Thought for the Day -Thursday 24 September

 Thought for the Day – Thursday 24^th September

‘And now three things remain: faith, hope and love; and the greatest of these is love.’(1 Corinthians 13: 13)

 

All this talk of a ‘New Normal’ and yet our ‘New Normal’ is constantly changing. What if in fact this is it? What if our ‘New Normal’ is actually what we are experiencing now – all the twist and turns of a routine which can change in an instant and in its changes leave us struggling to find a new routine in our ‘New Normal’ and what happens if we cannot find that new routine in our ‘New Normal’ at all?

It seems to me that throughout this pandemic and as we try to find this ‘New Normal’ of ours that we are all at some point on what can be described as a grief journey – working through all those stages of grief, identified by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross so many years ago, which can assail us from day to day – namely, denial, anger, bargaining, depression, with finally acceptance. 

I think we are grieving because we like the familiar, we like our establishment, we like our traditions, we like our usual practices. However, they are all being toppled down by this ‘New Normal’ requiring us to form these new routines. This is a ‘New Normal’ where it is difficult to nail things down and where we have to adopt new ways, where we feel we are constantly moving on and learning as we go, where things seem temporary even if vaguely familiar – hence we grieve our old normal.   

Maybe though this should be a time for us to reflect on the fact that we actually follow quite a whimsical God, a God who playfully calls us to become like children, to be open to new adventures and to seeing every day as an opportunity for which we can be grateful. Each new day then holds so much potential - the potential of learning new things, the potential of discovering new wonders, the potential for each and every day to become the ‘best day ever!’    

Maybe we need to rediscover that our productivity is not the measure by which we are judged nor by our steadiness and predictability, but rather our signs of health and wealth become our creativity, our gentleness, our kindness, our hope. So, when we feel we are having a ‘good day’ and are doing okay, the sharing of those gifts with those who are struggling means we are bearing one another up and that is so important. Similarly, when we need the strength of others, by them sharing their gifts with us then we too can be borne up when we feel low. Giving what we can and taking what we need is like us together co-creating a ‘New Normal’. Yes, it may be a temporary ‘New Normal’ but if together we can hold on lightly to the things we might later need to discard when another ‘New Normal’ comes along we will get through this time - together.

When God called us, he called us on a journey and a journey means we are actually always keeping on the move, always being transformed and then transforming. This we do by faith, by hope, by love which thankfully always remain – and it will lead to our ‘New Normal’ – even if we have to experience many ‘New Normal’ situations in between.

 

Prayer

 Loving Lord, 

Faith, hope and love ring out from your kingdom. When we feel doubtful, fearful, weak in spirit shape us into faithful, hopeful people and fill us with your love which passes all understanding that as we seek our ‘New Normal’ we might indeed be transformed and transforming. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

I thought I would share a further prayer today, written by Phill Mellstrom, recently sent to all Ministers by the Faith Nurture Forum at 121 to encourage us in our Ministry at this time of Covid-19 – I feel it speaks to us all:

God of inclusive love,

You know each and every one of us.

 

You know –

that some of us are doing just fine,

others are freaking out,

while others struggle to breathe.

The weight of the moment

and the need for grace and mercy

are pushing some of us to our knees.

 

Help us all –

to pray honestly,

to speak truthfully and compassionately,

to act kindly and seek justice fervently.

 

Help us all –

to see You in the kindness of friend and stranger,

hear You in the laughter, cries and silence,

know You in the midst of our circumstances.

 

May Your Spirit be at the heart of all we do,

not on one side or the other,

but the very centre of our lives.

May Your Kingdom be made real in our communities,

through the work of Your church

guided by Your wild and untamed Spirit. AMEN