Coronavirus at Korvatunturi
Coronavirus at Korvatunturi
“The situation has changed extraordinarily rapidly. The coronavirus has now reached Korvatunturi, even though we thought that we, as creatures of the imagination, were immune,” thought the Chief Physician Elf after his round at the ward. “I have to gather the hospital staff. Santa Claus must also be called,” he muttered, deep in thought.“
Welcome hospital folk! I’d like to give you an update on the situation. And, Santa Claus, welcome to you too. I have asked you here today to discuss a situation of deep concern as this novel disease keeps spreading,” said the Chief Physician Elf as he started his speech. “A great number of the elves in the Christmas World have already fallen ill. Amongst the sick, we have elves from the carpentry, knitting and electronics departments here at Korvatunturi as well as a considerable number of scouting elves. I am extremely concerned. If this disease keeps spreading at this pace, Christmas is at risk!” said the Chief Physician Elf.
The room burst into loud chatter and commotion. Nobody listened to what was being said, only sporadic sentences stood out: “the Scouting Elves are surely to blame, spreading a foreign disease. Why didn’t they just...” or “I suspect the people from the IT workshop, they went to an international elf conference a month ago and there...” “Oh my goodness, ahem...agh...ughhh...,” Santa Claus started but a coughing fit took him over, “stop the blame game right there,” said Santa sternly. He didn’t quite know whether he should be amused or annoyed. “Sometimes you behave just like humans. You heard what was said. There is a risk that Christmas may be canceled. This is unacceptable, ugh...agh...hack..” he continued gagging rather uncontrollably and finally had to stop to concentrate on breathing.
Everyone at the elf hospital went quiet. The doctor elves first looked at Santa Claus with great concern and then took a grave glance at each other. “We have to end this meeting immediately,” said the Chief Physician Elf. “It seems that Santa Claus has fallen ill. Everybody, go home. You’ll get further instructions later today on the Elf Channel. We make sure to examine and test Santa Claus with great care. May very well be that tight restrictions to gatherings and interactions will be implemented in the Christmas World to prevent the disease from spreading. We have to save Christmas.”
Supper at the hospital
“Thank you for admitting me so quickly,” said Santa Claus with a voice that was hoarse and barely audible. It was evening at the hospital. Two nurse elves, a girl and a boy that Santa considered very young, buzzed around him in effective-looking protective gear. They adjusted Santa Clause’s bed to make suppertime easier while keeping an eye on the screen displaying the data from the sensors attached to Santa.
“Of course, we’re happy to help you and all of our patients. You are very important to all of us at the Christmas World, and you are very loved. The entire Christmas world has basically been developed by you, and it is you who keeps the development going. Spreading the good around the world. Delighting people and bringing peace to their hearts at least once a year. There is no task more important than this. And we get to play a part in it with our expertise,” said the nurse elves in unison.
“Hmm, that is nice to hear. And maybe something useful will become of this coronavirus situation among the people, even in all its unpleasantness,” Santa thought.
“Exactly,” said the boy elf with excitement. “It’s been a hot topic in the meetings of young elves and on Elfsbook,” he said. The girl elf was eager to join the conversation: “The coronavirus has created a common threat that has halted, or is about to halt, both the human world and our Christmas World. The views on the severity of the threat keep changing as the disease spreads around the world. Only very few think it is unnecessary to implement active measures to control the disease from spreading. The virus has spread so quickly that it simultaneously affects every part of the world in one way or another,” she said and offered cinnamon and sugar for Santa Clause’s rice porridge.
“Many who originally denied its existence have noticed that neither denying the disease, imagining they are genetically superior, having an arrogant attitude, calling people names nor having different political views have any effect on the virus. The virus won’t listen. It won’t care about your money or your position or who you happen to know. It does not care about armies or weapons. The virus treats us all equally. And there is no cure yet,” said the boy elf briskly behind his face mask while adjusting the flow of supplemental oxygen to Santa Clause’s nostrils.
“Well, you certainly have wise opinions,” said Santa Claus and swallowed a piece of plum pastry that had been served for dessert and took a sip of hot chocolate. “I too believe that now may be the moment in the history of mankind when something positive and permanent can arise alongside and as a consequence of the battle against this virus.
Mrs. Clause and world peace
“How are we feeling today?” asked Mrs. Clause as she arrived in Santa’s room at the hospital on the third day. By the bed, on chairs placed a decent distance apart from each other, sat several members of the Elf Council and the nurse elves Santa had met on his first night at the hospital. Everyone was wearing masks, but nobody had a full protective gear on. “All good,” said Santa Claus briskly with a hint of fake excitement in his voice. “In my case, it was only a scare. The coronavirus test was negative. It must have only been a little flu, since, as you can hear, my voice is still down. They are keeping me under observation,” Santa said.
“Inspired by these young nurse elves and as we were invited here by Santa, we have given a good thought on how the coronavirus could spark something good for both the mankind and the Christmas World. You are welcome to ponder with us,” said the Chair of the Elf Council trying to explain the strange composition of people in the room. Meanwhile the young boy elf gave up his chair to Mrs. Clause and rushed to get another one for himself from the room next door.
“We have recognized four factors that need to take place before the people and mankind can take the next leap forward. We believe that three out of these four already exist. First of all, people’s general technical and scientific know-how has elevated to such a high level that there is no limit to the production of food and commodities. Secondly, physical transportation of both people and goods is incredibly fast and thirdly, digital information can reach almost all the inhabitants on our planet, and nearly simultaneously if need be,” summarized Elf Council’s secretary, who had been taken notes of the conversation.
“These factors build a framework for the world where the mankind has the chance to evolve as one, united and equal. The pandemic could be followed by a more peaceful time. There would be world peace, Pax Mundi, on Earth. This doesn’t mean stagnation but progress where we are moving forward while maintaining a balance and justice, and also taking into consideration other species, both animals and plants,” said the rest of the group enthusiastically in unison while Santa Claus coughed a little. Everybody was talking, all at once, as the elves usually do. Mrs. Clause was somehow able to make out a common important message among all the commotion.
“But you believe there is still something that the mankind is missing?” asked Mrs. Santa and took out packed treats for Santa from a basket she had brought with her: rye and malt bread, white fish tartare, gingerbread, star pastries, date cake and mulled wine. “You talked about four factors. But you have only mentioned three. I may be able to guess what the fourth one is, but please enlighten me after everyone has had their fair share of this food,” she said encouragingly, looked each nurse elf in the eye one by one while nodding her head approvingly.
Fourth piece is the key
The nurse elves comments and the discussion that followed was summarized roughly like this:
The fourth factor that is needed to gain world peace lies in people’s minds. A human being exists in the continuum of the animal kingdom and evolution. The anatomy of a human, the same way as the development of an individual from an embryo to birth, is bound by genetic bonds rising from the prehistoric times to the origin and development of life on Earth.
Regrettably in the history of mankind, and in the modern days too, many individuals and groups have been willing to believe they have a special status or privileges in relation to this planet and other people. Some of the people still think they have the prerogative to a fate better than their peers, even in death. Special privileges in the eyes of a being that created the universe or in the eyes of life!
The means to fix the fourth factor are yet to be discovered. Throughout millennia, the mankind has created ideas and literature to solve problems relating to good life and a just society. History is full of perspectives or practical attempts. If history has proved something, it is that there is no one and only truth or route. Every human being is an important individual and at the same time every person is an experiment for nature and life to find new better paths.
Individuals need to change their way of thinking in order to find new paths in life. Less instinct reactions and more reflection on one’s own feelings and thinking, as well as more respect towards other people and their way of thinking. And above all, more actions to follow the new values and way of thinking. Once we start having more individuals like these, we’ll build better societies that can cooperate to build a better world, healthier planet and world peace.
“Well, wasn’t this a refreshing discussion we had,” said Mrs. Clause once the conversation ended. “I have collected and written all sorts of things for my own pleasure throughout the centuries. Often when Santa Claus is doing his rounds and my own thoughts wonder off to the seasonal festivities and days that are starting to get longer. There are poems too, but let’s leave them at that. Based on our conversation about the evolution and future of mankind, I could send you my thoughts on the recipe for changing the fourth factor,” she suggested. “It isn’t very long. There can never be too many good recipes at Christmas,” said Mrs. Clause with a sly smile on her face and passed along a box of assorted chocolates to another round.
“Did you really come up with all this, Missus?” asked Santa Claus on his bed in the evening after being let out of the hospital. He tried to mask the surprise in his voice but failed. “Yes, it was me,” said Mrs. Claus harshly as she recognized the astonishment in his voice. “Not all the light in this world comes from the same source, you should know that. All of us, people as well as everyone at the Christmas World have our own thoughts and our own lives. Everyone has an impact on everyone else. The more candles are lit up in the world, the brighter is our path forward,” she summarized now with more benevolence in her voice and tapped Santa Claus on the cheek.
“You, my love, should just focus on getting better. You and all Christmas thoughts and traditions are an important light in the path to a better life for so many of the world’s children and adults alike. Christmas is almost here. Everybody needs role models. What Santa Claus represents is selflessness, caring, closeness and friendliness between all people and nations. And the fact that you are only imaginary is a powerful resource. It makes you an unbiased ambassador of goodness to the whole world.