RIFLE RANGE BOY: This is not a drill

People, mainly the theistic type, are in a dilemma now. They are currently undergoing a test of faith. On the one hand, they feel they should not have been subjected through such a trial. Whoever had heard of Man-created laws preventing believers from performing their daily mandatory salutations of the Divine Forces? Furthermore, at this time of calamity, if they cannot turn for Divine help, where else can they turn to?

But wait...

Why did the Divine Forces 'send' such a test to us? Does he not love us so much? After all the cajoling over the generations, and the importance that humankind had accorded to the celestial forces these times, why are we continuously put to the test? Is it some kind of Divine Mirth for the amusement of the Maker and a testbed to gauge our devotion? Why do they feel that this time around, when the fear of COVID-19, the first place to be emptied are the places of worship? How can they be hotbeds for infection?

Are they justified is asking, "My Lord, why hast thou forsaken me?" Has God ditched his followers stricken with COVID-19 by shutting down religious centres with no prayer meetings? Social distancing seems to be the only panacea for all this ill. Perhaps He is telling us that blind faith does not work. Above all intelligence and cognitive power would make us stronger as a race.

Perhaps the answer would be, "I am here just for your solace. I cannot possibly change the trajectory of the Universe just because of your cajoling of me in prayers. Imagine the catastrophe that could cause to the others. I have other requests too, you know!"