Our Condolences to Amanuel Hidrat and His Family

In the cycle of life – from cradle to the grave – we have no allotted timeline we follow. We live life as it was dealt to us. If he did this, if she had done such and such differently, they would’ve been with us today, we say in our unguarded moments. However, deep in the recess of our heart of heart we know that was the trajectory, the path, and the ultimate signpost those who pass were meant to follow. But as human beings we attempt to find justifications when we find it inexplicable as our world turns topsy-turvy on us as it did with the anxiety called Covid-19. It makes it even more so an inexplicable endeavor when the death toll reaches above one hundred thousand as it has in the United States. It makes it yet puzzlingly devastating when it reaches one of our own.

The loss of Dehab Haile, our own Amanuel Hidrat’s wife, to the Coronavirus hit us in the guts. But, once we regain our composure, we resort to the familiar coping mechanisms. Some return to books. Some to God.  In “A Grief Observed”, C.S. Lewis uses the former to illuminate the latter:

“God has not been trying an experiment on [our] faith or love in order to find out their quality. He knew it already. It was [we] who didn’t. In this trial He makes us occupy the dock, the witness box, and the bench all at once. He always knew that [our] temple was a house of cards. His only way of making [us] realize the fact was to knock it down”.

Haw Amanuel, may you draw some solace and some comfort in being surrounded with your family in this difficult time. May you draw a little comfort in knowing that our thoughts and our prayers in this virtual community you’ve come to occupy a prominent space, are with you. No words we say would capture how one feels when losing loved ones. Nevertheless, the best way we know how to say this is to let you know that our thoughts and prayers have been with you all along since you told us what you were going through. Our heartfelt condolences to you and your loved ones and may Dehab rest in peace.

In another part of his book, C.S. Lewis states, that,

“we were promised sufferings. They were part of the program. We were even told, ‘Blessed are they that mourn,’ and I accept it. I’ve got nothing that I hadn’t bargained for. Of course, it is different when the thing happens to oneself, not to others, and in reality, not imagination.”

To our readers:

Amanuel Hidrat has always been a cornerstone of awate.com since its inception. He has maintained a column named “Tebeges” in which he shared his views, analysis and passionately debated his views in the Awate Forum.

Three months ago, Amanuel and his wife Dehab contracted the Corona virus and were admitted to  hospitalization, but finally Amanuel triumphed over the virus and left the hospital bed behind. Sadly, his wife Dahab Haile was not as lucky. After suffering for three-months, on June 19, 2020, “Dehab succumbed to the extensive damages to her respiratory system caused by the deadly virus” and passed away in hospital.

On behalf of the Awate Team and all The Awate Readers community, we pass our condolences to Amanuel, his children and relatives on the tragic loss of Dehab Haile.  Our hope is that they will draw some comfort from the Awate virtual community as they go through the grieving process.

May Dehab rest in peace

Jointly written b y Beyan Negash and Saleh Johar