BENEATH THE DARK CLOUD
Awakenings and the Silver Linings
Life’s greatest lesson can only be learned through the most difficult times. Sometimes,
the anvil of life hammers and hits us the hardest to forge our character. The test of fate gives us
the most challenging experience to explore the uncharted possibilities unknown to us. The
pandemic is indeed an unprecedented event that does not only challenged us as humans but also
tested our characters. With its devastating effects, many lives had fallen, economic stability had
been abased, many people became lost, and for a moment, the time stopped and the world ran out
of breath. We were greatly challenged by this unforeseeable foe, a miniscule enemy that changed
our definition of what a normal life is.
Yet amazing things happen during the times when we expect them the least. Amid our
darkest times, we experienced awakenings that offered us a ray of hope. These are the silver
linings that helped us see the beauty of life in a new prism and appreciate it to the fullest. Despite
the challenges and limitations brought by the pandemic, we can harbor genuine reasons to
cherish our family, count our blessings, assess our nature as humans, reconnect ourselves to God,
and value the essence of life.
The pandemic gives us the avenue to spend quality time with our family, to communicate
the things we do not usually talk about, to share activities that we often take for granted, and to
rebuild a much stronger bond which makes us a “family.” It also allows us to count our
blessings, be thankful for what we have, and segregate the things which are of no value. It
allows us to see the essentials, the valuable things, and separate those that are only ephemeral. It
gives us the realization that within a momentary pause, we will learn to appreciate the basic
commodities which sustain our lives as humans. It liberates us from the idea that luxuries, fads,
and trendsetters are only material things whose value is too limited because it only gives what we
want,but not what we truly need. In the end, we learned that sometimes, simple things can be
more than enough.
The situation also enables us to assess our nature as human beings. It reminds us that as a
person we do have our limitations and that we should learn to acknowledge them. The pandemic
tested our ability as humans, particularly those who are in the health sector. We witnessed the
struggles of the front liners to fight the Covid, although that they are affected by it too.
Moreover, the experts battled also to find a cure against this virus. Yet it only showed that no
matter how advanced our technology is, no one can defy nature. We are all caught unprepared
and deaths struck to the highest toll before the vaccine was finally developed. Indeed, as humans,
we have our limitations and if we acknowledge it, we can humble our ways and rethink possible
actions that can benefit everyone.
We also witnessed the “Bayanihan” spirit, the connection which unites us as humans. As
a person, we are bound by our common language which is love. The pandemic let us realize that
we are each other’s refuge, that we can survive and fight whatever debacles we are facing if help
each other and act as one. It further proves that regardless of our color, belief, or religion, our
common language is love and it works its ways to make us surpass the problem that we are
facing. Due to the pandemic, it allows us to be human again and practice what it means to be
humane.
Sometimes, when things get blurry and we find no answers from God, we usually doubt
our faith and question His divine powers. However, this pandemic served as the bridge that
connects our faith to Him. In the most dragging moment of our lives, God never abandons us.
He moves in mysterious ways; most often unseen, yet felt. Perhaps, this pandemic serves as a
heaven’s twisted way to help its herd find its path again.We might lose energy due to weariness,
but we should never lose our faith and devotion to Him. As we traverse this dark journey of
pandemic, we should let God be our beacon to find our way and see the light.
Finally, while most of us take life for granted, the pandemic teaches us to re-evaluate the
value of life. We are only given one chance to live so we need to use that opportunity to do good
things not only for ourselves but for other people as well. We realize that life cannot be
measured by the achievements that we have, rather it can be valued through the recognition and
appreciation we get from helping others. After all, a man’s worth can best retold by the people
who surround him. If we do good things to others, many people will remember our good deeds.
This, later on, gives us a sense of fulfillment that can add value to what life means: to live and be
of service to others.
As we move forward two or three years from now, the story of a pandemic might still
sound horrifying to some, a memory that cannot be erased even with the passing of times.
However, we should not forget that this event also served as a turning point for us to see life
from a different perspective; it gave us indelible lessons that we will carry throughout life;
offered us awakenings to realize our limitations and value as humans; and reminded us that in
every dark cloud, there are always silver linings behind it.
#Reflection Paper
DACUNOS, MARINELLE O., PhD
Senior High School, Sipocot NHS