2 April 2020 | St Albans, UK [tedNEWS]
A Scandinavian doctor with broad experience in international humanitarian work wrote a poem and drew a sketch that reflects his experience while serving in another part of the world. We do not name him for security reasons, but thank you for your prayers for him, as much as he is praying for you. May this poem be a blessing to you.
The Worst That Could Happen
While no one is running up and down the streets
Something fatal is commuting its tarmac
And it’s not just a terrible virus
But something much worse, by far worse
While some take careful precautions
Out of respect and social responsibility
Others lift their shoulders and keep on going
With their indifference, slowly harming others
Serenity seems to have fled away
When out of panic and fear, beyond the limit
People are consumed within
In their despair, slowly harming themselves
Yet standing unshaken, are those noble men and women
Who without words somehow speak a lot
Still not letting themselves be defeated
Neither by fear nor by carelessness
The worst that could happen a day as today
Is not to die by a terrible, mortal virus
Suffering without a mechanical ventilator, without any hugs
I do not wish this for anyone, but there is something yet worse
Facing the crisis there is something I fear more
More than the necessary loneliness and confinement
Even more than the risk of suffering and passing away
And it is that within me, my own humanity would die
I do not fear you, virus, by any chance
Even though from you, I will protect others as myself
For even if you should kill me, I will still wait in my God
And although you may try, you will not kill my peace in Him
Go on, run up and down the streets, if you can
Although there be no one yet there to take you around
Are you seeking victims as if to conquer,
Believing that we will give up and listen to you?
No! For neither fear nor indifference
Will manage to destroy the very best
That force from above which spurs us forward
The blessed hope of a new morning, soon dawning
The worst that could happen now
Is that I would leave calmness in my despair
Or yet that I could not care less, coldheartedly
I ask you, God, to keep within me courage and compassion,
So that it would not come to pass,
The worst thing that could ever happen! Amen.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9, NKJV).
“And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” (Matthew 24:12, 13).
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7).
“Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:17-19).
tedNEWS Staff: Victor Hulbert, editor; Deana Stojković, associate editor
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