While the looming crisis of a Russian invasion of Ukraine progressed last week, I had a serious sit-down talk with my kids to make sure that we are all aware of what was going on and what was about to happen.
What do we make of what we see and hear from all social media platforms since the war broke out over the last 6 days? How do we know the validity of their claims? How can we be so sure that there are no biases on the reports that we see on our newsfeeds? How can we tell fact from fiction? What are the most available reliable news source we have on our hands considering the fact that these are mostly controlled and broadcasted by the western media? How I wish I have all the clear answers to these questions.
I cautioned them to be careful what they re-share in social media. To really think well before they click. To be mindful how they respond to FAKE news as they are rampant anywhere you turn. To verify the source of the news that they are reading; to observe; to be vigilant; amidst all the chaos, it is of utmost importance to adapt a right mindset so that we can still continue to pray from a 360-degree perspective. So that hatred will not take root in our hearts as we see a generation of angry uninformed people who are mindlessly sharing lies and posting rants that exacerbate the issue even more. Beware of the so-called social media influencers. They too, can be misled.
Why did Russia invade Ukraine? The dispute between these two great nations go a long way back. The answer to this could be found dating back to centuries ago when Ukraine and countries like Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Poland, among other Slavic nations which formed what used to be the Soviet Union Socialist Republic. They have a deep geo-political, economic, and cultural background between them. They are like "brothers."- This should help us to understand why Russia is doing what she is doing; as NATO has expanded its territories over the last decades, forging alliances with the former Slavic states, welcoming Ukraine as an ally nation would make her boundaries vulnerable to the rest of Europe, she is worrying for her security as a nation and she will do everything to protect her people and maintain her geographic integrity
- This should help us to understand why Ukraine is doing what she is doing; to fight for her own freedom, to be able to think and decide for herself as a democratic nation just like her neighboring countries; for her own security, to be allies with NATO.
- Pray for Ukraine.
- Pray for Russia, too.
- Pray for ALL the citizens who are directly and indirectly hit by this harrowing crisis.
- Pray for our thousands of OFW kababayans in Moscow and elsewhere in Russia who, as of this writing have endured the crippling effects of the sanction that EU has imposed in their banking system. Maraming nakaasang pamilya sa kanila dito sa Pinas. Kaya 'wag lang Ukraine ang ipag-pray natin. Isama natin sa panalangin ang Russia kase apektado tayong lahat dito. Malayo man tayo sa putukan, it will come knocking at our doorstep, one way or another. Not to cause fear and panic here but we see these transpiring already. The EU sanction comes as a double-edged sword hurting all the nations that are benefiting from these great nations that are at war with each other. Delayed cargo deliveries; prices of commodities dramatically shooting up; the international chain of supply and demand being adversely affected; international flights being put to a sudden halt, to name a few.
- Pray for the lives of precious children who were left orphaned by this senseless war.
- Pray for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine; pray for President Vladimir Putin of Russia; pray for NATO and EU Leaders that they will find it in their hearts to immediately stop this war and come to terms with this, choose the highest good of God's people.
- Pray for the peace of Ukraine, pray for the peace of Russia.
- Pray that the Lord's purposes will prevail in these trying times.
