Saved from death
Not swerving from their course (Joel 2:5)
Boris Johnson is out of hospital. Hooray. One more life saved. Whatever your politics, it is a cause for gratitude. And, to my mind, Boris has done the right thing. He's used it as an opportunity to let everyone know how the dedication of individuals saves lives, and to thank by name where possible all those who saved his.
However, I cannot be alone in spotting at least one major irony. His two great saviours were from New Zealand and Spain. The first is a country that has not toyed with 'herd immunity' one little bit and, so far, has reaped the benefit. In the long run it is hard to be sure what is going to work best, so I am just delighted not to be making the decisions, but it does put our government's approach and its reliance on 'the science' into stark relief.
The second is, of course, a European country. Luis is going to have to apply for residency if he wishes to stay here. Not only that but as a nurse, his pay and status would be too low to count as a key worker. In the sunny uplands of post-Brexit, Luis' fellow European nurses won't be allowed to live and work here anymore.
What has this got to do with our army of locusts, I hear you asking? Well, I was struck by the unswerving, sticking-to your-guns, not-changing-your-mind behaviour as an image of destruction. So often it is seen as leadership. Strong leaders tough it out, they overcome all opposition to achieve their goal, or so we are led to believe. I am not at all convinced. Yes, a leader must be prepared to do what is right in the face of major opposition, but a good leader must also be prepared to change their mind and go on a new course.
So my question for Boris would be: is this moment of salvation going to cause you to change your direction? What have you learnt? Here's one possibility: immigration.
I think this is much more complex than most people think. For example the 'new' command of Jesus that we must 'love our neighbour' as we 'love ourselves' is quoted from a passage in the Old Testament law that also deals with the treatment of foreigners in your land. In context, it might be best understood as a commentary on the Jewish attitude to non-Jews, as Jesus' teaching on immigration. Seeing immigrants as unwelcome has a long history and is deeply rooted in the human heart.
So it is a huge and demanding task of any government to balance the needs and priorities of it's own people, with the just treatment and proper welcome of incomers. We have not exactly shone in the last few years in this area. From the 'hostile environment' to the Windrush affair, our current governing party seem to have caused quite a lot of havoc and misery, and, as far as I can tell, entirely without benefit.
So maybe now is a time to rethink, to change direction and to find a way to value every individual, wherever they are born, as a person with gifts, needs and dreams.
Boris Johnson is out of hospital. Hooray. One more life saved. Whatever your politics, it is a cause for gratitude. And, to my mind, Boris has done the right thing. He's used it as an opportunity to let everyone know how the dedication of individuals saves lives, and to thank by name where possible all those who saved his.
However, I cannot be alone in spotting at least one major irony. His two great saviours were from New Zealand and Spain. The first is a country that has not toyed with 'herd immunity' one little bit and, so far, has reaped the benefit. In the long run it is hard to be sure what is going to work best, so I am just delighted not to be making the decisions, but it does put our government's approach and its reliance on 'the science' into stark relief.
The second is, of course, a European country. Luis is going to have to apply for residency if he wishes to stay here. Not only that but as a nurse, his pay and status would be too low to count as a key worker. In the sunny uplands of post-Brexit, Luis' fellow European nurses won't be allowed to live and work here anymore.
What has this got to do with our army of locusts, I hear you asking? Well, I was struck by the unswerving, sticking-to your-guns, not-changing-your-mind behaviour as an image of destruction. So often it is seen as leadership. Strong leaders tough it out, they overcome all opposition to achieve their goal, or so we are led to believe. I am not at all convinced. Yes, a leader must be prepared to do what is right in the face of major opposition, but a good leader must also be prepared to change their mind and go on a new course.
So my question for Boris would be: is this moment of salvation going to cause you to change your direction? What have you learnt? Here's one possibility: immigration.
I think this is much more complex than most people think. For example the 'new' command of Jesus that we must 'love our neighbour' as we 'love ourselves' is quoted from a passage in the Old Testament law that also deals with the treatment of foreigners in your land. In context, it might be best understood as a commentary on the Jewish attitude to non-Jews, as Jesus' teaching on immigration. Seeing immigrants as unwelcome has a long history and is deeply rooted in the human heart.
So it is a huge and demanding task of any government to balance the needs and priorities of it's own people, with the just treatment and proper welcome of incomers. We have not exactly shone in the last few years in this area. From the 'hostile environment' to the Windrush affair, our current governing party seem to have caused quite a lot of havoc and misery, and, as far as I can tell, entirely without benefit.
So maybe now is a time to rethink, to change direction and to find a way to value every individual, wherever they are born, as a person with gifts, needs and dreams.
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| A narrow path, turning off the main road |
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