A blessing in disguise

As 2019 rolled to the end, no one could predict that a pandemic was in stock for us.  Corona virus was first reported to the World Health Organization on December 31, 2019. In Nigeria, public worship in the evening or night of December 31st is popularly referred to “cross-over nights.” The night is filled with vigils and prayers to launch people into the New Year. Some churches have maintained a simple but profound Liturgy of thanksgiving to God with moderate praises and worship. Some churches use the ‘cross-over service’ to offer ‘predictions’ about the incoming year; as evidence of their communion with God. Oddly enough, Corona virus blind-sided all who made predictions for 2020.  Corona Virus is teaching us myriads of lessons among which is the fact that “Life is a circle.” A little over a century ago (1918-1920), the world experienced the Spanish Influenza. Few pictures are in circulation to show the gruesomeness of this pandemic. Generally, it is believed about 500,000,000 people were infected, and about 50 million died globally. Surprisingly, the Spanish Influenza Disease (SID) did not begin and end in Spain.

According to (https://en.m.wikipedia.org),  “The Allies of world war 1 came to call it the Spanish Flu primarily because the pandemic received greater press attention after it moved from France to Spain in November 1918. Spain was not involved in the war and had imposed wartime censorship. From Europe it found its way to Nigeria through travelers that came from England via the sea; the disease indeed found its way to Sokoto and Maiduguri to Calabar and Lagos; from Zaria and Kontagora to Owerri, Muri, Munshi, (Tiv land) Kano, Nasarawa, Benin Ilorin etc. A total of 22 towns here in Nigeria recorded 8.6 million infected people and about 500,000 deaths; as reports from the Public Record Office (PRO) C0583/77, and documented by J Beringer and M Cameron Blair as of September 5, 1919 showed. Notices were given for closure of public places and buildings including churches and mosques, to help contain the virus. Few global survivors who are still alive remember the public health disease. For instance, William Sardo Jr from Kansas in the USA remembers   how a bereaved person would come to report the death of his or her loved one, and before the burial all in the same house hold would die.

The Corona Virus is still moving in an indiscrete arithmetic progression. The graph for this virus doesn’t show that we have reached the peak of the infection and deaths. We are hoping and praying for a quick return to normalcy as the world holds its breath and tears. The Spanish Influenza Disease began in Europe and eventually caught up with the rest of the world. So also the Chinese Virus otherwise known as COVID-19 has caught up with the rest of the world. We are humbled by a lot of striking lessons to take home with in the face of this crisis. When Nigeria was under the colonial rule, the disease came through Europeans via the Sea travelers, a century later a similar disease is coming to us via the Air travelers. The human person is constantly interacting with the other; when a “faraway” neighbour is in pains do not imagine you are immune because it takes only a snap of the finger, the bad fate of the “faraway” neighbour will soon get to you. Three Months ago I saw with amusement people holding conferences with face masks, it looks very funny to me, I honestly did not imagine it will get to Gidan Mai Kambu this soon; here we are.

This is one of my favorite scriptural passages. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28) This is a passage that seems to simply say God is involved in our lives despite the most horrible experiences that we go through. And that God has consistently brought out something good out of the worst of human experiences, at the end of the World War II the world gave birth to the United Nations Organizations; which has largely sustained world peace. Most drugs that cure Malaria and Typhoid now, came about when hundreds and thousands have died because there were no medications for it. We hope and pray that Scientists will be illumined with fresh insights into the possible medications that could cure the COVID 19.   We commiserate with families who are affected here in Nigeria and the other countries: The United States, Italy, China, Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Iran, Ghana, etc. We are united with all bereaved families in prayers and solidarity as a result of COVID 19.

On the political front; this Pandemic could change our attitude to how we have allowed the nation to lack basic amenities. Now, it is hoped that our health institutions will finally get the needed attention required long ago. Other security challenges seem to have been taken care of. There is a sharp decrease of kidnappings and herdsmen attack, there is a colossal damage meted out on Boko Haram by the Chadian troops led by their “President Idriss Deby with the help of Isreali Army, Hundreds of Boko Haram were killed and Nigerian soldiers freed from Boko Haram captivity” as reported by many online media like https://dailypost.ng. These are real signs of blessings and hope amidst COVID 19.

While some are questioning the situation beyond every common sense; Raymond Sesan Aina MSP in a short reflection on the 4th of April has some words of comfort for our suffering world. “The Book of Job, read from the perspective of the Christian faith, makes us ask, “Why, God, are there such terrible detours to redemption? Why do innocent people suffer?” In times like this, people of faith should not be afraid to be contemporary Jobs who put hard questions to God (Job 3-37) and contemporary Jacobs who struggle with God to the point of being injured (Genesis 32) in our bid to meaningfully respond to evil and God’s ‘silence’. Instead of so quickly jumping to a dogmatic conclusion, hidden behind a ‘private revelation’, of the ‘purpose’ of COVID-19 in the world, we need to spend some time on the Book of Job that invites the believer to ponder the question of innocent human suffering. In the face of global disaster as COVID-19 pandemic, God’s intention in the midst of all this is indeed perplexing and the best that the believer can do is to listen with an open heart. If one listens, very different things will happen.”

Let us reflect on the “The Essence of Life: From Sokoto to Wuhan.” In our studies of Metaphysics, one of my favorite topics is: ‘Essence, Accidents and Substance’. These Metaphysical realities try to deconstruct the many false assumptions around an object and try to get to the core of any issue or phenomenon. The essence of life is always arrived at, in moments like the Corona pandemic: when all of a sudden, all that matters now is very little, all appointments that you thought were so important, and one couldn’t do without, becomes false, all engagements that could have caused real disagreements if stopped in a normal situation, suddenly shows it’s possible to do without it. There is a certain simplicity in life at the moment that I thought would never have happened. The rich and the poor now all access the same healthcare system.  Every world’s religion has rich teachings concerning the things that matter most in life. The COVID-19 pandemic is driving home this message. All of a sudden, we all care about one another, and we are willing to offer help and support to the next person. Life is becoming more communitarian in nature. We’re not hearing of struggles on whose nuclear weapon works better. Could this pandemic be a blessing in disguise?

Fr. Stephen Ojapah is a Missionary of Saint Paul (MSP). He is the Diocesan Director of Inter-religious Dialogue and Ecumenism in the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto. He is a KAICIID FELLOW ([email protected])