A Word of Encouragement

I’d never heard of social distancing a few weeks ago. Now we all know and feel what it means. Never before have we lived through a time of forced isolation like this. This goes way beyond that week at home with tonsillitis I had in primary school! There is comfort in being in it together, all impacted in similar ways. Though there are differences too: I live on my own so I’m drowning in space and missing human contact and touch. You might be swinging to the other end of the scale, busting for a little time out for yourself!

Social distancing is a challenge of the new normal likely to be with us for some time and it is good to be honest about the losses, grieve what we miss and support one another through the change. But social distancing does not have to mean social isolation! In fact, we are made to be in community, made to love and be loved. It’s one of the reasons why this season is so difficult. And one of the reasons I want to encourage all our Girton family to purposely take time out to connect with someone every day – not just to study or work on a project, but simply to waste some time being together. These agenda-less moments will be harder to come by in our distancing – we’ll have to do it on purpose. But I reckon it’s these agenda-less moments that are the fertile soil where connection can really take root and grow into deep friendship.

Most especially at this time of social distancing, I want you to know that God is never socially distant from us. He is always awake, always available, always ready to listen. We’ve just celebrated Easter, and we see there in Jesus just how close to our mess and pain and suffering God comes – all the way into it, and all the way through to the resurrection life on the other side. My prayer is that though we are necessarily distant from one another in this season, you each may experience the truth and comfort of a God who is always near, always connected.

Rev Karen Reid

Girton Chaplain