One day at a time

I stare blankly at this space. Not knowing what to write. This test of COVID has dampened our spirits. Just when we thought it was disappearing, the surge of cases has come to rise again. No lament will move it out. Grumblings and pleadings are not enough. There must be change. Change in the way we do things. Change in the way we view things. Change in perspective. Change in how to live.

I lost some dear friends in just a space of days. Ben Pepito, former board member of Mandaue Chamber, simple, and encouraging. Always remaining positive in his perspective.  Always saying that there is a solution to every concern. He will be missed. Ben Yapjoco, our president emeritus. Truly meritorious in his humility. I will miss his smile and the glow of joy that I feel every time I see him in the Mandaue Chamber events. And then dear Joe Ng. Who helped us grow our chamber when then president Eric Mendoza and I were new into the business chamber. We will miss his banter.

In the midst of my depression, my friend reminded me of a verse in Matthew – as it reminds us to take one day at a time, it also reminds us to rely fully on the only one who can see through this virus and answer all the questions we have on why. Why Lord? Why is it taking so long to leave? Why is our land not healing yet? Why are we still tallying many cases? Why the harvest?

The rains have begun. We haven’t even noticed it so much. We just take it as –well, rain.  When we used to grumble about getting wet, having floods, and fearing typhoons. Now, when thunder shakes our house and strikes across the sky, only our dog makes me aware that the stormy season is about to set in again as she hollers and shivers in the clapping of the skies.

We have been so engrossed with the pain of the pandemic that we are numbed to the other things around. We continue to exist but some have stopped living.

Life should be beyond this virus. Beyond the apprehensions and anxieties that beset us each day. We must remember to live as God wants us to, taking each day at a time. Not worrying about tomorrow. As the Word has been given in Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

We tend to worry about tomorrow, making a countdown to the time infection will spread.  Always thinking with fear. But we can change our perspective and look at the brighter side of tomorrow and wait with hope for the time the virus will disappear. As we do so, we have to live each day, one at a time, with faith. We have made it this far, what of another day? God will always be there. So we submit. It takes a lot of the worry off us, when we just live one day at a time. Enjoying what each day has. Taking care of ourselves daily. Washing, masking, shielding, distancing, yet never allowing a smile not to brighten our eyes. 

I know most of us have learned to do a lot of basic things again. Enjoy our families again.  Miss our friends and call them again. Take work with more zest while it is still available for us.  Serve with more passion because it is an opportunity not all of us are given.

Yes, as I remember Ben P, Ben Y, and Joe, I look at their legacies as well. Humility, joy, service and passion. God bless you guys. Claim your mansions in your new address where God embraces you every day and thank you for sharing a part of yourselves with us.