THisVancouver

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily ange...red, it keeps no record of wrongs." 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 (NIV) I am struck by the lack of very thoughtful or often any Biblical perspective in the tsunami of outrage, shame and shaming engulfing the public square and the (virtual) pulpit. It strikes me there is too much offence: both given and taken. Perhaps we might do well to remember again our wedding ceremonies.

The disregard for lockdown and social distance while itself a public health threat, especially to non-white people, the lockdown itself (as opposed to social di...stance measures which peaked the virus weeks before lockdowns were imposed) quarantined the virus IN social and medical care facilities, staffed by many of those most at risk, and in their homes and families. Cascaded on top of this was the loss of work (in all but the high risk medical settings), the loss of access to open public space, and the often high rise urban housing of the most affordable to neighbourhoods. The explosion out of confinement, into open and otherwise empty streets gave expression not only to outrage and empathy for another grieving black family, to personal social history but also to the isolation, emotional tension everyone felt, but much more acutely, where people had no gardens and cramped housing, crowded neighbourhoods. I have not read that articulated by anyone motivated to protest but I think the analysis of this article that describes the forecasting of this outcome in the UK would be applicable in North America. Despite the disregard for the safety of themselves, others and particularly black and Asians who have suffered more from this virus, it is clear that emotions overwhelmed reason, but for a reason. For if peoples legitimate need for dignity, opportunity and just social relationships (especially with civic institutions like the police) are not considered important enough to provoke ammendment, if reasoning goes unresponded to, then people conclude there is no alternative. Out of such conditions not just civil unrest bursts, but civil war. The US looked on the brink of it, as the body politic has become poisened by both opposing sides of an increasingly rancourous and disrespectful, spiteful discourse. And it has split like acid into the Body of Christ. I have seen comments from Christians about each other that are almost as toxic as the twitter "dialogue" that is polluting politics. The church, it's leaders and everyone of its members, carry the image of God and the wounds and grace of Christ. If we cannot love each other, how can we heal the world of its slavery to self, human independence, pride and power? Racism is neither new nor unique: it is the lazy chromatic expression of the tribal mentality that extends the love of self to a community of common identity. Whenever humans derive their sense of identity from their skin, whatever it's hue, they deny the maker of that skin, of all skins, of all colours in the universe. As we emerge from our bunkers, into our dazed and disorientsted communities, showing the love of Christ, serving the vulnerable and affirming God's identity, God's image, in every person, regardless of whether they know it, of live it.

Churches together. Sometimes it takes a crisis. https://youtu.be/BSuwlEaQi54

THE FIRST EASTER | Act 3: the Road to Heaven We are like the first Christians on the first Easter Sunday: huddled at home, waiting for the threat of death to pa...ss... Here a group of housebound Christians have collaborated to retell the story of The First Easter. Act 1: the Road to the Truth Act 2: the Road to the Cross. *Act 3: the Road to Heaven.* #2 Music: Lead Me to the Cross, sung by the Gicana Family singers. #3 Music: Answered by Josh Garrels.