As we enter a second national lockdown I’ve been asking myself this question, “What’s different this time?”
As I listen and look at our culture, social media, people I know, I’ve been left with the feeling that some things are very different and some things are exactly the same.
So what’s different?
We seem more tired than before…
Let’s face it, we are exhausted! Mental health and well being, anxiety, stress, uncertainty and decision fatigue have all taken their toll. Then there’s our amazing health and social care workers bracing themselves for the usual winter pressures plus a second wave of Covid 19!
We sound more angry than before…
First time round we rallied round our leaders now there is disillusionment and distrust, plus so much personal loss and pain which is working it’s way out in the way we speak about, and to, others.
Our anger has to go somewhere, just like our other emotions, but we need to be wary this time around…
We appear more divided than before…
Politically the UK and the USA seem more divided than ever, the narrative and the tone of that narrative seem to back this up. I have to say I don’t see this in the church in the same way! I’m encouraged by greater collaboration and “cheering one another on” than I’ve ever known in 30 years of church leadership!
So this time time around how should we respond?
Establish healthy rhythms – we discovered this treasure in lockdown 1.0 let’s go there again!
‘Always do what your future self will thank you for’ Lance Witt
Don’t let your emotions be the boss of you – there have been times I’ve nearly sent that email in anger, almost posted on social media in frustration, been on the verge of making a decision I’d live to regret, why? I almost allowed my emotions to be the boss of me!
There’s a difference between a travel agent and a tour guide, one tells you how to get there the other can take you! Emotions make terrible tour guides, they can’t take us to where we want to go….so…..
“Pause before you post”
“Make decisions today that you won’t come to regret tomorrow”
(For more on this check out https://youtu.be/PZrBK3Ne3so)
So what’s the same this time around?
Every crisis provides opportunity…
I’ve lost track of how many ‘RE’ words I’ve used this year but they’re all good!
Recalibrate…reimagine…rediscover…reframe…reset….
We now have another opportunity to go deeper in our relationship with God, connect more meaningfully with other people and to be the church Jesus dreamed about, gave His life for, builds by His spirit and is coming back for one day!
Every season is always followed by the next season…
To be honest, I was so frustrated when lockdown 2.0 was announced, I miss people, traveling, the ability to future plan, parties, concerts and so much more….BUT what is true is that this season will pass!! It may pass like a kidney stone but it will pass!
We need some telescope perspective as opposed to microscope perspective!
One perspective looks down at the here and now, it’s forensic it’s all about detail…
The other perspective is long range, it looks beyond, it looks forward, it knows our story is rooted in eternity and that this season is a chapter, it’s not the end…
“We are in a scene from a movie and the director has told us how the movie will end”
(For more on this check out https://youtu.be/tQlguj77YGE)
Every day God is at work…
We experienced this before and we will experience it again…why?
Hebrews 13 v.8 MSG, ‘For Jesus doesn’t change – yesterday, today, tomorrow, he’s always totally himself’
So what could our response be as we head into lockdown 2.0?
Trust Him…
Believe Him…
Encounter Him…
Seek Him…
Join Him….
‘Unusual times mean unusual opportunities’ – Andy Stanley
So what’s different this time around? Maybe you could be…..I hope I am.
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