S2-Day1: God in Quarantine Centres

The phenomenon of comprehending God in quarantine centers is a whole new experience in the context of covid-19, perhaps a provocation to most of us who are rarely familiar to the notion of quarantine centres. While quarantine centres are set up to prevent transmission of the virus in the larger community, it is discomfiting for the quarantined inmates who are isolated, separated, restricted in movements and activities for being Covid-19 suspects. 

One side of the story is the cry, anger, anxiety and frustration of those in quarantine centres over unhygienic facilities, uncooked or stale food, shortage of water, and the unpreparedness of the government both at the centre and the states. 

The other side of the story is the toil and sacrifice of the frontline workers in quarantine centres, their unexpressed fear, rejection and stigma from the rest of the society. In this given context, quarantine centres have become the most uninviting place. Indeed, an infected place to dispose and contain the virus, a dirty place to avoid any contact. 

The National Centre for Disease Control in its guidelines for Covid-19 provides the risk assessment of institutional quarantine centres. According to this assessment, people both at the managing control room and performing tasks are put at risk apart from the quarantined inmates. Besides, the greater risk is for those workers (medical, cooking and delivering food, sanitary and security teams) who directly deal with the inmates and their inhabited areas which are already contaminated and infected. Therefore, the irony is SOPs strictly maintained for the safety and well being of the inmates are simultaneously endangering the lives of many for the nature of the tasks they are involved in. 

In such a predicament, the command given by Jesus “you shall love your neighbor as yourself” in Matthew 22:39 is a reforming foundational praxis. This command changed the entire situation in Jesus' renewal activity. To perpetuate this command few of us (a community of 40 people) decided to extend help by running a quarantine centre. In our experience, working with anxiety and fear of being infected was difficult; however what was more difficult was choosing to love, embrace and serve some complete strangers for whom we were all risking our lives. In little time, we realized ‘loving one's neighbor’ means utmost commitment in serving, being proactive in helping and impulsive in caring. 

Like many others, our quarantine centre was sealed as a dirty place; a dirty place where hand gloves and masks became the indicator of care giving, protective gears became the embodiment of prayers, courage and humility, cooking and delivering food became the essence of kindness and sharing, the so claimed filthy works such as sanitation, garbage disposal and fumigation became the acts of nobility and benevolence. It was in this ‘dirty quarantine centre’ we experienced God in entirety and the purest devotion of love. 

Prayer: 

God of love, help us to contrive our experiences in the chronicle of your love. Secure in us the fervency to love and care that lives may be touched amidst chaos and perplexities, and beyond our reach. Amen. 

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Author: Zavi-i Nisa 

About the Author: Zavi-i Nisa is an Angami Naga from Kohima, Nagaland. She completed her Bachelor of Divinity and Master of Theology in Biblical Studies (New Testament) from Eastern Theological College and United Theological College respectively. Currently, she is serving as the Assistant professor of New Testament studies at Oriental Theological Seminary under the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) Dimapur, Nagaland. Her captivities include reading, music and cooking.