Time on your hands?  Worry filling you mind? Do what you can do.

For all of us, our lives have changed in ways that were unimaginable only a few months ago.  Without exaggeration we can say that, even on a global scale, nothing will be quite the same ever again.  As individuals we are not free to meet family and friends – unless they are on our doorstep, and unless we are able to observe the social distancing guidelines.  Work is very much on hold for many of us, and the availability of so much that we have taken for granted is precarious – to say the least.  I and my colleague Dan are doing most of what we normally do in our leadership and care of The Church in the Woottons by phone, email and social media.  The flock in our care is not at liberty to gather together, and this is strange and sometimes even disturbing.

Governments, industries, economies, communities and even whole societies around the world will undergo profound change, – and all of these things will need rebuilding.  The balance of power in the world will shift ….   I could go on – and on and on.

One of the many lessons we have been forced to learn with the emergence of Coronavirus COVID 19 is that there is so much that is beyond our control, the control of others, the control of governments and agencies - there is so much that is beyond human control.

What can we do?  What am I doing?  Well, I’ve been using my phones and computers more than I can ever remember, keeping in touch with people near and far.  And I’ve been thinking hard and talking with lots of people about the best ways to adapt to the changes that have been forced upon us. 

But I have got time on my hands.  I have got out in to my garden earlier in the season than ever before.  Indoors we are tackling nooks and crannies, and even whole rooms that are long overdue for a sort out, tidy up and clean.   Chores apart I have got time to listen to more music that I usually can, and to take some photographs that have been crying out for my camera to see and snap for too long.

More importantly, for my faith and profession, I have got more time to pray.  And I am praying, those in my household our praying and the church I am part of is praying.  What do I personally mean by prayer?  Well I am spending more time in the presence of God.  I am seeking him in the silence, through the words of the Bible and in the words of other people.  What am a praying for?  I am praying for protection for everyone I know.  I am praying for wisdom for myself and for key decision makers in every walk of life.  And I am praying that God will use the current global crisis to allow more just, true and even loving governments, economies and societies to emerge, flourish and grow.   I am praying for our world to become a better place.

God bless you, take care and stay safe

James