A View From The Vicarage - September

Dear Friends,

What’s the Story?

I wonder what the abiding memory of this tumultuous year will be in the future?  How will commentators and especially historians define and describe 2020.

I don’t suppose that it’s in any doubt that 2020 will be remembered for the Coronavirus Pandemic in much the same way that 1918 is recalled for the Spanish Flue outbreak.  This will to the historians be a one news story year.

The trouble with such an agenda is that it ignores and obscures all of the other events which accompanied it. 

For me, one of the most important and heartwarming happenings of these surreal months have been the countless examples of people reaching out to help and support the vulnerable.  All of us, I’m sure have examples either from or others experiences of the acts of kindness performed, in many cases, by people who had been comparative strangers.

We also witnessed those incredible Thursday evenings when people across the country came together to “Clap for Carers”.  What about the incredible fund raising undertaken by so many people with Captain Sir Tom Moore as the outstanding example.  Let’s not forget that he only achieved that literally incredible total because people like you and me were inspired and encouraged by his determination and quiet generosity.

It seems to me that Tom Moore exemplifies the very best that we can be as a nation.  Generous, committed, reaching out to those in need and untouched by adulation.  Compare that with the celebrity obsessed culture which has so pervaded out society. 

Maybe, just maybe “the” news story of 2020 will not be the Covid-19 Pandemic but the way in which it became a catalyst for real and lasting change in this country and across the world.  A year in which the “real” celebrities don’t appear on “Love Island” in Social Media or in the tabloid press but are the countless key workers who’ve carried on doing their jobs to the best of their abilities, they’ll be people like Sir Tom Moore and all of the others who’ve undertaken simple acts of kindness or inspired generosity in others.  They’ll be the people who’ve really made a difference.

In the Gospels Christ is asked what’s the greatest commandment.  His answer would doubtless have both reassured and surprised his hearers.  He begins by quoting “the shema” words from the Book of Deuteronomy:  “Hear, O Israel:  The LORD is our God, the LORD alone.  You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind.” (Deuteronomy 6.  4-5 NRSV).

So far, so traditional, these are words known by every Jewish person, they’re inscribed in doorposts and bound as “tephillim” in the wrists and forehead.  But then Christ adds an addendum:  “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.”  (Matthew 9.  37  NRSV).

This is the heart and centre of the Christian Gospel;  love of God and love of neighbour.  It is the pre-eminent foundational building block upon which our nation is founded.  Our laws, customs and traditions have this at their heart.  It’s the basic principle behind the NHS of which we’re so justly proud.

Let’s hope and work together to ensure that the news story of these tumultuous months is not just the Coronavirus Pandemic but how, in response to it our nation began to rediscover it’s ethical and moral foundations.  Wouldn’t that be a story to tell?

With my love and prayers as always

                                                                      Ben