The world is still grappling with the Covid pandemic. Even with vaccine rollout in developed nations, case numbers and mortality remain high. “Lockdown” has become a household word.
Along with this, violence is the order of the day: in Syria, Yemen, Nigeria and Myanmar, to name but a few; hunger and poverty do not make the headlines anymore. This can be overwhelming.
A story is told of a hummingbird and a forest fire where the huge blaze cracked mighty trees and everything around. All the animals were running to save themselves and, when they had crossed a big river, they stood looking back at the fire from their safe place, powerless. A hummingbird decided to fly to the river and bring a drop of water to put out the fire.
As the bigger creatures watched, some laughed and others confronted the little bird, “What do you think you are doing?” The hummingbird responded confidently, “I am doing MY part”.
The good news is that many people are making great efforts to reach out to the needy and to give them hope. They are doing THEIR part. Each of us can do something. Hope is what we all need.
Hope – A Poem by a Jewish Prisoner in a Concentration Camp
(Author – Unknown)
“I believe in the sun even when it is not shining
And I believe in love, even when there’s no one there.
And I believe in God, even when he is silent.
I believe through any trial, there is always a way
But sometimes in this suffering and hopeless despair
My heart cries for shelter, to know someone’s there
But a voice rises within me, saying hold on
my child, I’ll give you strength,
I’ll give you hope. Just stay a little while.
I believe in the sun even when it is not shining
And I believe in love even when there’s no one there
But I believe in God even when he is silent
I believe through any trial there is always a way.
May there someday be sunshine
May there someday be happiness
May there someday be love
May there someday be peace….”
Sr Radegunda Shayo MMM
