Isn't it funny how the sight of a flock of birds soaring in the sky stopped being calming, and now brings a sense of foreboding instead?

Actually it is not funny at all. It is a frightening truth.

This morning, coming out to the street, there was this little pigeon walking in front of my building. My first impulse was: hey how cute! Then instantly I remembered the bird flu, and it did not look so cute anymore. Now, we have to remember to not come in contact with live wild birds. Now , they can be dangerous. As little and beautiful as they are. I always loved watching birds in flight. It was a peaceful and beautiful thing to watch. The height at which they soared. The patterns in which they arrange themselves. The discipline that they follow in flying for so long without rest, especially in migration. Really one should say…Sub7an Allah.

And now… because of this same endurance and height, they can carry disease into our countries… and there is not much anyone can do. Except for pray.

This really puts us (all of human kind) in our humble place again. A place that a lot of us had forgotten. We have to remember, that little do we know. And little that we can achieve. No matter how many rockets are in space, or how many DNA strands we can break down or rebuild. We are still a great big nothing in God's vast universe.

These birds soar so high. And on their own agenda. They do not pass through customs. They do not require a visa of entry. And they do not send a flight plan and wait for authorization to land.
And the virus. It can mutate. It has 4 different types as we speak. Only because of God's mercy have they not been transmitted between humans. We are helpless sometimes. We have to admit that.

Some thing as small as a virus…. As beautiful and gentle as a bird…. Can drive us all to panic. And we remember that we always need God. He can take this disease away. He can protect us and our children. And His will, shall always be.

What can we say: la ilaha illa anta sub7anak inna konna min al zalemeen.

I feel like I have been saying it more frequently lately. I have a feeling that is exactly what we need to say.

God save us all.