eternal hope

Picture/Jian Yinghui (Taiwan)

Grandma, do you hear me calling you?

My 96-year-old grandma is the person I care about most. Since the COVID-19 epidemic began, my uncle issued an order that for the sake of grandma’s health, all children and grandchildren should not visit her. Of course we understand and comply with it.

As the epidemic becomes more serious, the days without seeing grandma are getting longer and longer. A few days ago, I couldn't help but go to my grandma's house to visit her, but I only dared to stand at the gate three meters away and look at her. I waved to her, and she waved to us.

I had recently cut my hair long and she was deaf. When I stood at the door and yelled, I wonder if she heard me? I'm not even sure if she recognizes me? When I left my grandma's house, I felt heavy and sad. I miss the days of cuddling up to her and acting coquettishly, listening to her singing, chatting with her... I wonder how long it will take before we can return to those intimate moments and enjoy family happiness again?

Changing patterns of relationships

The new coronavirus has changed the relationship between people. Customary interaction patterns, such as hugging and shaking hands, are prohibited. The way we are accustomed to expressing love also needs to change. Work has been changed to working from home, classes have been changed to video conferencing, and communication software has been used for meetings. Visits between friends and family become stressful. Churches have switched to video gatherings, while those that continue to hold physical services have greatly distanced members from each other.

Thanks to modern technology, although we cannot meet in person, we can still chat, hold meetings, and worship through video calls. We can also share updates with each other through messaging software and check our friends’ Facebook profiles. Important in faith is the practice of caring for one another, often through face-to-face means such as visits. What should we pay attention to in online interactions? When a church in Taiwan was broadcasting a live online service, it did not forget to remind members: Please prepare hymns and Bibles, and attend the service attentively. Do not: only wear underwear, lie down, eat... It makes me smile!

But what kind of interaction model will be formed behind social media? In other words, what will our faith community look like? I'm worried that if interpersonal relationships lack interaction and warmth, will they gradually lose cohesion? Because I believe that people have a certain degree of sensitivity to living things other than themselves, whether they are humans, animals, or plants. Therefore, even if the plague passes, it will still take some time to make up for it.

Seeing hope in the midst of fear and suffering

This battle of worries can be seen in the crowds of people queuing up on the streets to buy masks, and the shelves of sanitary products that have been robbed. Alcohol, hypochlorous acid, and even sorghum wine are considered holy disinfectants, and Taiwanese people are deeply afraid. , lack of peace in my heart. In fact, fear is one of human instincts. Without this instinct, humans would have become extinct long ago. Learning to be afraid is a necessity for human survival.

Thank God that we can be afraid. Of course, most of the current panic is based on people's deepest fears. However, in the Lord’s love, we are not just afraid. God’s love has miraculous healing power. Walking with God can improve our immunity to fear, which is something that no special medicine can do.

Suffering makes people understand their own insignificance. If it were not for the grace of God, they would have perished in tears and pain. When facing the next wave of disasters, although I am still afraid in my heart, I can rely on God’s promises and know how to calmly deal with deeper fears in the future.

In 1519, a serious Black Death epidemic broke out in Zurich, killing at least a quarter of the population. But Huldrych Zwingli (1484-1531) continued to adhere to his pastorate. Although he later fell ill and almost died, he wrote a poem in the face of death, which is called Zwingli's Pestlied. One of the passages is as follows:

May your will be accomplished
I will never be afraid
I am your vessel
Success or failure is all in your hands
If you take my soul
It must be to stop evil
Those who do not become unclean live a godly life (Translated by Lin Hongxin)

Zwingli reminds us: Even in difficult times, we must still maintain our unwavering faith in Christ, that is, preachers must be like preachers, churches must be like churches, and Christians must be like Christians. No matter what the situation is, don't lose your faith and love for God, don't lose this feeling of faith.

It is inevitable that in life, we will experience suffering. Because of this, we will know how to cherish and learn to be grateful. The true peace brought by faith is not just about everything going well in a smooth life; the powerful power of true peace lies in God's grace being revealed to us in suffering. With God's love, there is hope. With every test, we feel that we are small and limited, but we also realize the greatness of God.

▲The author took a photo with his dear grandmother.

eternal peace

No one knows how long this war against the epidemic will last? Looking back at the many plagues in history, they have brought tragic losses to mankind, including loss of life, loss of family members, loss of industry... There is nothing new under the sun. What God created is a beautiful world, because man's sin and fall destroyed the perfect world. Only in this way, and through the practice of faith, can we change the world and live a true life.

Just after the Passover supper in Mark’s Tower, Jesus’ parting words to his disciples before being arrested were these: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. What I give, not as the world gives you; let not your hearts be troubled, nor be afraid.” (John 14:27)

Nothing in this world is permanent, and so is suffering. It will end one day. Laughter and tears alternate between suffering and grace. This is real life. However, faith brings lasting hope and real peace, and can lead people through the dark night, through suffering, and see hope.

Jian Yinghui, music creation and text worker.