Sr. Jessy C. J.

Years ago, I had an experience of walking the whole day with hunger, thirst, fatigue and hopelessness. Almost by the end of the day, I saw a mango tree on the roadside. It was a feast to my eyes and exercise for my hands. The first mango tasted great, eased my hunger and I thanked God, the creator of mangoes, nature, home of the mango tree and the person who looked after it.
Since my greed didn’t stop there, I went on eating more and more. But the law of diminishing marginal utility began to play its havoc and I began to become less attracted with the look and taste of the mangoes. The fruit from the same tree and the enjoyment in my belly diminished along with the want on my taste buds. Here I realised that it was actually the law of diminishing gratitude – lack of appreciation and gratitude for God’s abundant blessings in my life.
The COVID-19 pandemic has made me apply the force on the break-drum of my life. Life and health is taken for granted. Everything was like a dining table set before me. I had my meals but rarely looked up to thank God, looked at the hands that prepared them and looked around to thank the nature that provides, instead often turned to myself as a selfish consumerist. Then a tiny virus popped up with the reminder of the law of diminishing gratitude.
I feel that most of us were enjoying God’s abundance in our life and we started to complain about food, weather, traffic, people, job, government and so forth. The few months of lockdown were a wake-up call for most of us when we were restricted to the four walls of our homes without regular job, social life and normal movements.
Today one thinks that our health, safety and security are ensured with washing hands, using sanitisers, wearing face masks and maintaining social distancing. The mobile phones and other gadgets that were blamed for distancing people from one another are becoming the lifeline for people to stay close to dear ones, school for students, office for job holders and conference hall for meetings. We are really at the threshold of a new way of living.
At this juncture, let us remind ourselves that we are at the crossroads of a transition and it’s here the best and the worst hidden in us come out. We choose to take the best out of us, our surroundings, nature and our fellow human beings. We can be channels of blessings to others in small and big ways possible for us. This time also challenges us to learn new skills and life lessons which we never dreamed of. This is an opportunity to turn the scars into stars. Let us believe in God’s power and our innate ability to turn this coronavirus as an opportunity to add a jewel to our crown.