Against all odds

Out of the depths I cry to you O Lord,

Lord , hear my voice !

Let my ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications!

Psalm 130:1&2

How does one sleep when an ambulance whizzes past your bedroom window every half an hour ?

How does one carry on with the daily chores when the phone is heavy with innumerable prayer requests –requests for for healing of those down with Covid 19 , for those trying desperately to find a bed in the ICU or even an oxygen cylinder ..

we heard of elderly parents left alone to fend for themselves as Covid went on a brutal assault to claim the lives of young energetic adults; of kids , even babies orphaned by the sudden demise of their parents . We saw desperate pleas on our social media groups as their neighbors had no idea what to do as the Government still struggled to come up with alternatives.In the parents group of kids with special needs , many painful guidelines appeared . These included making a profile of the kid , including the phone numbers of the next of kin.

This was our condition till a week ago . The first week of May was chaotic. Slowly things are getting better as I gather from the number of ambulances that pass through the street . I have stopped believing in official numbers based on a very simple logic – The ratio of the number of persons whom I know ,and the number infected among them is quite high .

Around 350 priests have already passed on according to the official data of the Catholic Church last week ; Added on to that would be the pastors and volunteers from other denominations. This made me ask God why he was calling those who worked for his Kingdom. Aren’t we in desperate need of them especially now ?

There are many organisations and individuals reaching out to the victims in these gloomy days . Their selfless love is truly moving . A family friend of ours is on the road everyday for Covid relief work ; His teen age kids are helping out in the Covid ward of a hospital along with other youth volunteers.

Happy are those whose strength is in you

Psalm84:5a.

My son doesn’t allow any ambulance to pass through ,without accompanied by his fervent prayers . He could be sick or upset at that time but he never forgets to pray when he hears the blaring siren.

The long list of the sick made our evening prayers longer ,as Jeff would go through each one of them . The news that some of them couldn’t make it ,upsets him ; All I say is that they would be happier in heaven and Jesus knows best ! That comforts him and he goes on to pray for their souls . And we still wonder if individuals with Autism are empathetic!

We are still cocooned in our apartment Other than being a prayer partner to my son , I have not been doing anything in this situation. But is that enough ? I do not know . I pray that the Lord guides my steps while I wait in prayer . And yes ! Jesus knows best !

Let my cry come before you , O Lord ;

give me understanding according to your word .

Let my supplication come before you ; deliver me according to your promise .

Psalm 119:160&161