I Don't Want Covid-19

Dear Pastors

To be honest I am not sure where to start this morning. I was going to share a few thoughts about what the church may look like in NZ post pandemic but I’ll leave that to next week.

Probably like you I am experiencing quite a mix of thought and emotion right now. The scenes on Breaking News late yesterday are on the forefront of my mind. I’ve had my fair share of shall I say very strongly worded email about some of my comments recently including being told I am part of the “problem and division that is so prevalent at the moment” late yesterday.

Pastors I have talked to recently have also had a fair share of aggro to deal with. It’s tough quite frankly…….very tough.

As I ponder, I remind myself what has caused all this. It’s a virus…..a deadly virus. Sure some people have put a spin on this that has aggravated the situation hugely. But when all is said and done it is a virus.

And I don’t want to be infected by this virus. Neither do you, right?

Just yesterday I spoke to a pastor in Auckland who is in his early 40’s (and in good health) who tested positive for omicron last week. He said he had the worst sore throat he has ever had. His wife and 2 kids tested positive. All had symptoms and his young teenage son vomited continually for 24 hours. At my age I don’t know what affect that would have had on me if I caught it let alone my mother-in-law at age 94.

Today and tomorrow and Saturday there will be a lot said about what happened yesterday in Wellington. On Sunday it is our turn. We have an opportunity to say something and I think we should.

I think it is time for lament. Perhaps we could acknowledge the grief, the sadness and heaviness of heart that we all feel not just for the state of affairs in our nation but quite specifically for our brothers and sisters who are really hurting due to loss of jobs, for those feeling ostracised from society and even their home church.

We can ask God to help us all and grant us extraordinary wisdom as we navigate the coming weeks as omicron yet peaks in our beloved country.

The future is in front of us. It is a very uncertain future. In fact I haven’t known such an uncertain future and it is uncertain on so many fronts. That being true could this also be our golden moment to thoughtfully and sensitively be people of hope and healing and reconciliation in a very confused and bewildered world.

Yep….this is our moment.

Blessings
Alan

Alan Vink is currently the Executive Director for LeadershipWorx. Prior to this role he has been the Executive Director of Willow Creek Association NZ (WillowNZ), a Baptist pastor (23 years), Bible College teacher, and church consultant.