Coronacoaster 2020

 I saw a post on Facebook the other day, you may know it? The one about ‘The Coronacoaster’. Coronacoaster definition:

 “the ups and downs of a pandemic.

One day you’re loving your bubble,

going for long walks,

baking cakes

and

pottering in the garden,

the next you’re crying,

drinking gin for breakfast,

eating party rings

and

missing people you don’t even like!”

And I get it. We are all in our own ways riding the ‘Coronacoaster’. Some moments I am hands in the air, gleefully enjoying the break from routine. The next I am lurching from one side to the other, not quite sure if I am enjoying the change or if I want to get off. Then there are those moments when I find myself hanging on by my fingernails, pouring my oversized glass of communion wine, for Sunday morning’s breakfast!

Some of us are home schooling, seeing more of our children than we have since they were 4 or 5. Loving it and then being driven mad by maths homework or whose turn it is to choose a movie. Some have not spent this much time alone in years, for others, who have isolated for years now, they are encouraged that other people now know what it’s like to be them. For some the furlough doesn’t bring enough in to cover the household costs. For others the freedom from the daily grind is worth, the financial cost.

Everyone’s coronacoaster is different; but do all we share common concerns:

  • I don’t know if it’s Tuesday or Christmas; and I doubt if you do either?
  • When will it end?
  • What will it look like when it does?

 I found in the bible a person who has really helped me through this time and his name is Thomas; better known as ‘Doubting Thomas’ to you and me.

When Jesus says he is going to his kingdom and the other disciples look like they understand what he means. Thomas, who is hurt and confused by Jesus words and and is isolated by his friends; is the only one who manages to say that being with Jesus is a Rollercoaster and he doesn’t know where it’s going.

You have to love the honesty of Thomas. The questioning, querying, lonely, painful petulant at times, honesty of Thomas.

“Jesus, we don’t even know where you are going, how on earth can we know the way?!”

I guess we don’t know where we are going on our very own ’Coronacoaster’. But I have to trust that wherever we are headed that Jesus is there already. Whatever the future looks like that God is in it.

In the meantime, the church building remains shut, but the church is open. If you find yourself in need of anything and are not sure where to go. Get in touch and we’ll see what we can do together.

Keep safe and Much love,

Justine

rev.justine.richard@gmail.com

01823 762721

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