"Hope In The Midst Of A Pandemic" by Linda Pang
It was the end of April and Singapore was in the midst of the Circuit Breaker as part of her COVID-19 control measures. I decided to go for an evening jog to escape “cabin fever” and get some fresh air and exercise. This time, I jogged a little further from my usual route and went to the end of Punggol Waterway till Seletar North Link, and walked on the footpath next to the road. This is where the S11 dormitory, Singapore’s biggest COVID-19 cluster was located and it was clearly in my view. The dormitory is a complex comprising huge 4-storey steel buildings painted in rainbow colours to visually differentiate the blocks, reportedly able to accommodate 14,000 workers. I walked closer to get a better view and noticed passing motor vehicles slowing down as if also to take a curious second look at the dormitory.
As I continued to walk, I said a prayer for the foreign workers and for the COVID-19 situation in Singapore. I gave heartfelt thanks to God for Singapore’s 42nd COVID-19 patient, the 39-year-old Bangladeshi worker who has been transferred to a general ward after being in intensive care for over two months, and whose wife gave birth to a baby boy while he was fighting for his life in the ICU. His case touched the hearts of Singaporeans and mine, and many have been praying for his recovery. His turnaround has been nothing short of amazing; God is indeed compassionate to the last and the least and He is powerful to heal.
I noticed a couple on the footpath walking in the opposite direction. I decided to do a U-turn where there was a wider stretch of pathway so as to avoid close contact with them. So I turned back and walked, waiting for them to pass me by. After they walked past me, I turned back to continue on my walk, and as I turned around, a spectacular sight beheld me: the evening sky was streaked glorious gold and orange with the setting sun. My heart was stirred to praise the Creator of such awesome beauty. The beautiful sunset showed me our Creator’s divine nature and power. I found myself renewed with a deep sense of peace for the present and hope for the future as I put my trust in God who loves mankind. We will be able to overcome this pandemic as we continue to humbly seek His divine help.
“For He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence…
When He calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honour him.
With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”
– Psalm 91:3, 15-16 (ESV)
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