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Radio 4,2 mins

Confidence and the New Normal. Rev Dr Rob Marshall - 02/05/2020

Thought for the Day

Available for over a year

Good Morning. In what鈥檚 often referred to as the new normal, where people will be on what is frequently called the other side of the current lockdown, it is pretty obvious that people鈥檚 confidence isn鈥檛 that high. An Ipsos Mori Poll published yesterday reported that more than 60% of people would be uncomfortable using public transport or visiting a pub or restaurant whilst around 40% expressed reservations about going shopping or their children going to school. All ages were asked the questions but the 18-24 year olds had found the lock down most difficult. This all begs the question how are we face up to whatever that new normal is and where do we get our confidence from? In his novel the Magician鈥檚 Nephew CS Lewis observes that 鈥渨hat you see and what you hear depends on what sort of person you are.鈥 In other words, each of us is different. We all deal with situations in our own way and there is no one size fits all approach to facing up to future challenges whatever the future holds. Julian of Norwich鈥檚 oft quoted conviction that 鈥淎ll shall be well, and all shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well鈥 echoes much of Jesus鈥 teaching in the New Testament. The disciples found it very difficult to live with the reality of the present. They persistently questioned Jesus about what the future held and whether they themselves had enough faith to believe that all manner of things would indeed be well. But Jesus quietly advises them that the best way to have confidence in the future is not to worry about it. There鈥檚 the well know quote in John鈥檚 Gospel鈥 stop worrying about tomorrow 鈥 there鈥檚 enough to be worried about today 鈥 but this is a theme which also undergirds the whole of the Christian faith. I know that it has been an extra source of encouragement and comfort to a lot of people (despite the hardships and difficulties) I鈥檝e talked to in recent weeks. Everything is going to be OK. 鈥淒o not be worried or afraid鈥. Paradoxically, a lot of people who have not been working on the front line have recently had a lot more time to ponder and think. We hear all the time of people observing nature, reading more, listening to music or meditating. And this is surely all about, however different we all are, taking advantage of this down time to build an inner reserve of tranquillity for the future: a quiet, inner confidence that all will indeed be well and our confidence quietly renewed.

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