Dear friends,
From 24th of July it will be mandatory to wear a mask when in enclosed public spaces – shops mainly – but it could include places of worship; we wait for further clarification. Although, I would want to encourage everyone who does come to worship at the Free Church from this Sunday onwards to wear a mask…
…Mask wearing is an interesting parable for living. Especially during these strange and uncertain times. My wearing of a mask is of no intrinsic benefit to me. But by wearing a mask it says to others that they can relax in my company, confident – to a degree at least – that because I am wearing a mask, even if I am infected, I will not infect them. It conveys to others the fact that I am sufficiently concerned for their safety and well-being that I will do what is necessary for them to be able to feel safe when they are with me…
…But for me to feel equally safe requires the other person to wear a mask. I cannot make them wear a mask. My safety relies upon them and their willingness to be ‘inconvenienced’ in the same way as me…
…If we both agree to wear masks then we can both be safe in knowing that each of us has done what was required of us to ensure that each of us is safe. For me to be safe, I have to rely on the goodwill of others, but others can only be safe if I am prepared to extend my goodwill to them…
…And so, the lesson to us all is to realise that we cannot do it on our own. We need each other. We have to be prepared to do what we can for one another because without one another’s help we would all be at risk…
…Of course, there will always be those who are at best thoughtless, and at worst downright selfish, but if at least some of us can learn this particular lesson – that on our own we are at our most vulnerable, it is only when we co operate with each other that we can recover any sense of being safe – maybe, just maybe some good will come out of this otherwise awful time…
…And that is why, when we resume meeting together for worship on Sundays, my request to all of us is that we wear a mask. We may feel strange – sitting in church with a mask on – we may feel uncomfortable, embarrassed even; but if we all do it, and if we have that sense of doing it for each other then very soon we will be ok with it. We may even see the funny side of it. We might even have a competition to identify the most striking design. If nothing else we will be making a virtue out of a necessity and in so doing, albeit indirectly, be setting an example to anyone who sees us…
…So, don’t wait to be told to wear a mask. If you’ve not already started to do so, do so now. It cannot do any harm; it can only do good, and that has to be good for all of us…