(DMNC) The Bridge of Connection and Closeness

After days of serving Sarx Covid 19 patients at the field hospital, I withdrew to a quiet place to isolate and monitor my health before returning to the community where I live and work. My mind never stops thinking about the life-or-death struggle of the patients, the total dedication of the medical team to trying to win back or prolong the patient’s life, the dedication and sacrifice. of brothers and sisters serving staff. The feeling is still there. Concerned about the patients who were confused, insecure and sad when she passed away last night, mother was on oxygen, the child was feverish; when the husband is in one hospital and the wife and child are in another; when the wife and daughter are in one hospital while the husband and son are in another quarantine; when my daughter is in this hospital, but her mother is old and has poor eyesight in another hospital, etc. The pity and concern kept gnawing at me, prompting me to ask the question, “What does God want me to do in this situation? ?” Experience from the fact that I have seen with my own eyes and ears, I realize that people today are in dire need of two “bridges”:

1. The bridge of love to connect

Jesus left a heart of gold, “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:34).

The Covid 19 virus is very small and no one can see it with the naked eye, but wherever it goes, it causes fear and division. When it enters someone’s house, the family members are divided and scattered there. Wherever it appeared, the crowd dispersed there. I feel that another name for this Virus called today is ‘fear.’ Last night a sister asked me: “Are you afraid of serving patients in the hospital?” I replied, “Happiness is better than fear.” She told me, “It takes a lot of courage and charity to make such a commitment.” A comment that I never thought of. Honestly, when I decided to join the hospital, I simply wanted to live with, listen directly to the concerns, worries and difficulties of those who are being named.” patients infected with the Covid virus”. That simple thing created a strong motivation for me to commit and love the work I was doing. Through what the staff and I do together, I find that instilling in the hearts of the “patients” a little humanity, arousing in their emotions the strength of hope, and arousing in their desires. They serve each other in spirit. Human love is gradually getting closer; The fear is gradually removed by the care that people give to each other. An employee and seminarian of Xuan Loc diocese shared, “At first, I was afraid when I entered the hospital to serve, but seeing the commitment of the staff members, my fear began to decrease. When I put on the shirt to serve patients, fear is gone, but love and joy of serving more and more is replaced.”

The most obvious thing I’ve noticed is the growing love connection. In the early days, the “patients” crossed their arms from afar and watched as the staff and us did things like picking up trash around the yard, collecting trash from the bins, cleaning the area, bringing meals to people. elderly people, giving bowls of porridge to the tired, adding some milk to the children… In the following days, they themselves undertake these tasks. They work with the spirit of mutual support, each person has a hand to make the campus more clean, each person does a job to make the hospital area more orderly and orderly, and each member makes a little sacrifice so that everyone feels secure. heartwarming. So a bridge of love was built and created a connection between people, between doctors and patients, between staff and “temporary residents.” The bridge of love has reduced the fear of mutual wariness and replaced it with smiles, sharing and encouragement. A sister shared with me: “Dad, this morning, I and a brother who is taking care of my elderly mother volunteered to clean all the emergency rooms, no more smell, Dad. The doctor and nurse were very happy. They thank us. I’m glad I got to do that little job.” The bridge of love has eased pain, eased fear and connected human relationships.

2. The bridge of sympathy for closeness:

Jesus’ troubled words still echo in my heart, “I have pity on the crowds, because they have been with me for three days and have nothing to eat” (Mk 8:2). When someone is accidentally found to be infected with the Covid virus, the first thing they receive is isolation and separation from all family, relatives or friends. Before the Covid virus had time to kill them, the “virus of panic and fear” had penetrated them from head to toe. During the days of living and serving in the hospital, I found out that the “hospitalized” person does not lack food, but lacks empathy. They are not physically hungry but hungry for care and support. We (the volunteer group) come and do ordinary things but the difference is that we put in the work a little love that contains sympathy. We don’t just want to get the job done, but through the work, what do the patients feel and what do we learn? Come to the side once

Paul Dinh Chi Hien

Priest of Xuan Loc diocese

(DMNC) Time flies, it’s been more than a week since I participated in volunteer activities against the Covid-19 epidemic. Although the service time was short, it left me with so many emotions and beautiful memories that I will probably never forget.

I remember very well that day, on a sunny afternoon, when I received a letter calling for volunteer participation from the Bishop of Xuan Loc Diocese, my heart suddenly filled with an indescribable feeling: I want to. to leave, to be served, to share the pain of Covid-19 patients. Because the registration time is quite urgent, I only have one day to think and decide. I prayed a lot for your grace to enlighten and strengthen me; More than ever, I feel my soul is at peace so I decided to register to participate. Because of my love and concern for me, my family objected to not allowing me to go. Seeing the sad eyes of Mom and family members, I had to fight fiercely. Yes, people are called to “stay at home to fight the epidemic” and children want to “go out to fight the epidemic”. But Mother, “Where there is a need for youth; It’s hard to find a catechist anywhere.” As a Catechist, I cannot stand by and watch. Mom rest assured, I will be very careful, I believe God will keep me and my family safe. So, with all my enthusiasm to commit to serving, I persuaded my family to agree and support me to volunteer.

Update Covid news regularly about the increasing number of infections and deaths every day, as well as watch mournful videos of “undead funerals”, the cries of loved ones when standing next to the car carrying the officials. the talent of my loved one that I could not see for the last time, hastily parted in pity, … all those images touched my heart. I feel my heart ache because of so much pain, loss and damage going on around me. Covid, you not only make people die, but the most painful thing is to die alone, alone and lonely. The more I see those mournful images, the more I want to commit to serving, the more I urge me that “I have to serve well, with all my strength, and with all my heart no matter what job I do.” .

Very well aware of the dangers that I will face, I know that: I can get infected at any time, but those things do not discourage me. Many people ask me, “Don’t you know how to be afraid?” As a weak person, I am afraid and very afraid of the dangers lurking around me. But with a conviction in the love of God and the support and companionship of my family and the parish, I feel strangely peaceful in my heart, happy because I am about to set out to serve the brothers. his sisters. Every time I’m scared I always say to God, “God! You take care of everything for me!” And really until now, every day and every hour that passes, I feel that You have been taking care of everything for me.

There are times when it’s hot in a protective suit, there are days when I feel so tired that I think I’m almost exhausted, I remember the image of Covid victims struggling to take their lives every second. every minute, I smile again, silently offering my little sacrifices to God to pray for them, and to pray for souls; and after that, I continued to be happy and engrossed in my service.

In the midst of this pandemic, people often struggle to ask themselves, “Where is God? Why did You let me suffer like this?” This is the question humanity asks when suffering from the virus, and it was the question I asked before. But when participating in volunteering, I have found God through every person I come into contact with, through every thing I do. And I received the answer that “He is still with me even though I cannot see him, but at my right hand he is always there. Therefore, trust in the Lord, turn to his mercy, and sincerely repent for all the weaknesses and mistakes of mankind.”

Lord, sanctify everything I do, so that I can bring Your image and mercy to those I have served and are serving, so that more people will know You and open their hearts to receive. Him in their lives. May God continue to accompany and keep us in this mission.

Posts by Dang Thi Ngoc Han
– Youth Catechists of Binh Hai Parish (GPXL)

(DMNC) I am the way, the truth and the life” feelings from the article “Memoirs: Serving in Quarantine” and thinking about the way to God…

I have the habit of watching the news every night, regularly monitoring the situation in Vietnam, especially the lives of people in my hometown Saigon, to follow the lives of Jesus’ followers with Mary – The benevolent Mother who carried and guided me on my young path, and continues to lead me to this moment.

The other night, I happened to see the article “Memoirs: Serving in Quarantine”, the author is Fx. Hoan My, posted on the website of the Archdiocese of Saigon on September 2, 2021. After watching it a few times, suddenly, I had a need for a good direction and an inspiration to write – write with the feelings of a son away from home, interwoven with the sentiments of a believer, and I record my thoughts below. mine after watching.

The camaraderie of the three volunteer friends in the story of this article is heartwarming. More than simply “to forget the hard work and at the same time increase their productivity”, that friendship also manifests the presence of Jesus in their hearts and in a way, they have been enlightened by God: “ Love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34).

“My mother is also worried, because this has nothing to do with my profession. Many nights sitting alone, I miss my mother so much! I haven’t been home for a long time, I miss it, but what can I do?!” Phong’s sharing made me feel uneasy. I really don’t want to see the contemplation and reflection in young people, because I have experienced it. I experienced not the epidemic, not the Corona virus, but with the same result, I was robbed of the income and freedom of youth, robbed of the joy that made my eyes tear up, my heart filled with tears. astringent; it tries to destroy life, makes us shut our mouth, hold our breath… Oh, pity for a human life!

The author of the article did not speak his mind when listening to the two young people confiding. But I know God is present in him and in me, like we are walking together on the path God has prepared. So I partially understood the author’s thoughts at that time. The author really wants to banish the ephemeral sadness, which is slowly sneaking into the heart to make a nest.

Although I and the author are separated by half a world, there is something that makes me feel and read the author’s mood at that time: eyes looking at the blue sky, watching the setting sun still reflect and knit. red and yellow on the white clouds, interspersed with the chirping of a few birds in the sky; they leisurely invite each other to fly back to the nest…

I silently pray, may graces from the sky pour down, warm the author’s heart, let him feel a sacred vitality that is permeating every cell and every muscle in his body, erasing afflictions, and poured in his ear the words, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6)

Impressed when I read the article, there are two characters in the story (Phong and Vu). I feel so sorry for these two. The Covid-19 pandemic has caused the two of you a severe shock, a mental crisis, pushed you two into the gravity of the lonely void, and forced you two away from your dear old mother. And I know well that there is always peace in suffering, so I am secretly happy for the two of you, secretly happy for all those who are committed to serving, because they do not let loneliness take control, on the contrary, they also know Take control of your life.

It was late at night, I went out to the yard, leaned back in the chair on the porch, watching the shimmering stars, suddenly saw a starlight in the distance. I quickly folded my hands, closed my eyes, hoping the starlight would send my heart to the two of you, and those who are committed to the community.

Instead of looking for temporary outside pleasures to relieve loneliness, your karma has invisible pushed you to knock on Thien’s door, voluntarily volunteering to help patients with Covid-19 , adding to his own troubles, not because of money, close to the god of death, and also heard scolding from those who are being isolated.

Dear Phong, Vu! Volunteering – which the two of you have been doing for the world – will not be in vain for the future. It is engraved in memory, and will follow you for the rest of your life. Over time, this good seed will bear fruit, creating a small bridge to bring the two of you deep into the spiritual life.

Dear Phong! At night, you reflect on yourself in silence. That is, you know how to return to yourself, know how to listen to the voice of your heart. It is the path that leads you to the inner life and also the path that leads you to Truthfulness, Compassion, and Beauty. At the end of the path will be a mysterious, almighty, and eternal light.

I understand, the more you talk to yourself, the more you understand your “me”. When you understand it a lot, you will gradually reduce your ego, and at the same time, you will realize the spiritual life; it has a unique value and is more precious than all the treasures on earth put together, for it is the living soul of every body. Your vision will be farther, wider, from there, the lonely shadow fades; the ego shrinks; the six paths (eyes, nose, ears, tongue, skin, and mind) will become clearer and clearer; and finally your soul will be clear, recognize the mysterious light that slowly manifests in your soul.

I am no better than the two of you, just older, “lucky” to experience the lost, empty and lonely scenes in my father’s hometown, and the first part in a foreign land. I think, everyone in life has to go through a little loneliness that torments them. They do not seek solitude, but loneliness has the opportunity to inquire about their health. Even “superheroes” have to deal with loneliness.

Indeed, in human history, Shakyamuni Buddha meditated for 49 days under the Bodhi tree, more than 2500 years ago, to find the source of human suffering before he attained righteous fruition. . Jesus, 2000 years ago, was tempted by the devil during 40 days and nights of testing in the desert, to train his spirit before he went out to preach.

Obviously, Phong, Vu and I are only mortals, not comparable to superhumans, but I pray that the two of you, and those who are engaged, will overcome the lonely threshold to re-establish life balance and maintain peace of mind.

Finally, I have a few words to say to the author of the article “Memoirs: Serving the Quarantine”.

Dear Hoan My!

The contrast between the two vitality in the human body, is difficult to discern:

– One is bodily vitality, inclined to extroversion, following the desires of the six senses and memory, clinging to the ephemeral, catching illusions, and finding ups and downs, birth and death, joy and sorrow in human life.

– The second is spiritual vitality, introspective, simple living, seeking peace, omnipotence and eternity.

The body is the floating part, manifesting and living because of the vitality of the submerged part (spirit).

Finding and coming to spirituality is to seek to live forever in time, from generation to generation, because spiritual life is mysterious and eternal.

America creates pleasure in service work, that is, on the way to find and realize spiritual values. America’s attention to others, America will receive a noble place in “The Way to God.”

America must have read a lot, wrote a lot. So, let’s continue to deepen the understanding in the Bible, fully understand, live and follow God’s word, surely in the future, the soul will be pure, able to communicate with the mysterious light of God.

Only very few souls, very rarely, recognize God, even though God always loves people, accompanies each person in every day, every hour, every minute, every second, and throughout life. He is always tolerant, helping people in times of trouble as well as in times of success

Reading the confessions of two young people Phong and Vu told by Hoan My in the story, I had the opportunity to review the pieces of my past. They are real experiences and valuable baggage for me for the rest of my life in this hectic world.

Let’s continue each day, continue to love and care for each other, because you have one thing in common: that is knocking on Thien’s door to practice spiritually.

I hope: Hoan My, Phong, Vu and those who are committed to serving, will recognize the mysterious light in each person’s heart in the future. That day, you will experience for yourself the saying, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 16:4)

Tonight, a quiet, quiet night, I close my eyes and pray to Jesus to bless each soul far away, so that you can see His mysterious lights in your hearts. May God always be the spiritual torch to guide you out of the twists and turns, or the temptations of life, to help you stay confident and healthy, through which, you continue to help your family. family, relatives, friends, and Covid-19 patients.

Cali. USA, 4-9-2021
Dumark Trung Kien (TGPSG)