Last Sunday we clapped again for the NHS.  We celebrated the 72^nd anniversary of a wonderful organisation which was founded on 5^th July 1948, with the inspiring core principle that it should be free at the point of delivery and based on clinical need.  Significant buildings such as the Royal Albert Hall were lit up in blue on Saturday evening, and our nation’s leaders were filmed clapping in appreciation of our key medical workers.  We also remembered those who have lost their lives while caring on the frontline for our nation which has been badly hit by this pandemic.

I wonder how long our appreciation will last.  In this age of 24 hour news production and information overload, we seem to have remarkably short memories about headlines from only a few days ago, let alone months or years earlier.  Will we continue to remember how bravely our over-stretched nurses, health assistants, carers and doctors went out to work, how they had to fight a disease at times without the protective clothing necessary for their own safety, and how they held the hands of our loved ones when we were not allowed to be anywhere near them?  Even as we start to come out of lockdown, we move on so quickly to our next concerns, perhaps forgetting the requirements of social distancing or wearing masks in public, unless we happen to live in one of those unfortunate places where lockdown is re-imposed. 

When our Prime Minister announced the national lockdown on 23^rd March, he asked us to stay at home to protect the NHS and to save lives, and the nation was remarkably compliant with immediate and successful effect.  We all got the message.  But moving out of lockdown is much more difficult to control because it is a more piecemeal process, and we have to take responsible decisions for ourselves and for others.  Being able to re-open our churches is a great blessing but also a huge responsibility as we work out how to do this safely so that people can be spiritually nourished not physically harmed by attending worship or coming to offer private prayer.

It is human nature to be constantly looking to the next chapter in our lives and it’s good to have things to look forward to, but we have to make a conscious effort to review and remind ourselves of what has gone on before, so that we don’t forget the important lessons to be learnt from the recent past.  And we don’t want our gratitude to fade along with the restrictions of lockdown since in recent weeks we have been reminded of what is really important to the functioning of our society and who are the people that contribute to our health and happiness.  So we express gratitude to all who work for the NHS and offer prayers for their continued safety and well-being.  

Sarah Bourne – 8^th July 2020          sarahbourne@banburystmary.org.uk