It's Easter Monday 2020

Coronavirus (Covid 19) is a pandemic. #COVID19

As such it is a world wide disease attacking people in all countries and, it seems, all ages, ethnic origins and social status.

It may be particularly virulent among some groups and ages and health conditions and it is mutating the better to infect indigenous populations and cultural and race types.

It is world wide and as such makes us conscious that it is a global inclusive affliction. #global #worldwide

In a strange way it unites us or should: a common problem, a common enemy to be overcome.

Also a global phenomenon is the suffering, pain, illness of many plus the economic upheavals and consequences for all. #economy

We all suffer differently but we ALL suffer and in this we can more easily identify with the whole human race. Compassion is more easily elicited and felt. We are in this together. #compassion

Many times have I heard the question asked, of Christians especially, "if there is an all loving, all powerful God in whom you believe why does He (or She some say) allow such suffering particularly among the innocent and children?" All sorts of 'answers', none sufficiently rational, scientific or precise for many of the questioners, are presented: free will, the power of Satan, 'original' sin. Also they point to Jesus Christ, He whom they believe to be true God and true man, and His crucifixion, His sharing humankind's suffering, His redemptive way of the Cross. His example. #christianity #christ #eastermonday

I have no answers.

I too have questions, although I have come to respect Job's call to silence in the face of the overwhelming mystery of Creation, Life and Existence. #creation #life #existence

Yet a poem read to me years ago by a Benedictine monk gives me food for thought and reflection, not food for condemnation of a belief. #benedictine #poem #poetry

It is "Affliction" by Sir John Davies.

The first two verses set the scene:

If aught can teach me aught, Affliction's looks,

   Making us look into ourselves so near,

Teach us to know ourselves beyond all books,

   Or all the learned schools that ever were.

This mistress lately plucked me by the ear,

   And many a golden lesson hath me taught;

Hath made my senses quick, and reason clear, 

   Reformed my will and rectified my thought.

The final verse, to me, shows our finiteness, our inability to encompass beyond ourselves whereas there is a multitude of universes, dimensions, possibilities (seen and unseen) still unknown:

I know my life's a pain and but a span,

I know my sense is mocked with everything;

And to conclude, I know myself a man,

Which is a proud, and yet a wretched thing. 

We are all part of an unfolding ineffable unknown and it seems that suffering is a part of that.

Do not be afraid of it: face it, embrace it, sit with it, go beyond and through it.

I could tell many a true story of people, some of whom I know and knew personally, who have done exactly that and grown as humans.