By Fr. Adolf Washington –
For a few days recently I took early morning fast-walks (Bangalore) to pick up some groceries for home. It was permitted by law for such justifiable reasons. So I felt like a law-abiding citizen. But what I saw along the way was both interesting and also thought- provoked me about how life would be when the lock-down is lifted even if the Corona virus hangs around in new and hideous forms.
I saw people were handing out food packets to poor and homeless on the footpaths and to others rummaging through public garbage bins.
Few people were walking their dogs or may be vice versa. Dogs love human company as much as many dog-lovers enjoy their company. There were several stray dogs as if sitting together in a conference on how to tackle human isolation. Few youngsters were sharing a single cigarette as if it would last till the lock-down is lifted while some teenagers where bike-wheeling on the empty roads and few four wheelers racing as if preparing for the next Formula One championship.
All shops and restaurants were shut but push-cart fruit and vegetable vendors looked to me like mobile supermarkets. Mask vendors were all over but they didn’t have their masks on. I found the masks reasonably costly as in such times we don’t know how costly is costly.
Many bystanders were maintaining good social distance of about few inches from each other, engaged in chats. (The WHO has now been using the words ‘ Physical distance’).The bolder among them had masks around their arm. A police van stationed close-by was a perfect resting place for the cops after their tiring work. You rest easily only when you work hard.
Municipal workers were at their best, sweeping the roads and carrying away garbage. The news reports inform us that pollution in Bangalore has dropped and the air is fresher. But with my mask on, I couldn’t enjoy the freshness.
Now, the Cathedral, a few wayside grottos and other religious places were locked but stray dogs and pigeons seemed to have good Samaritans drop feed for them and place bowls of water. It was delightful to see how privileged they were when we are in home quarantine.
Human compassion is best measured when our fellow beings are in pain and suffering.
With no religious assemblies that are usually large in Bangalore and market places usually thronged by people, everything seemed like a wilderness.
What would priests be doing in the Archdiocese of Bangalore, I thought. Praying, brisk walking in the campus, watching their favourite secular and religious channels, composing music, video chatting, reading, writing, live streaming spiritual programs and Holy Mass, or dashing off spiritual words and songs of comfort to many. They are surely missing their congregation as much as the congregation miss them. Especially the daily mass attendants.
But when I was done with my groceries, I thought, life would surely change after the lock-down. People will be more cautions and fearful with more social media messages than now, that the Corona Virus is only in hibernation.
Health and hygiene consciousness may increase. We would prefer fewer visitors at home. Church benches may have one person on each (Physical Distancing). May be, some who work from home will prefer ‘seeking Mass on TV. Or the net.
My imaginations may not agree with yours, but our life is sure going to have a paradigm change.
If it does us good, we can be a happier people. History down the centuries has shown us how humanitarian crises has transformed societies.
One should only hope, that if anything worse happens, we will hold on to the verses (Bible promises) that say God will not abandon his faithful. When we can’t stand the problems in life, we can try kneeling. The evil one can put walls around us but not a roof over us, so we can look heavenward at all times.
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