WE ARE in unchartered territory now. Strange and deep waters are ahead. Fear is palpable even tasted, tomorrow looks distant, scary even. And so what do we do in these times? Let me share a story.

The neophyte monk approached his elder and asked, “Sir, I am new to the monastery, what should I do? The older monk replied, “Have you eaten your rice porridge?” The young monk said, “Yes I have.” The older monk said, “Then go and clean your bowl.”

That is what we are all asked to do, to clean our bowls. To do the things that must be done. All of us have our own bowls to clean. We all have our bowls and each of us have to clean them.

We have to be better than what we were ever before. We all have to dig deep somewhere. We all must find the courage. The strength and most of all, the faith. We all have to be better.

Every crisis has an opportunity in it and the opportunity is a challenge we all are facing. Some falter and crumble. Like that person I saw in the grocery today. While most people were buying their monthly supplies with a few extras, this lady had three carts all crammed to the hilt. Clearly she was hoarding. She was oblivious at the disbelieving stares, she just wanted it all. Not to be outdone was this other senior citizen who was carrying two disinfectants. She just cut the line with the excuse that she was a senior and that she only hand two items. If she looked behind her she would have seen a long line of people, mostly seniors waiting patiently and waiting silently. She actually looked smug afterwards “kasi, naka isa.” Both did not clean their bowls.

I have no idea how long this will last but I know this. We will make it through. The question is how are we going to make it through? Shall we debase ourselves and totally barrel our way through regardless of whom we harm? Shall we be beasts? There is something in us that is primal and it is unleashed in these times. But there is also divinity in us that shines through in these times. What we do reveals who we are..

In the coming days we shall see what and who we are. God bless us all.