With borders closed and overseas entries barricaded;
When ships, airlines,yachts,speed boats, and cars are being grounded,
When people are being quarantined or locked down in their homes, within their localities, and ‘social distancing’ the new social currency,
When million-dollar suburban mansions, royal forts and castles, along with inner-city dwellings are all under lockdown,
When Ivy Leagues, state universities,and community colleges alike have all closed their doors of privilege,
When east and west,north and south,countries around the world are being emptied everyday of their characteristic hustle and bustle of life,
When high-income,middle-and low-income countries and those too poor to be counted have all been cowed into submission;
When heads of states, lawmakers and government officials, politicians, celebrities,influencers, and healthcare workers, along with the rank and file of society are all afflicted,
When multimillionaire C-Suite executives, middle managers, entry level staffers, and interns are all reeling under the fear of COVID-19 globally,
When the widespread shutdown of all but essential services and businesses has produced massive job losses the world over with economic recovery a seeming lifetime away,
When the divisions between the privately and publicly insured and the uninsured have all but evaporated,
And healthcare is being rationed including access to coronavirus testing and ventilators;
When houses of worship are closed along with barbershops, nail salons, and fitness centers due to COVID-19;
When panic buying has emptied store shelves of toiletries, protective clothing, and food items,
With bottled water,toilet paper, and hand sanitizers being rationed in supermarkets even in New York and London;
But high-end luxury brands and couture fashion from Fifth Avenue to Bond Street all go untouched,
I wonder where all the man-made human categorizations and demarcations have escaped to.
Where are the “They”, “We”, “Them”and “Us” divisions which seasoned our everyday conversations before this virus struck?
Where are the citizens and the legal residents?
Are the undocumented immigrants and stateless also in the house?
Where are the celebrities and the nameless inhabitants of the land?
After pondering over all these, only one thing comes to my mind:

VANITY! ALL IS VANITY!!

Remember, whether black, brown, or white,we are all made in the image of God and only His grace can protect us from COVID-19.
This devastating virus is no respecter of persons; it doesn’t discriminate along party lines; nor along religious, national, or regional ones.
Let’s all learn to live from now on as one people with a common destiny,

Showing love, compassion, and respect for all; going about our daily lives with deep gratitude for the gift of life and honoring the Life Giver Himself for the air we breathe in freely.

IT’S TIME WE TURNED TO THE TRUE SOURCE OF OUR LIVES,OUR HEALTH, AND WELL-BEING IN HUMILITY AND WITH GRATITUDE-OUR GOD AND FATHER!!

Let’s heed the Father’s words of hope and assurance in these unsettling times of COVID-19:

“So do not fear, I am with you:

Do not be dismayed for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10