June 2020 (COVID 19 Drama - The Conclusion)

Everyone in Cebu City waited with excitement in the anticipation of the community quarantine to be loosened. I myself was ready to work and meet my colleagues even if we have to practice physical distancing. Businesses were filled with hope to reopen slowly if not in full operation.

Little did we know that the hope we had was just a flicker for our city was ordered to have a stricter lockdown after 5 high officials were sent by the national government to assess our situation.

Our streets were suddenly filled with soldiers as Cebuanos were labeled “hard headed”. Sadly, this weakened our flickering hope. We are left feeling confused and unsafe because we know that this fight is not people against people but health of the people against the virus.

The effect of the pandemic clearly hit me upon hearing news of my friends’ friends and loved ones testing positive for CoVid-19. Some even succumbed to death. At this moment of writing, a friend just replied to my message telling me that she is “trying hard to stay positive”.

Throughout my “COVID 19 Drama” blog post series, I have maintained a positive disposition because I trust that God is there before us. But I also grieve for those who are struggling financially, going through pain and grieving with a loss.’

At the core of all these, I have a choice on how I would respond. As a leader, I always have a choice between power and service, fame and care for people, ego and humility. Likewise, as a person, I always have a choice between family and being overworked, health and wealth, love and forgiveness. Lastly, everyone has a choice to serve God where eternal life is found or to pursue wealth and fame which will vanish through time.

The conclusion of the matter is: what we value most defines the choice we make.

The following long scripture speaks so much about wisdom and folly. Do take time to read slowly. You may send me your reflections and refractions through e-mail or messenger.

Ecclesiastes 7:1-22 New International Version (NIV)

1 A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth. 2 It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart. 3 Frustration is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart. 4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure. 5 It is better to heed the rebuke of a wise person than to listen to the song of fools. 6 Like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of fools. This too is meaningless.

7 Extortion turns a wise person into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart.

8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. 9 Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.

10 Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions.

11 Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing and benefits those who see the sun. 12 Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves those who have it.

13 Consider what God has done:

Who can straighten what he has made crooked? 14 When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.

15 In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these:

the righteous perishing in their righteousness, and the wicked living long in their wickedness. 16 Do not be overrighteous, neither be overwise— why destroy yourself? 17 Do not be overwicked, and do not be a fool— why die before your time? 18 It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes.

19 Wisdom makes one wise person more powerful than ten rulers in a city.

20 Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins.

21 Do not pay attention to every word people say, or you may hear your servant cursing you— 22 for you know in your heart that many times you yourself have cursed others.