Thought for the Week - 21/3/2021
Dear Friends,
I’ve been looking through my 2020 diary this last week, realising that
17th March (St Patrick’s Day) last year was the day the deacons took
the decision to suspend all church activities because of the rising number of
Coronavirus cases, and that 22nd March (Mothering Sunday) was the
first Sunday we went online with our services. The next day, 23rd
March, the first national lockdown was announced by the government, and the
rest, as they say, is history. What a year it has been! Who could have imagined
that the restrictions would have lasted so long with so much of our daily
living curtailed and being told to stay at home with life as we have known it
for all our lives suspended? Who would have thought that so many people would
have contracted the virus and needed hospital treatment, some suffering long
term detrimental effects on their physical, mental and emotional health? And
who would have said that over 120,000 people would have died due to Covid-19 in
the UK alone, and that there would be 121 million cases worldwide and some 2.67
million deaths, each one a precious life, a family member, someone loved and
missed. A national day of reflection is going to be held on Tuesday 23rd
March to mark the anniversary of the beginning of the first lockdown, and also
to remember all who have died in this past year, whether by Covid-19 or other
illnesses. The charity Marie Curie is coordinating the response, including a
minute of silence at 12noon, a ‘shine a light’ at 8pm and putting yellow
flowers in your window to remember and give thanks for those who have died. As
I was reflecting on this, I was reminded of the writer of Ecclesiastes words
about there being a time for everything and a season for every activity under
the heavens (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). You might want to read it slowly and let the
words and thoughts sink in as you find some time to reflect on this last year,
thinking about where you have seen God’s presence in amongst the suffering of
this challenging time that we have all been living through.
Grace and peace,
Neil
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