Dear Friends,
How many times have we heard the phrase: ‘this is not a sprint it is a marathon’? We may be used to the idea that after 12 months of the pandemic there is no quick fix, or instant answers. This flies in the face of the instant answers we usually expect at the push of a button or swipe of the screen. Yet there is definitely a sprint to get the vaccines out to as many people as possible as soon as possible.
The vaccines will not mean a return to ‘normality’ any time soon. Hopefully infection rates will continue to fall and the incredible pressures on the NHS will ease in a few weeks’ time. Whenever the lockdown restrictions are eased, we in the church, and also as individuals will need to explore what our needs and responses may be.
Will we revert to our default patterns of life and activity? Will we identify new things or approaches which now seem more significant? Will the ways in which we serve the local community adapt and change?
We are aware of the toll of the pandemic on our mental and physical wellbeing for all ages. We know that the excessive amount of screen time is not good for us, and yet it is the only way for many to work, learn and interact. Isolation and limited contact with others affects us in different ways, we will need to build up confidence in many things.
I suspect that we will need much more time to recover than we think. Treating ourselves gently, allowing time to meet and share, perhaps over food will be very welcome, and will reflect some of the Holy Habits we explored months ago. In other words, concentrating on the basics of community living. We may be able to share these with our neighbours too.
In the meantime, we plod on in faith, in hope and expressing love by phone, letter, text etc.
Peace,
Tim