HOW COVID LOCKDOWNS UNLOCKED HIDDEN GOOD By Liz Omondi | Email: timestodayke@gmail.com |
It is said that, every cloud has a silver lining, yet when you think about the dark cloud of COVID-19 that covered the entire world, many have struggled to see that silver lining around it. Millions of people lost their lives, others source of livelihoods, while others sunk deep into depression. Is it possible that any good could come out of the pandemic?
ing. There are several testimonies I have heard where new opportunities arose for people and new businesses were birthed while others thrived, some spent more quality time with their loved ones and families were reconciled.
Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called For 21st century socially active human beings, lockdowns according to his purpose.” As I spent more time with my huswas a completely strange phenomenon that had never crossed band and children at home, I had to think of creative ways we their minds, yet it had been experienced in past centuries and could do things together to make home a fun place to be. thus reminding of the Scripture in Ecclesiastes 1:9 that says “That which has been is that which will be, and that which has The children had to learn new ways of learning no matter how been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new uncomfortable it was. Regular office workers had to adapt to under the sun.” working remotely and still be productive. Church ministers had to find creative ways of doing streaming services online There are a couple of Biblical examples of lockdowns includ- and keep congregants engaged. Wearing masks was strange ing when God instructed Noah to build an ark where he and and uncomfortable, yet for the first time ever it meant boomhis family and living creatures, male and female of every kind ing business for the manufacturers of personal protective were going to be locked in the ark for a long period of several equipment (PPEs). days. As a wife and mother, I learnt to be a barber and a good one Genesis 6:5-8, 18-22 says, The Lord saw how great the wick- at it. I would have never learnt this ability had it not been for edness of the human race had become on the earth, and that the lockdown and the extra caution we had taken to avoid every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only contracting the disease at all cost. Unfortunately, this meant evil all the time. The Lord regretted that he had made human less profit margins for the local barber. beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human After several years of watching my daughter’s hair being platrace I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and ed, I had to learn this skill on my daughter’s hair. Today, I have the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I perfected this art, that no longer have to take my young one to have made them.” 8 But Noah found favour in the eyes of the the salon and wait in queue for her to be attended to. This has Lord. helped me save lots of time and dollars that would have been used at the salon. 18-22 18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will en- One of the hardest hit industries in our country during the ter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ lockdown was the hospitality industry. This meant the death wives with you. You are to bring into the ark two of all living of cravings for restaurant food, or fast food lovers. But this creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. Two mama had to use her imagination and creativity to google of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every and tweak some of recipes used by some of the best restaukind of creature that moves along the ground will come to rants in town. And to her delight, wets her families appetite you to be kept alive. You are to take every kind of food that with her food and has kept her family happy when she makes is to be eaten and store it away as food for you and for them.” pizza and other extra delicious meals that easily rival top ratNoah did everything just as God commanded him. ed eateries. For the silver lining to appear, usually is hidden the beautiful, That is how COVID lockdowns unlocked hidden potentials sun’s rays behind the cloud so as produce the silver lining. in me. What’s your story? Encourage someone with your tesWithout the bright light, the silver lining would not be pres- timony by sending an email to timestodayke@gmail.com ent. Even with the cloud of COVID-19, there is that hidden bright light of potential, or good that would bring out the silver lin-
TT 140 | FEB 15th- 21st | 2022
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