Why do we ignore rules and put ourselves in such danger, asks Sheffield minister

Listening to government officials recently, they are using language I understand in their reasoning. Most people are using common sense and considering the seriousness of the pandemic and the dangers that come with Covid, they say. The minority are ignoring the rules and guidelines.

As we travelled around, we saw some beautiful towns.

However, we did not see them for long.

We witnessed quite the opposite of the government’s suggestions.

One town had huge banners telling people to walk on the left side of the street, much like our roads, in order to keep people apart safely. Also, there were many signs reminding us of the importance of social distancing.

We wondered if we had found the one community in Britain who had no reading skills and had not even heard of this virus.

Everywhere we went was much the same.

Sitting on a cliff top close to Land’s End, watching the sun rise and set, it was easy to reflect upon the beauty of creation and the majestic work of the Lord God. How greatly blessed we are. I reflected more.

Above all the glorious and beautiful things we had seen, we, human beings, are held up by the creator himself as the crown of his creation.

I wonder why we are so determined to damage such a beautiful creation and place such a precious thing, ourselves, in danger so readily!

Yes, times have been difficult, this we all know.

I am reminded of a story of a rich man who was travelling on a ship in days of old.

He had his gold strapped to his waist on a belt.

As the ship was going down the weight of the gold was taking him with it.

Just feet away was safety. Floating in the water, he could have been saved, but he loved his gold too much to let it go and the weight of the belt took him down.

Why do we love so many things so much that we don’t see the danger we are in?

God, our creator and Saviour is right there. He is reaching out his hand.

We need to realise how precious our lives are and just how much we are loved.

Safety is there, let go of the things that drag us down and take the hand of the one who loved us enough to die himself to ensure our eternal life and a beautiful existence we haven’t yet imagined.

The Reverend Peter McCool is pastor at South Sheffield Church, Lower Bradway – see southsheffieldchurch.co.uk