A message from the Rev’d Amanda Collinson

Posted by Admin on 22 October 2020, 5:17 pm

Amanda Collinson

Priest-in-Charge

St John the Baptist Church

Northwood.

Tel: 01983 294913

HELLO THERE!

November is traditionally the month when we remember – firstly Guy Fawkes and his disagreement with the Government on Bonfire Night and then more significantly all those who have been or continue to be involved in war and conflicts around the world on Remembrance Day. Even though there are many of us (ahem, surely it is not just me?!) who may need the odd post-it here and there to remember things to do or what to buy, I think all of us confidently say on Remembrance Sunday ‘We will remember them’. I am confident in that because the two World Wars and subsequent conflicts were so traumatic that we cannot etch them from our memory. But how strange it will be to only have a few poppy sellers around and no Royal British Legion concert at the Royal Albert Hall on the TV? Yes, it is going to be a very different season of Remembrance this year … but then everything is different isn’t it, and in itself memorable – who is EVER going to forget 2020??

Yes, it is going to be abnormal, but we must nevertheless still stop and remember those we have lost in recent conflicts or past wars, the veterans still carrying memories of battle and those still serving, especially those in conflicts area. We must remember those left behind to grieve and those still suffering with their injuries mental or physical … but perhaps we also need to remember the unemployed who see no light at the end of the tunnel, the single parent who cries themselves to sleep each night not knowing how they will cope tomorrow, the elderly person living on their own missing terribly their groups and get-togethers they used to attend, the professional trying and failing to juggle work and home life, the student who has gone to university and become isolated in their room, the child who is missing their play dates and birthday parties with friends.

In this most unique of years, I think we must still do our duty and remember the fallen, but also this year I feel we need to remember the ‘falling’…..…those who need help now. Here. Immediately. All around us.

I am aware that professionals talk about children building resilience so they are able to cope with challenges they face in years to come, but I have never heard anyone talking about us adults requiring to top up on our resilience through our lives! I certainly think we need to this year! Children are encouraged to express their feelings, tell their parents and carers how they feel, if only us adults could rid truly ourselves of our inhibitions and do the same: cry with our ageing parents, show our fear to our friends, admit defeat to our children … and yet it seems that British ‘stiff upper lip’ comes out too often!

Yes of course, we have all shown that ‘stiff upper lip-ness’ sometimes in our lives – it worked brilliantly in the World Wars, when we got ‘knocked over but brushed ourselves down, got back up and got on with it’. We have seen that great British spirit again during this pandemic with people helping neighbours and communities becoming closer again, Steve talked last month in his parish mag article of finding those things that give you a buzz, a lift……. but there comes a point when we all have to say ‘help, I cannot do this on my own’.

There is a song out at the moment by Jessie J called ‘Who you are’ and part of the chorus is very apt for this year:

“It’s okay not to be okay
Sometimes it’s hard, to follow your heart
Tears don’t mean you’re losing, everybody’s bruising
Just be true to who you are.”

I tell my boys that’s all I want them to do – to be true to themselves. It’s another one of those sayings that us adults are good at saying but perhaps not so good at actually doing! BBC Radio Solent is currently running a campaign called ‘Pledge to talk’ where they are asking its listeners to make a pledge to talk to someone who they haven’t spoken to in a while, or at all, with the aim of checking in on how they are to try and combat loneliness and isolation.’

A quick call lasting 10 minutes or so could literally make someone’s day or even week! And if you are unable to make a call, instead try and keep someone in your thoughts and prayers, or smile at a weary looking person in Aldi, or chat to the lonely person on the bus: So let’s remember the falling as well as the fallen this November. Remember those around you, in your road and street or community and be there for each other, in times of joy as well as sorrow.

By doing this we could, together, make this year the greatest and most supportive Remembrance we have ever experienced.

With love to you all,

Rev’d Amanda

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