Readings:
Jeremiah 28: 5-9
Psalm 89: 8-18
Romans 6: 12-end
Matthew 10: 40-end

Collect
God our saviour,
look on this wounded world
in pity and in power;
hold us fast to your promises of peace
won for us by your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Reflection

The Prime Minister announced a new set of changes to the ongoing lock down few days ago, and by the time it comes to effect, we will be a step closer to getting back to our “normal” way of living. After several weeks, we will be able to get a haircut, have meals at a restaurant and meet with another household indoors. I’m sure most people are looking forward to the easing of the lockdown, however, we need to pause and ask ourselves – how have we been impacted by the lockdown and what effect will that have on our post COVID-19 living?

The pre-COVID-19 life for most people was busy and frantic with each day crammed with multiple activities that left us very little time to appreciate the basic things of life including the relationships we have with other people. I have been working from home since the lockdown began and I have realised more than before, the value of having my work colleagues around me; which was something I took for granted to an extent and only realised the value once I was unable to go the office. Hence, what are we going to do differently when the restrictions are fully lifted or are we going to go back to the same life of busyness? 

I’m asking these questions to help us reassess our approach to living and consider whether we really should have been doing all the things that we had crammed into our lives before the lockdown.  Perhaps maybe this is a good time to hit the reset button and re-order our lives around things that really matter, things that add value to our lives and to the lives of other people around us and our community. 

Until very recently, we were out on our doorsteps at 8PM or Thursdays to applaud our key workers who kept the wheel turning on the essential services. This has been an eye opener for most (if not all) of us because we now have a better understanding that key workers are not the CEOs or business executives on high salary and bonus, rather they are doctors, nurses, shop workers, delivery men/women, those picking up our waste. Unfortunately In most cases, these are often low paid workers with some on zero hour contract, yet they were ones that stood up to be counted when it really mattered, they kept us going at a very difficult time. I’m hoping that our appreciation will go beyond our clapping by supporting the calls for the low paid workers to be paid living wages and for the government to whatever it can to ensure companies cannot engage these workers via zero hour contract.

My aim is go into the new “normal” appreciating life more than ever before and supporting key workers by pushing for necessary changes that will enhance their lives through fair wages and better working conditions. How are you planning to live your life after restrictions are lifted?

A prayer:
God of all blessings,
source of all life and giver of all grace,
we thank you for the gift of life:
for the breath that sustains life,
for the food of this earth that nurtures life,
for the love of family and friends.
We thank you for the mystery of creation,
for the beauty that the eye can see.
We thank you for setting us in our communities:
for families who nurture our becoming,
for friends who love us by choice,
for companions at work, who share our burdens and daily tasks,
for strangers who welcome us into their midst,
For these, and all blessings, we give you thanks,
through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

Adedayo Adebiyi