NOAH'S FLOOD: LIFE IN THE ARK

                                                                                                                                            - NIBIN PINTO

Ever since his creation, man exercised the authority over every living being and to even decide the fate of our planet earth. But he was helpless before that invisible virus which threatened his life and forced him to stay in. The sudden arrival of COVID-19 pressed the feverish world to socially distance and the people to remain indoors as no one was allowed in the streets. This situation resembles the flood narrated in the book of Genesis from the Holy Bible which forced Noah and his family to stay in the ark for survival. So, meditating on that event may help us to ease out our tensions and hope for a better tomorrow.

    Noah’s Flood was a mystery play in the Chester Mystery Cycle which was adapted from the Holy Bible and performed for the audience to easily contemplate the gravity of that event since printing and reading was not so common. The God commanded Noah to build an ark to sustain his family from the deluge with which he plans to destroy the unruly mortals. All his family, which consisted of his wife, three sons – Shem, Ham and Japhet along with their wives gave a hand in building the ark. The God then instructs Noah to take with him all living creatures in pairs to preserve his creation. After 150 days of fear and desperation, they came out of the ark and life went back to normal. This event can be viewed as the first catastrophe faced by human kind. 

    While turning the pages of history we find many. It is said that in a century an epidemic, a deluge and a drought come to pass. And now we are witnessing an epidemic which transformed into a pandemic, thanks to globalization for updating the world into a global village. A point in which all our technological advancements stood in vain and many our brethren departed with no proper goodbye, we were imposed by lockdown to stay in our modern ark – Home, counting our breath. The traumatic and lonely experience of living within the four walls made us to lead a mode of virtual life. Many workers lost their jobs and economic sector fall apart. Everyone went online into the world of abundant possibilities with knowledge spread around the world. But appearances proved to be deceptive and many were trapped inside the dark holes while trying to find a relation to make them alive. Cybercrimes shot up with money and privacy going away with the hackers.

    Noah and his family are a role model for us to face our hardships by standing tall. Thousands of years ago, life was only in that ark which now stands as a metaphor for our predicament. Quarantine and Isolation inflicted on made us desperate like the Noah’s wife who gave a blow to him for forcing her to leave the land. We are, however, blessed with electric gadgets and medical apparatus to support our life. Also we must see the silver lining of this post-pandemic world that enabled us to be more careful with our health and lifestyle, to stay fit and enjoy homely meals with our family. We also understood the value of society, pleasure of company and positivity of nature. But as we are thrown out of our daily routine, a normal return is not possible soon. Noah inspires us here by abiding to the will of God wholeheartedly with no contempt. Although we are unable to reveal the hidden beauty behind our masks and to chill outdoor with our pals, let us be brave and recite in our mind:

                                                               “THIS TOO SHALL PASS….”