As days grow into weeks, each of us will be challenged with anxiety in some form. When will this stay at home and social distancing end? When can we return to our normal life, social gatherings and shopping spree? But now is the time to muster our inner strength to force the discipline in each of us to follow the advice much needed for containment and to mitigate the spread of the virus and also to avoid becoming needless victim to this infection.

 At times like this when our rational mind reaches its limit and yet we have to find the positive energy, the vitality needed to survive, we seek refuge in our faith. We find the courage and inner strength through our prayers to God. My grandmother lived a simple life. For her no matter what came by in her life, good or bad her only expression was “Ishwaro’ Rakshathu – God will take care of it”. But who is this God? How can we relate to Him/Her?

 On reflection our understanding of God seems to be much like our understanding of curry. Everyone has a generic view of the “God”. Yet, each one of us have our own and unique view of God, conditioned by our knowledge, education, life experiences and introspection. Curry blends with all the rest and makes the food spicy and tasty. God seems to blend invisibly in our thoughts and in our way of life adding peace and harmony at our times of need.

 Everyone looks up to God as the last resort, someone to look up to when all else fails. “God save the Queen” is the national anthem of Britain. Politicians when assuming office take their oath to God, “to protect and defend the constitution”. Every religion invokes God in one form or another.

 For some, God is the guide all the time. Fear of God makes them behave in certain ways. Faith in God gives them hope to strive and pursue excellence in their activities in the face of looming uncertainties.

 For some others God is more of a goal post, an ideal to strive for. They see God through divinity in their actions as well as in the action of others. For them the divine qualities are enabled by traditions and moral codes passed on through generations.

Others try to learn and understand what will God do in daily life? They describe such manner of behavior as divinity. They try to understand when divinity comes into play in our actions and when divinity seems to dwindle. Reasoning and action that is in the best interest of all – objectivity – is seen as divinity. They also recognize that “reasoning”, “action”, “interest”, etc. are all subjective. These are influenced by our limitations. In other words they seek objectivity, while conscious of the subjectivity of each of us as individuals.

 Basic life processes like breathing, digestion, assimilation, sensory perceptions are the same for each of us. But each of us experience or enjoy these processes differently (Subjectivity). We are aware that the laws of nature governing all aspects are truly invariant and hence objective. The sun that shines, the wind that blows, the earth we sleep on are all the same for a king as well as for a poor nobody. Yet, each of us, experience them in our own personal or subjective manner. Those who reflect on this marvel describe it as the work of God.

 God is a generic name for a collection of views and understanding in each of us. This collection of views is never the same for the same person! The way one relates to God at moments of despair is different from the way one approaches God at the safety and comfort of life. While there is always a basic theme our approach and faith in God are generally dependent on the mood and circumstances of the individuals. This is what makes the role of God – as we relate to It – far more unpredictable.

 Just as “curry” adds spice and flavor to the food, “God” adds a sense of purpose, direction and frame of reference for our life as individuals and as part of a larger order (the universe). Yet our understanding of the God is very much personal. Let this time of forced isolation and stay at home be also a time of reflection and contemplation for short periods of time. Let us find this reflection as a way to connect with God in our own personal ways. Let such unification with the invisible hand of God give us comfort and strength to stay strong, united and help each other especially those who are in the front line fighting this pandemic.

Be well and stay safe!

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