Well…we have made it safely into Delta Alert Level 2; so far so good. Although it feels to me a bit like playing an online game in which we’ve made it to a new level! What challenges are we going to discover in this new reality? (Hopefully the game isn’t snakes and ladders, or we might find ourselves slithering back down to where we started!)
It will have been a busy week for many of you, changing work rhythms and routines, getting kids ready for school – and then actually getting them back there. Have you had time to stop and mark the transition in some way? Our service this Sunday may give you some space to pause and reflect on transitions, as Rachelle will be leading us (on Zoom) in communion – so do join in (remembering to prepare with some appropriate wine or juice and some bread).
I really enjoyed the picture below – Bruce McKenzie Bookshop in Palmerston North greeting customers on the first day at Level 2!
As we think about what it means to be at Delta Alert Level 2, much as we would like it to be about “life as normal”, we have to remember that there are still very real risks of a resurgence of the virus – hence we are not yet at Alert Level 1!! In our operating as a church community, we do need to be mindful of those in both the Ilam and wider communities, who are vulnerable in terms of their health or situation. Whilst most of us are able to be vaccinated, there are a few for whom vaccination is not an option because their health is compromised in some way. We want to enjoy the freedoms that Alert Level 2 brings – however, we also need to be very mindful of others. How do we best manage risk whilst at the same time getting on with life? A balancing act!
We’ve worked hard this week on some Ilam Guidelines to cover all the various operations of the church in its different contexts. These are being finalised by the Governance Team as I write this, so I’m hoping that we can bring them into operation early next week and let you all know how they will apply.
Like most of you (I’m sure) I find myself getting frustrated with life that is constrained. This morning I was reading a short section out of Colossians 3, where Paul writes these words: “As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience. Bear with one another…” Of course, I was reading this in the context of my work bringing together our guidelines for Alert Level 2, and feeling very frustrated about the levels of detail needed and the multiplicity of sources of information to extract it from. Paul’s words, though, reminded me that our Alert Level guidelines are actually all about people – and making sure that people are kept safe, and that nothing I do (and nothing we do as church) puts people at risk. COVID-19 is a horrible disease and, whilst evidence shows that most people recover well, a significant number will develop long COVID, whilst a smaller number will die. Staggeringly, current evidence suggests about 12% of children go on to get long COVID – and that is frightening in the context of a church like Ilam. I wonder if I can encourage us all in this season of weighing up our personal freedom versus community risk, to follow Paul’s suggestion in acting with compassion, kindness and patience etc towards others. For myself, I know I need to remind myself that it’s not about me and my preferences, but about my impact on others.
“Sermon” over! However, can I encourage you to:
- Stay home whenever you or a close family member is unwell
- Get tested for COVID-19 whenever you experience any symptoms
- When visiting locations outside the home, scan in using the COVID App and Barcode AND
- Get vaccinated!
As we are standing just over the threshold of this transition to Delta Alert Level 2, I thought about this poem – which speaks of the wonder of the potential of moving into new territory.
John Keats, the early 19th century English poet, had obviously purchased a copy of the works of the Greek writer Homer – translated into English by George Chapman. Keats was clearly totally gob-smacked by the excitement of reading Homer in English – so he wrote this sonnet, comparing his amazement and awe to that which must have been felt by the Spanish explorers when, in the 16th century, they saw the Pacific Ocean for the first time. Could we feel just as filled with awestruck expectation as we contemplate the season ahead at AL2? Maybe we could…??
On First Looking into Chapman’s Homer
John Keats
Much have I traveled in the realms of gold
And many goodly states and kingdoms seen;
Round many western islands have I been
Which bards in fealty to Apollo hold.
Oft of one wide expanse had I been told
That deep-browed Homer ruled as his demesne;
Yet never did I breathe its pure serene
Till I heard Chapman speak out loud and bold:
Then felt I like some watcher of the skies
When a new planet swims into his ken;
Or like stout Cortez when with eagle eyes
He stared at the Pacific—and all his men
Looked at each other with a wild surmise—
Silent, upon a peak in Darien.
If you’re keen, see if you can find the connection between the poem and this picture – which may be familiar!
