The Czech government announced further restrictions Thursday to contain the pandemic in the hardest hit-country in struggling Central and Eastern Europe, where a record surge of infections was also recorded in most other countries.

Calling his country's record spike “alarming,” Health Minister Roman Prymula said the Czech health care system has been facing a steep increase of people needing intensive care, while more COVID-19 patients have been dying.

“We have to limit those increases,” Prymula said.

The Czech Republic currently has more people testing positive daily than any other country in Central and Eastern Europe, even neighboring Germany whose population is eight times bigger.

It is rather disconcerting that the very qualities we profess to greatly admire in Rev. Gumbs, many of us appear to have great difficulty reflecting in our daily lives. How many of us seek to be honest in our dealings with each other? Are we kind to our fellow man? Not the type of ‘kindness’ that is reflected in public recognition, but rather kindness that is unrecognised in the public domain but brings real and meaningful comfort to someone in need. Do we let our actions and our contributions communicate our worth, or do we reference our most mundane accomplishments at every opportunity? Sadly, many of us take the admonition not to hide our light under a bushel to mean that we must tout our talents and accomplishments to the world, rather than letting our deeds reflect our talents and accomplishments. In this respect, many of us are satisfied to list our many degrees and certifications without seeking to reflect our learning in our attitude and conduct. Despite our quick recognition of the dignified way Rev. Gumbs conducted himself, many of us are still quick to threaten to abuse and, in many instances, do abuse each other at the slightest provocation.

It is time that we stop merely admiring certain qualities in others – and instead seek to emulate such qualities. Many of us ‘talk the talk’ but fail to ‘walk the walk’. Let us, like Rev. Gumbs, let our positive words be matched by positive actions.

We often seem very oblivious to the fleeting nature of life as we engage in the social, financial and political concerns of the day. To paraphrase the words of Gramps Morgan, in our engagements – do we give a little more than we take? Do we try to fix more than we break? Do we try to be the change we claim we want to see? Sadly, while with words many of us may say yes to these questions, our actions say otherwise. Families are divided; societal values are rapidly deteriorating; deceit is regularly employed to secure financial success; and political differences are quickly being reflected in political tribalism. It is a fallacy to profess admiration for a man such as Rev. Gumbs while engaging in such destructive habits.

Life is but a fleeting thing – let us make our mark daily. Very often, our expectation that we will have tomorrow to revisit our lifestyles and make amends, is not realised. As we support Rev. Gumbs’ family and his church community, as they come to grips with his sudden passing, let us also pay Rev. Gumbs the greatest possible tribute by not merely expressing our admiration for his many excellent traits, but by visibly emulating such traits.

Let us, during our fleeting earthly journey, really be the change we claim we want to see.