Thought for the day – Saturday 28th July 2020
Fear seems to be one of the emotions that is driving behaviours and moods as we are still in the throes of Covid-19. From the beginning of lockdown, we have been taught to be wary, even anxious as political leaders have exhorted us all to exercise caution in everything that we do. We have spent many weeks in which the headlines have been crafted so that they reinforce the negatives, with only occasional good news stories told to us as if they were the exception.
In the psychology world, this is called priming. We are primed to expect bad news, so we are more attuned and even conditioned to seeing the negative side in situations and we have learnt to expect and fear bad things.
For those of a nervous or cautious disposition, this unhelpful focus has driven anxiety and reinforced the underlying fear, and the act of slowly unlocking is proving trickier than politicians would like, and too uncertain for many others.
I see the effects of fear every day in the working community where behaviours we once wouldn’t tolerate are becoming the norm. Too much spare time to tap into social media exacerbates this still further for some. Intolerance seems to be on the rise, and we’ve repeatedly seen its consequences acted out in news reports.
It seems that those around us struggling with anxiety and fear are too ready to feast on the extremes: to shout anything down that doesn’t fit their disturbing picture of life. Led by some of the world’s most visible figures clothed in narcissism, more and more people are seeking to rewrite the world in their own image. Time and again, we see common sense being ridiculed, and perfectly reasonable arguments being undermined as they seize on one of the more toxic, extremist views, and present that as if it were the central view in the topic to which they are opposed.
We’ve seen it down the years from climate deniers. We see it coming to the fore as an argument against those fighting for equity and justice. As Christians, we have experienced it in the arguments mustered by Dawkins against God. Too often those arguments founded in extremist hatred win out when those with common sense on their side have withered under the pressure.
Yet good news abounds, and there is much to celebrate if we can only escape the gloom to look around with care, compassion and concern. Hopefulness is still in the air for those ready to seek and celebrate.
Surely this is the gospel moment for us all. The chance to cut through the dark stories and share the good news. With so much positive good to work towards, be alert to these tactics. Stand your ground. Be unapologetic and speak with conviction.
When the Israelites stood at the entrance to the promised land, and Moses handed over to Joshua to lead the people into the promised land and to remain loyal to God’s ways, Joshua was unequivocal in the challenge he gave his people: (Joshua 24;14-15).
“You must choose whom you will serve! As for me: I will serve the Lord.”
As we continue our journey of discovery into our world newly opening up before us, God is challenging us to make new things and restore his ways of justice and mercy and peace. Whom will we serve? Will we be bold enough to be unapologetic and speak with conviction about the hope and the love, and the promise we continually receive in renewal?