It has been called ‘the greatest generation’, those who were born in the first quarter of the twentieth century, came through the Great Depression, endured the Second World War and then became the foundation of the rebuilding of the nations. It was my parents’ generation and in many ways I was shaped by their values that placed family, Church, care for others and personal aspiration at the centre of life. As time went on I came to know something of their early lives and some of the personal struggles which drew on their courage and faith.
It has been said that the challenges that face us now are similar to those of that generation but in some ways they are unique. During times of economic hardship and war there is always the possibility of a physical coming together and therefore the flame of community spirit burns brightly. That has become difficult now with the more stringent restrictions that were announced last night by the Prime Minister. Certainly we have all the possibilities of social media and the constant stream of broadcast news. But it is not community as we have come to know and appreciate it. Not being able to visit elderly parents in Care Homes, keeping close friends at a distance, thinking twice before we venture out - arguably we are facing a bigger challenge even than war.
It is heartening to hear the consistent message of our politicians that we have within us the personal resources to see this crisis through. And despite the thoughtlessness, the greed, the profiteering that has been reported people are looking beyond themselves to the needs of elderly and vulnerable people, making sure that they have everything they need to keep body and mind together. This is something that is uniting people of all faiths and political persuasions and stands as a welcome respite to the divisions that have soured our national life in recent days.
But with all our human resources there is still a great need for us to be in touch with all that the God revealed in Jesus Christ can provide in this dark and demanding time. The Psalmist writes: ‘Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord . . .’ (Psalm 33: 12) That was something King George VI understood. In 1940 in what Churchill described as the nation’s ‘darkest hour’ with tens of thousands of British troops stranded on the beaches of Dunkirk the King called for a National Day of Prayer in which the nation could turn back to God and plead for His help. Nothing is more vital now and may result in this being remembered as the greatest of all generations.
