We are all now familiar with the scenario associated with coronavirus...the self-isolating, the lockdown, the social distancing, but above the din of gloomy statistics and fearful prognostications, stories of fellowship and kindness and generosity are finding their way into the daily news. In fact, one newspaper is now running a column entitled GOOD NEWS associated with the unprecedented situation we find ourselves in.
I was deeply moved by a LETTER TO THE EDITOR in one of the papers, sent in by a gentleman in Woking. He wrote:
“SIR - We have been overwhelmed by the kindness of complete strangers during this crisis.
On Thursday, my wife and I visited our local supermarket for provisions. There was a queue outside, and when we walked round the corner we saw that it stretched a long way back. There was a biting wind, so we decided that it was too cold for us, at our age, to stand around, and resigned ourselves to returning home empty-handed.
As we walked back along the line, complete strangers – much younger – beckoned us to join the queue nearer the front and would not take no for an answer. We were then ushered to the front by successive shoppers.
Their kindness brought tears to our eyes and strengthened our faith in human nature”.
People everywhere are responding to the touch of the Christ, to the presence of divine Love, meeting the human need. In her textbook, Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy writes about Jesus establishing the precedent for all Christianity, theology and healing. She then states that “Christians are under as direct orders now, as they were then, to be Christlike, to possess the Christ-spirit, and to follow the Christ-example”.
I had a very small experience last week where need and supply came together in a very tangible way. On this particular morning, it came to me clearly to ring a dear neighbour, an elderly lady who has been very poorly for some time, and is now housebound. We chatted for a while, and then quite spontaneously I found myself offering her a bumper pack of toilet rolls, which I had to spare. She was quiet for a moment, and then exclaimed, “My greatest fear at the moment is running out of toilet rolls...you are an answer to prayer this morning!” I duly deposited the huge pack of this precious commodity on her doorstep, rejoicing in Mrs. Eddy’s words, “Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need”.
Hard as the present situation is for all of us, I am finding great comfort in the words of our Leader’s poem, SATISFIED. She lovingly reassures us that “it matters not what be thy lot, so Love doth guide, for storm or shine, pure peace is thine, whate’er betide”.