'Living Hope’
At 8.30pm on 23rd March 2020 Boris Johnson announced a stay-at-home order effective immediately. I recall it vividly because Rob and I were on holiday near Fort William, expecting our daughter to join us from her hospital shifts the following morning. Instead, we found ourselves driving home 3 days later on eerily empty motorways without seeing her; a separation which would last for months longer.
This month we mark 5 years since the first COVID lockdown. You may think this is something to forget rather than celebrate, but there were lessons to be
learnt and much good which emerged from this difficult period of our recent history. Despite physical distancing, people pulled together emotionally. We found ways to encourage one another and support those on the frontline. We worked hard to keep hope alive with rainbows painted on windows and railings, phone calls to the isolated and elderly… or socially distanced chats in the open air. People took TIME to notice their surroundings and their neighbours… and to care.
Living Hope is the theme of our Lent readings this year and we will be reflecting on how hope is often strengthened during times of personal or communal adversity. We sometimes say ‘I am living in hope’ with a rather resigned tone – doubtful that anything will change, but ‘living hope’ is different – it comes from the Spirit of God which is always at work to renew life in all its fullness; the same Spirit which raised Jesus from the dead on Easter morning. This is the Spirit which works in humanity to bring healing; through medicine and science, through listening and loving. We saw so many examples during the 14 months or more of lockdown restrictions during 2020-21.
In his letter to the Romans, Paul writes these words, “we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” (Romans 5 vv.3-5)
Times of suffering and difficulty will come to us in life – as individuals and as a nation, but together we may discover ‘living hope’ as we persevere with God in His ongoing work of healing and resurrection. Often, we find there an unexpected source of peace and joy.
You are welcome to join us on Sunday 23rd March 10.30am in Cheswardine Church to mark the fifth anniversary of lockdown and reflect upon what we learnt…. Or sign up for the Church of England daily readings ‘Living Hope’ Living Hope - Lent reflections | The Church of England
Rev Becky Richards
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