"Alexander the Great said: ‘Upon the conduct of each depends the fate of all."
"Alexander the Great said: ‘Upon the conduct of each depends the fate of all."
Conquering the invisible is conquering our fears. This is the one message circulating all over as the world braces for a possibly long drawn out battle against the deadly COVID-19 virus which has infected more than 300,000 people, maybe more depending on the state of testing in each and every country, and caused the death of 12,000.
Indeed, how can one do the conquering when one precisely does not have any idea or notion who, what, where, and when the enemy will strike. With the world almost in a standstill and every country working out their own means to conquer the invisible, it is heartwarming that this time of crisis has engendered an outpouring of oneness, of kindness, of sharing, of bringing out the best in each and every one.
It is precisely under that kind of environment that people have become more creative in sharing not just their resources but their ideas and their humanity to conquer these fears. So oneness, caring and love have become the one thread connecting us all.
As Alexander the Great implored his men on the way to conquering almost the entire civilized world at that time: “Upon the conduct of each depends the fate of all.” It is on this note that I am printing a number of truly spirit elevating quotes, stories and messages which, hopefully, may carry us through these trying times.
“We are staying here, so you can stay at home.” – from a group of hospital workers doing 24/7 work in Texas telling one and all to follow quarantine rules and advisories;
“Things I am realizing from the Covid-19 outbreak:
_ I have so many clothes; I have so many shoes; I have so many bags; I have so many gadgets and yet I still get bored:
_ I don’t have to go to work; I have all the time at home; no work-related stress, and yet I get anxious;
_ I have a roof over my head; I have food on the table; I have a lot of cars; I have profitable businesses; I have money in the banks and stocks all around; and yet I get scared and panic;
“ Lessons I’m learning:
_ all the material things I have just gave me fleeting happiness;
_ no matter how much I have I still hunger for more; I can’t find security in material things even money or stocks; I need others to rely on during these troubled times:
_ I need my family’s love, connecting with friends, sharing what I have with others specially the most vulnerable and I truly needs God now more than ever.”
(from an anonymous blogger)
“ So maliwanag na ang kalaban ay hindi natin nakikita at mas matindi at maaring mas mahirap na kalaban kaysa nasasabi ngayon. Walang ibang paraan sa ngayon kundi sumunod sa mga rules: Manatili sa loob ng bahay. Manalangin ng taimtim at ihanda ang sarili at pamilya. Kausapin ang mga kaibigan, kahit ang mga di kilala. May roon naman internet at Skype para sabihin ang dapat na gawin. Ipadama ang pagmamahal ng Diyos.”—from a friend.
As I am listening and participating in the Holy Mass I can only say: We are all in this together. We will survive as one. We will conquer the invisible as one. We should be imploring the Lord for His mercy as we move on as one.