Each week a member of the Vincentian Family will share a part of his/her experience during recent months. From the depths of their heart these writers will present a message of hope because we are convinced that there are positive lessons to be learned from this pandemic.

Usual daily activities have come to a complete stop. All volunteer work has been suspended. A clear and powerful message was proclaimed: if you want to help, stay home.

The feeling has been one of deep vulnerability and it has made me see how life can change in a single moment … a sudden movement from stability to total disaster.

It has made me reflect on human pride, that is, how humankind can come to believe that they are the rulers of the world and then, everything collapses as a result of a virus that has spread throughout the world and has overwhelmed our resources.

I believe that there has been an extraordinary expression of solidarity among people, especially as people reach out to assist those who have suffered the most, such as the infirm and dying, the elderly, those who are lonely and economically vulnerable. In all these situations we have seen countless acts and gestures of generosity and solidarity.

Experiencing these expressions of people’s “humanness,” has made me more aware of the reality that God lives in each one of us … and often that reality is neither affirmed nor noticed. I have seen God acting on so many different occasions. I know that God has always been present, but at this time, God’s presence has become more evident than ever before.

In the face of so much pain and anguish that we have seen and known, sometimes through the media, and other times through direct contact with various individuals, there has emerged a new bond in the form of continuous prayer that has enabled me to “be present” in hospitals (with patients and health care workers) in nursing homes, in those places where people are dying with no loved ones around them, in families experiencing so much pain … this has been a silent accompaniment, but a very real and comforting accompaniment.

On the other hand, I have tried (according to my modest possibilities) to collaborate in assisting those who are in need. I am grateful for all that I have received and therefore, I also feel that as a sign of my gratitude, I am called to share my resources, my time, and my life with others.

I continue to wear a mask, but behind this mask I am also able to communicate words of hope. I continue to wash my, but I keep my hands open and clean in order to welcome others, especially those who suffer the most. I continue wipe my feet on the doormat, but at the same time, I continue to walk with God as I reach out to the people who are around me, especially the poorest and neediest.

I have always felt that God has taken special care of me. At this time, I am filled with gratitude for the many blessings that I have received.

Mari Carmen Davia