In the car last week on the way back from Mae Sot, singing became the major form of entertainment for sustaining the journey. A feature song was Elton John's "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road". As I look back, I reflect how appropriate as it was to be the last journey we would share with Zarni before he leaves us at NCCM to return to Myanmar for study and work.
Zarni is a young man who is ever so wise, capable and kind. He has been a great friend and co-worker with us at Caritas Thailand for the past two years. Now it is time for him to go. Stop the presses.
Zarni got last minute advice that his flight back home has been cancelled due to an upsurge of the virus in Myanmar. So now his life is in flux awaiting word on a future flight sometime in the midst of a pandemic. Such is a typical story of this time. People get stuck, facing unplanned challenges which are ruled by situations beyond their control.
I had understood Elton's "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" as about the journey but "No, it isn't". It is about freedom, freedom to choose one's way in life. A message of a pandemic is that our freedom is limited, limited by personal dimensions, social environment and a world context. In a pandemic, we realize we can only choose to do so much. In spite of all, the human spirit will not be squashed but maybe it does become more measured or attuned to the times.
As I remember the story of the "Wizard of Oz", young Dorthy was not all that happy with her lot in life. She yearned for something more. Then along came that journey along the yellow brick road. The journey took her far away where she faced dangers and adventure. At the end of it all, she missed home and was so happy to return to her life in rural Kansas. Therein lies the wisdom of the story for this time we now find ourselves in, whether we like it or not.
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