Invictus

INTRODUCTION

We are in the fight for our lives. Never in all of history has humanity had to confront a pandemic that has destroyed so many lives. The Coronavirus or COVID-19 has invaded every part of the world and infected millions and killed hundreds of thousands. COVID 19 is affecting 213 countries and territories. At the time of this publication, the CDC reports that there are more than 20,000 COVID 19 cases in the United States and over 420,000 deaths.

COVID 19 is an enemy against humanity. It is a vicious virus that insidiously infects our body by entering healthy cells and makes copies of itself and multiplies throughout our body. The new coronavirus latches its spiky surface proteins to receptors on healthy cells, especially those in our lungs.

It is a formidable foe that starts with droplets from an infected person’s cough, sneeze, or breath. They could be in the air or on a surface that you touch before touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. That gives the virus a passage to the mucous membranes in your throat.

Within 2 to 14 days, your immune system may respond with symptoms including fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, chills, body aches, headache, sore throat, loss of taste, loss of smell, nausea, and diarrhea. More than 8 in 10 cases are mild, but for some, the infection gets more severe. As fluid collects in your lungs, they carry less oxygen to your blood. That means your blood may not supply your organs with enough oxygen to survive. This can cause your kidneys, lungs, and liver to shut down and eventually, stop working.

COVID 19 has taken a significant toll on people across the world. It has brought about a destabilization of the world economy, bankruptcy of businesses, dramatic increase in the unemployment rate, perversion of our political process, disruption of social and recreational life, collapse of our hospitals and healthcare organizations, devastation of our educational institutions, desolation of our religious institutions, and unconscionable, unrelenting, uncompromising amount pain, suffering, death, and loss. Everyone on this planet has been affected by the coronavirus.

The greatest damage that the virus has inflicted upon us is on our souls. Our souls are indirectly attacked by the spiritual toxicity of the coronavirus. The social isolation, death, financial hardship, limitations to our freedom, loneliness, frustration, rage, cynicism, narcissism, despair, existential emptiness, hopelessness, and sadness associated with the coronavirus has vitiated the soul. Consequently, many have lost faith in God, hope for the future, love for humanity, grace for change, peace of mind, and joy for life. It is no wonder that there is an increase in the number of people suffering from complicated grief, depression, disorientation, substance abuse, domestic violence, criminal behavior, violent social rebellion, and suicide. The coronavirus is a major threat to our soul.

We use a mask to cover our mouth and nose, but what do we use to cover the soul? How do we guard our soul from the spiritual and emotional damaging impact of Covid-19? This pandemic has taken so many things from us: family, friends, health, employment, financial security, sense of freedom, the ability to go to Church, travel, see our loved ones at Nursing Homes, make hospital visits, attend concerts, professional sporting events, dining -out, social-outings, going to the movies, hand shaking, warm embracing, and even giving our deceased loved ones a proper burial. All these losses have taken a toll on our soul.

Coronavirus has come like a thief in the night and robbed us of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, however, the late great existentialist Viktor Frankl reminds us, “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing; the last of human freedoms- to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” We have the freedom to choose how we will respond to the coronavirus and decide how we want to deal with its viciousness. Life is all about making choices.

The poet William Henley articulates our spiritual freedom in his classic poem, Invictus. Invictus means unconquerable or undefeated in Latin. The poem was written while Henley was in the hospital being treated for tuberculosis of the bone. Henley had his foot amputated directly below the knee and was going to have a similar operation on his other leg but was able to save it. Henley endured a lot of pain and suffering. He had one foot intact and led an active life until his death at the age of 53.

Invictus is a personal testimony of a man who had the courage to face pain, suffering and death, and hold unto his dignity. The “night”, “darkness” or life’s hardships could not defeat his “unconquerable soul” that refused to “wince nor cry aloud.” Henley did not grumble or complain, nor was he afraid. He defiantly proclaims that he is the “master of his fate” and the “captain of his soul.” Henley did not let his handicap, sickness, or the threat of death, determine how he felt and how he lived.

Invictus reminds us of the fact that we are the sole authorities of ourselves. Even God does not take away our free will and ability to make choices. We are responsible for our own destiny. We do not choose what happens to us, however, we can choose how we will respond. The Bible clarifies our freedom of choice. “I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse, therefore choose life, your descendants may live.” (Deuteronomy 30:19, NRSV)

We do not choose to live under the constant threat of the coronavirus, but we can choose how we will respond to it. We have a choice in how to cope with this pandemic. Furthermore, every choice that we make has the potential to bless or curse, give us life or death.