Pray for the Ukrainian people

Lviv, Ukraine, prior to breakout of war
Lviv, Ukraine, prior to breakout of war (Photo credit: Andriyko Podilnyk)

This is a very sad day, indeed, for the Ukrainian community but also for the world as we stand in solidarity with all who have been oppressed and burdened by abuse of power or authority. We will never know the full extent of their sorrows and emotions until we have experienced it ourselves, but we do feel the anger and sadness and empathized with their current situation. As we have seen, battles are not only reserved for the battlefields with tanks and dangerous weapons, but the war is waged at home, in families and communities, with the economy and in politics. Although less violent and gruesome than the battlefield, the mental and emotional suffrage the people of Ukraine will face is equally significant, nonetheless.

The call for civilians to take up arms can be compared to soldiers leaving home to go to a foreign nation to fight the enemy, with a mix of patriotism, pride, anxiety, and apprehension as family members cry or cheer or even join the fight to defend themselves. The unintended consequence of war can be devastating. While we may not see it, immediately, the pain and loss of life will be present and hurtful as well as having to leave your home to find shelter in another country with uncertainty, family members being separated, the struggle for food and money and the lack of medical supplies.

Think of the emotional rollercoaster of fear and helplessness as wives wonder if their husbands will make it home alive; and children frightened that they may never see their fathers again. The exodus group heading to western border countries will be clinging to social media or the TV or car radios to learn about what is happening to others or their homes left behind, the army movements, camp life and especially casualties. Can you stop to think about how they are feeling or how you would feel if you were in such a horrendous position – how would you respond?

Think about the disruption to daily life with communities being deprived of a significant part of their workforce as well as many community leaders and professionals. It’s really hard to think about happiness in such a moment like this, with grief and fear taking centre stage. Although the rest of the world portrays a united front, the immediate need for support seems to fade by the hours especially those fleeing the danger. Who could have thought in 2022 there would be a war in modern day Europe? The truth is we don’t know for sure how all this might turn out if it could end sooner rather than later or continue for years longer. While nobody wants the latter, it is important to think about. This could be so much more difficult since the world is slowly coming out of a pandemic that has crippled economies and slowed production on every continent. We hope neighbouring countries will welcome the Ukrainian community with open arms. 

As a global community we must be prepared for increased prices on gas, food and other commodities and change our economic attitudes and habits. As this war progresses, people need to be prepared for shortages and rising prices and rising inflation. Citizens everywhere should get creative with their meal planning, finding alternative source of food supply because our interconnected would be affected. This is not a war only on Ukraine but on democracies everywhere. 

In fact, bordering countries fear they, too, may be next on the list for invasion. These counties fear that their independence or territories are under threat and may need to take decisive action. They are preparing for the massive humanitarian crisis on their borders and have declared a state of emergency to give assistance to the thousands of Ukrainians fleeing their homes. 

This is truly a sad day for the world, and we must pray for the Ukrainian people but also for the other side to show grace and mercy that they will one day need. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.

Subrina Hall-Azih is a Trinidadian Educator residing in New York.

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *