In These Times of COVID

This time of COVID is hurling some rather harsh answers at young people—answers to questions that never even occurred to them! Many who haven't yet started their careers won't be able to graduate on time, since colleges and universities remain closed. Between family pressures and various personal obligations, they find themselves mentally cornered.

What's needed first in these times is to reconcile ourselves with reality. Everything happening in this moment of global crisis is universal. None of it is happening to anyone alone. Just as I am falling behind or fear I might fall behind, the same is happening in everyone else's lives. Everyone moves at the same pace that I do. This, in fact, is the current situation. I'm not being deprived of any opportunities that my competitors are receiving.

We mustn't forget that the closure of educational institutions has certainly given us extra time to prepare ourselves. Whether one wants to build a career in business or employment, there's now abundant opportunity and time to thoroughly understand the paths that lead there. This is not the time to waste time. Those who prepare themselves most thoroughly during this period will advance the furthest. Starting down the road isn't the problem; the problem arises only when I alone must take to the road.

Tensions about when what will happen are bound to arise. This is natural. But what good comes from dwelling on things beyond our control, except the waste of mental energy? What will be, will be. Let's see! COVID has taken much already—how much more can it take! Will we ever again get such an opportunity to prepare ourselves as we have now? Diving into good books and films, staying busy with work we love, giving time to family—these too have their necessity.

Many have lost their tutoring work, their paths to income have closed or contracted. Truth be told, this suffering was bound to come. I say "bound to come" because this chapter was written into our lives—thinking of it this way will keep our mental strength intact. If you think, "So-and-so is doing well," then I'd ask you: did you keep track of how badly off they once were before achieving this wellness? If looking at those who are comfortable due to family affluence brings regret to mind, then remember this too—you are not part of that family. If you were, surely you too would be in their situation, wouldn't you? A barricade across the road doesn't mean the road ends there; rather, now we must take another road. Many are taking it; whether they're doing well or poorly is not the consideration here—this is time's demand, which we cannot avoid.

Can we throw away how we were born or how we're growing up? Living in denial of destiny isn't possible, but destiny can be shaped through the cultivation of our intelligence and understanding. All opportunities haven't ended yet; most people mistake opportunities for problems simply due to their failure to perceive them. Let us remember: many others on this earth are living in poverty—I am not alone. This was written in my fate. Whether this is blessing or curse, time itself will tell. Both good times and bad times eventually pass. How I'm giving time to today's time will determine how the time ahead gives time to me.

The pain of losing a job after having one is actually much greater than not getting a job at all. Those who work have many expenses tied to their employment income. Breaking that framework suddenly is very difficult. Businesspeople too are struggling today; many are having a hard time managing family expenses—look into it and see. The number of people in our country who've been forced to lower their standard of living because of COVID is not small. Think for a moment about those whose lives are such that they must earn an income that doesn't sustain their household, simply because they haven't found opportunity for other income! As if this one COVID has finished us all off!

Still, we will live. People don't die from suffering; it just becomes very hard to live. Being able to live while accepting this—that's the main challenge now.

We have only this one life for living. The alternation of joy and sorrow there is neither more nor less for anyone. Whatever one is to receive, one must experience exactly that much. If you wonder why you're not getting more, then I'd tell you: among all these countless people dying of COVID, any of us could have been there, couldn't we? That our names haven't entered that list so far means surely the Creator has some good plan involving you and me. To make that plan true, we must live and certainly must make good use of our lifespan.

Come, let us live on, even through hardship! Tomorrow's day still remains to be seen!