THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

With all the coronavirus restrictions upon us, life is suddenly different.

Many of us no longer have the frantic routine of our daily commitments and social interests.

-Instead we find ourselves at home with other members of our family or even on our own.

There can be lots to do at home – the chores and those jobs you never get round to. There’s TV, the radio and the internet, but after a while we might have had enough. Perhaps then we might begin to appreciate that life is more than frantic activity and learn to slow down. When we slow down we can look around and take in the good things around us and be thankful: the spring flowers, the songs of the birds, the days becoming lighter and the amazing beauty of the countryside we have in Calderdale.

Walks are good for the body and for our inner well-being. We can also be thankful for those who are keeping public services going through the crisis: the health workers, those in public transport, social care and the long-suffering staff in our supermarkets. Learning to slow down has always been part of God’s plan. The Sabbath, a day of rest, was instituted so we could have one day in seven to stop working and give thanks to God for his blessings.

In the gospels we read how Jesus, in the midst of the demands of many people, would take time out to be alone and to pray in order to remain focused on the priorities that God had given him.

The corona crisis is a challenge but it can also be an opportunity to review our lifestyles and to slow down.