Lockdown Blues Word on the Week 11th July 2020.
As the corona virus rages globally commercial demands put pressure on the leaders of countries. Some would argue that the damage to the work-scene has created a financial cost that makes the medicine worse (i.e. the lockdown) than the disease! Disharmony abounds as political considerations vie with health advice.
We have people, longing for a sunny break, rising to the bait of a flight to a Spanish resort. After a 100 days in lockdown in a house which came to feel like a prison – who could deny them a break? Especially for the kids! Money may well have been saved over the last three months and, if your culture is to spend not save for the rainy days ahead, the plane standing on the tarmac is tempting!
It’s easy to slip into thinking social responsibility isn’t part of our DNA. Let the politicians safeguard the jobs! We have shown great restraint up till now. Can someone tell the virus to back off?
These rebel thoughts are not helped when scientists produce conflicting reports. It’s only when the death rate per 100.000 of the population goes through the roof that countries can be persuaded to change tactics. And even then the loss of face at being proved wrong can delay the apology and the need to changing course.
Life in this fallen world is hard that is why we need to be part of a community of love. We were not created to live in lockdown (Genesis Chapter 2 verse 14). God has few hermits. For those re-created in Christ the Apostle Paul explains ‘believer behaviour’ (Romans Chapter 12 verses 1 & 2). This is summed up for us in the first lines of the hymn; Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee. Then he explains ‘church practice’ verses 9 & 10 “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil: cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honour one another above yourselves”.
As the lockdown eases and we return to our place of Sunday worship there will be many opportunities for service. This is where relationships with each other go beyond the superficial and are deepened. St Paul uses the human body as an illustration; “…speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work” (Ephesians Chapter 4 verses 15/16).
There is no indication that the virus will go away soon. Some forms of defence will become part of our way of life i.e. social distancing for example. We need the support of each other. Let love abound (1 John Chapter 4 Verses 10/12).