Pause for thought

The pace of change has been dramatic, leaving many feeling like everything is falling apart. So many are fearful of their loved ones’ health, anxious about their business and employment, as well as exercising social responsibility by self isolating and socially distancing themselves from one another.

Yet, in the midst of all this, there is something upon us that is so profound and unique that has swept us all up into a swirling ball heading towards the nets. It’s called community.

Since Hillsborough, our city and nation has been through the two ‘recessions’, a global economic crisis, major flooding, including at Meadowhall, as well as many personal losses.

Yet none of these events have created what is now strangely uniting all of us - a sense of real community. It’s a sense that we are actually all in this together.

Even those who are socially isolated can feel it. Even those who may be losing their jobs can feel it. It’s a feeling that it’s not just me, I’m not on my own, I’m not invisible and I’m not forgotten.

Invisibility has been a curse on our modern world. It’s where deep anxiety and dark depression have thrived for years.

Togetherness is the remedy and togetherness is our strength. This return of community may be the byproduct of a global pandemic, but we can now make it the forerunner.

If we can turn ourselves inside out, reach out to the more vulnerable, the more afraid and the more needy, we could see a pandemic of joy arise from the ashes.

If we do, 2020 might not be known as the year of corona but the year of community.

It might not be known as the year of Covid-19, but be known as the year that turned the table on real isolation and ruthless self obsession and the mental diseases that once accompanied it.

It could go down in history as our finest hour.

Pastor Dave Gilpin is one of the longest serving pastors in Sheffield. He leads Hope City Church, of Bernard Road, which is presently meeting online every Sunday at 10am – see online.hopecity.church