The province of Ontario, Canada started its first step of re-opening on June 11 after the horrifying third wave of the pandemic. Step 1 meant 60% of the population had the first dose already. Ontario will proceed to the second step when 70% of the adults have taken the first dose and 20% are fully vaccinated. The last step is when 80% had the first dose and 25% are fully vaccinated. The verdict on the full opening does not rely on the vaccination rate alone but the infection rate as well. This is the reason behind the 21-day period for each step progression.
The first weekend after the re-opening, saw an onslaught of shoppers going to retail shops. There were long line-ups across the city as there is a cap on the number of people allowed inside the store. It has been months since the government had put a hold on the purchase of non-essential items. Now that the ban has been lifted, people are buying clothes, household items, decors, and so on. Patio dining was also permitted and imagine how restaurant owners and staff had to prepare themselves and the facilities to serve their customers without a hitch. Personally, I felt the excitement in the air. I loved the opportunity to attend church service once again in person. I am delighted to be able to dine out with friends or be outside a friend’s backyard with up to 10 people.
The other night I watched The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’s first live show after Covid restrictions were raised. The Ed Sullivan Theater was full of cheering audience once again. All of them were fully vaccinated and in New York City, they can gather with no masking and no physical distancing. Stephen Colbert was visibly pumped because of the crowd’s energy. He also mentioned about his new suit and haircut to look presentable to his audience. He also called on his wife who was his regular spectator (his children joined in from time to time) during Covid isolation. Funny, how the road to normalcy can be disorienting, now that for more than a year we have been used to all these limitations.
With all these re-instatement pronouncements, the government and health experts have been on the spotlight. We rely on them to study the facts and the trends to ensure no outbreak or even fourth wave will happen. We have seen millions of infections and deaths across the globe and each country has the utmost priority to protect its people and prevent further fatalities. Governments have been cautious on their re-opening plan. On the other hand, they weigh this along with the clamor from the commercial sector to open businesses as owners cannot take the losses much further. Similar pressure comes from the travel industry as this is one of the most affected industries. It is a challenge to balance between putting a stop to infections versus the economic recovery of the country. Throughout this crisis, we have seen effective and at the same time some unwise measures from our governing bodies. We have seen praises and on other instances, deep criticisms that can serve as wake up calls for our leaders and at times a demotivation to them. It is easy for us constituents to blame our leaders, however, this is also a complex issue to navigate through.
As we celebrate Father’s Day, I am reminded of the critical role of the head in the family. Like these governing bodies, our fathers are designed by God to become our leaders, protectors, providers, and guide. They provide authority to put order and discipline in our lives. We look to them for strength and direction. Their role is highly important and can never be undermined. Some have been strong, responsible, and reliable … still, some gave in to the pressures and distractions and have neglected their duties. We cherish these men who have been solid pillars and through their leadership have led their children to the right path. On the flip side, we have seen harsh and irresponsible fathers that have contributed to the downfall of their children. The healing can take years and some children are still struggling and recovering from the wounds their fathers inflicted on them.
There are no perfect fathers on earth. Even the most loved and respected can disappoint their children from time to time. The only perfect parent is our Creator who sits in heaven and in our hearts, if we let Him. What an amazing grace and privilege that we can have a relationship with Him, through His Son Jesus Christ. For those that have upright earthly fathers, it is easy to relate to our Heavenly Father who is the Giver of all wonderful things. For those that did not have good fathers, having a personal relationship with Him has been a road to healing and forgiveness. This awesome God will never abandon, disappoint and will always be true to His promises. This same God will always make the wisest and most reliable decisions. Experiencing unconditional love, mercy and underserving grace from the Almighty Father paved a way to release any anger, resentment and be at peace with earthly fathers.
Whatever category we fall on, this Father’s Day, let us honor, appreciate and show respect to our fathers. Let us recognize the best efforts they have put forward to become good fathers to us. They have their own strengths, weaknesses, and frailties just like you and me. They are a blessing from God and have been placed in our lives for a reason. May we support them as leaders of our family, being fully aware that their role is difficult and challenging. May we follow through their legacy for the betterment of ourselves and the future generation.
“Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. Buy the truth and do not sell it — wisdom, instruction, and insight as well. The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him. May your father and mother rejoice; may she who gave you birth be joyful!” – Proverbs 23:22-25
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