On January 23, 2020, at 6 p.m., the first case of novel coronavirus infection in Singapore was confirmed. Just an hour before the news hit the headlines, I attended an urgent meeting about precautions against the novel coronavirus in the very hospital which now houses the index case in Singapore. Poignant memories from senior doctors who had been through SARS in 2003 saturated the room, crystallizing into their earnest emphasis on adhering to strict precautions and multiple words of encouragement to all junior doctors.
We soon faced an invisible war, battling solitude of being divided into teams. We were disallowed to mingle with the staff from other teams, being shunned by taxi drivers and avoided by food delivery services. Even in such a situation, we had to be on standby 24/7 to be deployed as manpower to departments where patients could lose their lives and where we had to bear the brunt of the episode.
During the meeting, I wondered how many more days we had before the first case would appear and whether I could have a peaceful Chinese New Year. That very day, Singapore’s first case of novel coronavirus emerged. I really shouldn’t have boasted about tomorrow, right?
As the novel coronavirus is capable of spreading rapidly, our personal protective equipment [PPE] is indispensable. My colleagues, who had already attended to confirmed and suspected cases of the novel coronavirus, bravely entered the isolation ward by aithfully donning their PPE and being at the mercy of the rigor of our safety protocol and quality of equipment. Would anyone attend to a novel coronavirus patient without PPE? Definitely not! Nobody would like to be infected with the virus.
However, even without super bugs, all mankind is already exposed to death every day without realizing it. By the same logic, shouldn’t every human being on this earth quickly put on the spiritual PPE, too? I obviously need to wear PPE, but I desire more to be clothed with Christ.
Each time I don the PPE in the wards, I get a little emotional from being reminded how blessed I am to be clothed with Christ through the Passover so that nothing can harm me. How terrified I would be if I did not know God. Just as one cannot afford to miss a part of his PPE, I want to be properly clothed with Christ and carefully prepare the full armor of God, not lacking in any aspect.
I acknowledge that the current situation is scary, but I am really not afraid because people of Zion receive special protection from God. Though the hospital attempts to take care of my welfare, I am grateful that it is God who administers my life and guarantees eternal life. Thank You, Father and Mother for allowing me to be constantly reminded of Your love in my daily activities.
Father and Mother, please keep all Your children safe. Please open the way for us to shine Your glory brighter in a seemingly difficult time. Please have mercy on those who suffer from diseases and help us encourage people around us to seek refuge from God Elohim.