To blog or not to blog?
That is the question … or at least a question. Probably a more important question relates to the sense of being somehow uncomfortably stuck in a kind of cultural ‘Easter Saturday’ experience, with no obvious or apparent end in sight. No doubt, for me, that feeling has been exacerbated by (for these current times) a relevantly minor (as in, non-Covid related) health issue; necessitating a trip to the eye hospital last week, and blurry eyes as I recover this week. I am very grateful for the very nice people at the eye hospital and for the M1 bus driver who enabled me to get there and back. For that matter, I am grateful for a whole variety of workers and volunteers, from a whole variety of sectors, all skilled but many poorly paid, who have helped the nation through the current manifestation of this ongoing economic crisis. Delivery drivers, security guards, shop workers (to name just a few). I am grateful for my wife (far less cynical than me) and the committed and passionate teachers at Holymead School who have put in countless hours of their time (sometimes it seems pretty much round the clock). Much of it made necessary, in my view, by poor Government planning. I am cautious of treading further on this territory and greatly admire the courage of people like Jonathan Freedland in The Guardian who are still committed to calling out systemic injustices in our society. I will let his latest article speak for itself: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/22/nhs-surcharge-debacle-government-cruel-useless-coronavirus-boris-johnson I have had mixed feelings about ‘The Thursday Clap’, which I understand may be ‘paused’ for a while - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52773032 - and am far more interested in which way people have voted these last 10 years or so and why. Hey, I might even give myself a clap for keeping my own mental health together!! Here is the issue at heart, in my view. People are fundamentally interdependent, not independent. And all of our economic systems, locally, nationally and globally, should reflect that in a just and equitable way. Although taken out of context, for the sake of brevity, here are some words from the Bible which we would do well to consider at this time: 2 Corinthians 8:13-14 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality. Here is a link to 2 Corinthians, Chapter 8 if you want to read further: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+8&version=NIVUK Sometime ago now, I read a book called The Spirit Level: Why Equality is Better for Everyone (2010, Penguin, Wilkinson and Pickett). I was struck by one of the central observations: that the sense of unease in a society often equates directly with the levels of inequality, even in relatively wealthy societies. Why not check it out? https://www.equalitytrust.org.uk/resources/the-spirit-level https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/179/179241/the-spirit-level/9780241954294.html AND LAST, BUT DEFINITELY NOT LEAST, congratulations to Elevation Church for producing what must surely be the most dramatic Christian song since Noel Richards’ fabulous Thunder in the Skies. RATTLE! is an absolutely stunning song. Do have a listen (and check out Ezekiel 37 for the full story): https://youtu.be/xrAdbH28gIg I have not been so excited about listening to a new Christian album as Elevation Worship’s ‘Graves into Gardens’ since ‘Save us O God’ (Vineyard) or Cutting Edge (back in ancient history)!!
3 Comments
Ian
23/5/2020 21:43:42
Well done- yep we must believe for a resurrection!
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Ken
23/5/2020 22:56:49
Yes, we need to be a society that is interdependent on each other (we are seeing now how that is so important) while we are dependent on God.
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Varujan Smallwood
25/5/2020 11:39:21
Nice one 👍🏼
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