My word: Should we just start getting used to this?

Things seem to be mark timing right now. It seems like we are adopting a new normal.

Before, it seemed like we were in an endless period of waiting. Now, it feels more like we are not waiting any more but rather wondering how long we can last without venturing out.

Some have found a way to stay in the ark while some are feeling confined by its walls. They are standing on the decks, looking out at the water and wondering; "Will we sink or swim if we wade into the water?”

It feels like someone sent out a raven to go and check if the water has receded. But we know very well what will happen. The raven will come back. Things are not clear yet. The rain hasn’t stopped beating us. We might actually be sailing towards the eye of the storm.

But we know a few things about this storm. We have seen what others have experienced. We’ve seen some ships sink ahead of us. Some were rescued and some managed to swim ashore but unfortunately, some have lost their lives.

Some ships have forced those aboard to throw some of their possessions overboard. They have begun with the heaviest cargo, the most luxurious items and the excess supplies.

Pretty soon, they will consider making a sacrifice and tossing some essential items overboard. There will be a scuffle over what to keep and what to throw out, and everyone will start hanging onto their most prized possessions.

Hopefully, we won’t get to that crucial point where even the clothes on our backs will be considered too heavy for the boat.

Hopefully, some lifeboats will arrive to rescue us or the waters will recede just in time...before the supplies run out, before our patience runs out, before our will to survive is extinguished.

Meanwhile, if we can, let us avoid spending entire days staring at the swirling waters. Let’s get busy making sure there is enough for everyone on the ark to share, making sure the animals survive the journey so as not to make their species extinct and making sure the seeds do not get wet and rot before they are planted once we land.

Things are certainly going to get tougher, but one thing we must not lose is our ability to be empathetic and compassionate, our ability to stick together and our ability to hope. Let us never forget that we are all stuck on the same boat.  

Christine Koech, Editor, Eve