positive rather than negative. It is also part of human nature, to be magnanimous, altruistic.
It is up to us. It is easy to be good and magnanimous when we are healthy, rich, successful and enjoying good fortune. It is when we are faced with challenges, threats, and worse, when we know what kind of person we really are, and what we really want to be. With God’s help, we can all be brave and self-sacrificing, living on hope built on firm foundations, rather than living only for the fleeting moment. It is up to us to choose.
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