Coronavirus Creates Opportunities

The coronavirus brought chaos in the crowded Hong Kong area recently. People panicked and hoarded supplies. This created shortages of necessary items. Store shelves were empty. Masks and sanitizers were nearly impossible to get. They were also terribly expensive if anyone did find them.

One item everyone needed was toilet paper. People suffered without this basic necessity. To make matters worse, some gangs stole huge quantities of it. They sold it for one hundred dollars a roll. However, the situation did have its humorous moments. One newspaper headline read, “Police on a Roll as Third Suspect in Toilet Paper Heist is Flushed Out.”

The virus also caused schools in Hong Kong to close until mid-April. As a result, they didn’t need their supply of toilet paper until later. My daughter, who is a teacher, received an unexpected handout. The headmaster doled out part of the school’s unused supply to each faculty member.

Although my daughter now had an adequate amount, she chose to give half of it to others in need. When an elderly couple she knew had no supply, she seized the opportunity to help them.

These friends were wealthy, but they were also older and frail. They couldn’t stand in line for three hours to wait for a truck to deliver toilet paper. Therefore, she jumped at the chance to help them. It’s not often one gets to give wealthy people something they truly need. Toilet paper, the great equalizer!

A crisis provides a great occasion to help others. This is true of epidemics, fires, earthquakes, or other terrible events. Difficulties give us opportunities to make someone else’s life better. The next time trouble strikes, look for a way you can help. It may be your golden opportunity.