Lockdown sorrow hits last pocket of resistance in Britain

 

Guernsey is finally in lockdown once again - the last place in the British Isles to succumb to the 'second wave' of Covid 19. Just 4 cases of community seeding - positive test results with no obvious link to travel or isolating individuals -meant the island's government took the difficult decision today to immediately shut down everything, including places of worship, restaurants, takeaways, close contact services, non-essential retail, the whole shebang. Whilst this is sad and potentially very tough for businesses, it is the kind of strong leadership that has enabled several Asian nations, including China itself, to deal with the virus very effectively thus far (less the human rights abuses and militaristic elements of course). Cracking down hard, quickly and completely, for a period, and then opening up very carefully seems to offer a methodology worth following. Our prayer is that this method will be equally efficient here.

But we cannot overlook the cost to individuals as well as businesses. Low income families in tight accommodation without gardens will feel it keenly. People who can't work from home will be afraid as they go about their necessary work. Frontline staff in our small hospital and other medical facilities will be wondering where all this might lead. Thankfully, there is hope:

• The medics know this virus by now (better the devil you know etc)
• The vaccine rollout is going well, offering the best chance of beating it
• Last year's experience means there are now some treatments that work in extreme cases
• Guernsey's community pulled together remarkably well last lockdown and overcame in due course
• Better weather is on the way (good to see some sun today) even if weeks ahead
• Previous plagues have just subsided even without a vaccine (Spanish flu etc)
• God hasn't resigned and is still occupying a throne on high
• The Holy Spirit is in us and makes the presence of God real (love, joy, peace etc)
• The Word of God is still true and all his promises are 'yes and amen' in Jesus
• We have a glorious future in Christ - even beyond the grave!

So, as we re-join the rest of Britain in restrictions like social distancing and masks, which we had enjoyed being without for months, I choose to be grateful not fearful, and to hope, not complain. I also want to be a source of real encouragement to others. Thankfully, we can keep in touch in so many ways. But, I'll be honest, I hope it won't be at all long before we can meet together again!