Another year almost coming to its end and we’re hopefully near the end of the Corona pandemic. Which will mean in a way, back to life as normal. Many countries have already taken huge steps towards this with sports stadiums being filled on weekends and no mask being visible. Here we are creeping slowly to what seems to be the finish line of this long run of frustrations and setbacks.
With this normal, I assume it will still be a new normal and not exactly as it was in the past. There are some things that have changed over the last two years, I think for the better. We’re definitely more hygiene conscious and I would hope that stays as we move into a new normal. But what are the other things that could stay?
I’ve seen over the last two years people being a lot more aware of the ‘other’. People following up on how it’s going with family and friends, making sure they’re healthy and if they’re sick helping them. I hope this stays as it binds us together. The early church was known for how the members of the church looked after each other, from the poor and sick to the well off and healthy. They were also a helping hand and a caring friend to those who were outside the church, showing something of God’s love to the outsider.
Another thing that changed, at least for me, is the appreciation for nature and our beautiful country. Not being able to go out and see nature as often as we did in the past was for many people a big challenge. The first weekend we were allowed to go walking and jogging again, after level 5, my granddad said it looked like the Comrades Marathon was running past their house. This is al- so something I hope stays, our appreciation of the beautiful country God has made and with that to take seriously our role as keepers of the garden. When we were in lockdown level 5, there were many videos of animals walking in streets and towns, where they would normally be scared to go. Showing how God’s world is not just ours but belongs to all creation and we are here to keep and tend this beautiful garden.
I’m sure there are other things we might be able to mention here, but I’d like to remain with these two. As a church our calling is to be a light to the world and a servant in the community. Let’s keep this new normal of caring for family and friends, more intimately than we did in the past. Let’s keep this new normal of caring for God’s creation and saying thank you for the birds we hear, the mountains we see and the cool sea breeze that flows over us.
As this year is coming to its end and we are moving into Advent, into a time of wonder and excitement. Let’s remember the greatest gift we’ve ever received, our Lord Jesus Christ, and let’s give back to the world, a new normal of love for each other and love for God’s creation. I truly believe this coming year will be a good year and I want us all to stand together, to support one another and to take care of all God has given us to enjoy, this beautiful country and its beautiful people.
