Today, I am faced with the struggle to say no to temptations of playing a handy game. At this time while writing the article, the covid measures have mellowed down. People are no longer wearing mask at the grocery stores. The vaccination mandate did not push through except for those who are working in the health sectors and those institutions that cater with the elderly and the vulnerable and for some other sectors of the government. The workers in this field have to wear mask and to my knowledge they are also to produce proof of vaccination or of recovery from that infection in order to continue working. My empathy for those who are being forced to act against their will just to keep their source of living going.
My experience during the winter of 2021-2022 was horrible. I remembered being bullied at work for simply having no typical mindset and views on the covid pandemic. Being the minority who is not hiding by being silent, i found myself in many unpleasant circumstances at work. I could recall being regarded as an outcast for a few. Some avoided me for the fear of being infected through me. I was policed oftentimes for not wearing my mask the way they see fit. These bullies are my colleagues. My superiors were considerate and they didn't push into my throat to wear mask the way others do it. I have to deal with these issues until a test mandate was implemented. For the fear of being penalized, I was forcibly ejected out of the workplace. My working contract was not ended but i have to stay home without a pay. The more mandates were implemented the more the working climate became uglier for people who barely think differently about the situation. I was a victim of discrimination. I was discriminated for being a part of the minority during the heights of the pandemic strict measures. Despite of all that, I have learned through the situation to love the unlovable. It is the commandment of our Lord Jesus Christ to love our neighbors as ourselves. A notch higher than that is to love our enemies. Bless them who persecute you, despise you. Matthew 5 ''But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.'' All I wanna say is that loving my neighbors as myself is already hard enough for me. I can't do it apart from the strength that the Lord Jesus is giving me. How much more with people who are provoking you to anger? I mean what i have experienced during this period was only a mild experience compared with what others have to go through. For me, I am so blessed that I didn't have to be dealing with those bullies. I could have chosen to stay home and have myself spared from that ugly atmosphere. But, work is not a human invention. It is of God's. I don't feel at all fulfilled just being a housewife. With a handful of kids to manage at home, i can picture myself to be a full time mother and a housewife. But we are childless up to this point. It is with my childlessness that I learned about God's love more intimately and profoundly. This testimony is for another article to share. It is safe to say that I needed work to balance my time and energy. In other words, i should be dealing with my colleagues who were threatened by my presence at work. I had no choice. But first of all, I have to have the proper mindset. Are they my enemies? In some sense, yes. But are they really the one to battle with? The answer is ''No.'' At the start, my flesh went bothered. I wanted to retaliate every form of insults, discriminations and bullies right there and then. But the Lord has reminded me that I didn't have to. First of all, vengeance is not mine but of God. But to be honest, i tried to battle with them in my own ways. My words were sharp but it didn't take me that long to realize I was in the wrong for doing so. I had never prayed that much in my whole life. I could remember praying before my work started. Praying for wisdom, strength to love my bullies and above all for an opportunity to share with them the gospel of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. I have always seen God's hands and faithfulness in the midst of those sobering situations. He has always faithfully answered my prayers and grace upon grace He has granted me to deal with the situation and to come out of it with victory and a heart filled with praise to my God and Savior. I have to know that my enemies aren't the people in a general sense. God has taught me this life lesson through my work during the heights of the strict covid pandemic mandates. I gave up my job eventually but certainly not because of the colleagues. It is my working against my conscience that caused me to stop. The mask has personally caused me some difficulties. But that alone is not a reason to go against it. I am convinced that it causes more harm than good. The mask doesn't stop viral infection too. It is for this reason that I quitted. I have been severing my conscience everytime I pretended that I agree that mask does help by wearing it myself. Moreover by wearing mask, I'm approving that the whole narrative is legitimate in which i am convinced of the opposite. Having considered many things and upon bringing the matter to the Lord, i came to the decision to quit my job. I loved this job where I was. I love my colleagues too. I pray that one day they will become God's children too like I am. I pray that if you are reading this and you haven't been born again yet, that a thirst and hunger for the truth will be born in your heart. Ephesians 6:12 ''12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.''
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