I recently expressed my appreciation of the NHS and the care and expertise that has seen me through my recent treatment. It has since occurred to me that there are others who are helping to keep the nation together who deserve our thanks and support and should be continually in our prayers. My local Pharmacy, for instance, has been an integral part of my life over the past year not only in the dispensing but in the advice given whenever needed. It continues to tick over in difficult circumstances. And there are others who are working through these days sometimes at risk to themselves. The police have new duties which they could never have envisaged and unfortunately they are still having to deal with the usual criminal activity. Then there are social workers, postmen, bin men, engineers, transport operatives, shop workers, dentists. You make a list like that and realise that there must be so many you have left out.
Perhaps we are being given a new appreciation of the various roles taken on by individuals which all come together to ensure the smooth running of our society. This kind of corporate working is prominent in the Bible. In the Old Testament, when the Tabernacle was being constructed craftsmen called Bezalel and Oholiab were called upon not only to make their own contribution but to teach others so that a variety of people could come together to complete the project. (Exodus 35: 30 - 36: 7). It’s also worth mentioning that when the people of Israel in general were asked to make free-will offerings the craftsmen had to call a halt. They said to Moses: ‘The people are bringing more than enough!’
The importance of working together arose very early in the life of the Church. Paul made much of the Church as the Body of Christ. This was brought to the Church at Corinth which was divided along many lines. Paul pointed them to the human body where it was necessary that each part contributed to the welfare of the whole. It needs to be the same in the Church. There are different gifts and their exercise contributes to the building up of the Church’s witness. (I Corinthians 12: 12-31)
We hear from our political leaders and medical experts that each of us has a contribution to make in the present crisis. It might seem passive and unexciting. We need to stay at home, wash our hands, keep two metres distance. We hear it all the time but it does no harm to be reminded of our responsibility to one another. It will be blessing if we come out of this time with a new realisation of how dependent we are on others.
