Yep We're Still At Home...

Life moves very slowly when you're stuck inside doesn't it? To be honest, as I sit to write this post there's not much new to say. We're all doing our best to keep healthy and protect the most vulnerable people in society. Here in Slovenia it feels like we're almost coming to the end of the lockdown. More shops have started to open and many more restrictions will be lifted on 4th May.

Many of you will know that I was quite worried for Slovenia as a country at the beginning of the outbreak - we neighbour Italy and lots of people were travelling back and forth across the border. We can praise God that a big outbreak never materialised. The most new infections in one day was 70 which happened a few weeks ago. Since then the numbers have been kept very low. Of course there is always the worry that we'll get a second wave but I'm trusting God with whatever happens. 

I'm definitely grateful for the internet and the way that I'm still able to connect with people during this time. I've been keeping busy with preparing and leading studies each week with some of the teenagers in the church. I also made a video last week about my life in lockdown so email me at s.re.deacon@gmail.com if you would like the link for that.

I think what I've appreciated most about this time has been the ability to spend time with and getting to know my housemates better. We definitely all have our quirks but I have to say that I'm the only one in the flat who didn't want to be involved in making an advert for our mop... (Yep, there is a video out there about the joys of using our mop!) We've all had our ups and downs during this period but it's been great knowing that they understand and that we can support each other through the frustrations of this period.

I have to say I'm really looking forward to just being able to see a different part of the city! When this lockdown ends I'm planning on enjoying the country as much as I can before I leave for the UK at the end of August. Who knows what type of country I'll be returning to...

Reflections on Good Friday During a Pandemic...

We're all living in a strange time, a time that we could never have imagined even two months ago. When tragedy comes, and this is a tragedy, it is important to stop, think and reflect. This period has given some people more free time, more time to spend catching up with family and loved ones, time to do those little things they never were able to do before. For others, this time is frantic, scary and full of stress. For those of you who are key workers, I join with many others to say thank you for the hard work you are doing at this time.
Despite the busyness and stress many may be facing today, it is still important to stop and think, even if only for a moment, about what today means. Two thousand years ago a group of unremarkable people also had their world turned upside down. They were scared, devastated and just seen their whole world changed. They were so scared that they too locked themselves away to protect them from the the outside world. They had just seen their leader killed and they themselves feared facing death. It sounds very familiar doesn't it?

One can't help but notice that if the disciples had just listened a little bit harder to what Jesus had told them whilst he was still alive, they would have realised that this was not the end of the story and that God was working through the cross to defeat sin and death. If they'd listened to Jesus, they wouldn't have been so afraid of what was to come. I think the same is true for us today but with one major difference - Jesus has already defeated sin and death, we know the end of the story.

This pandemic is making many people think about their own mortality, think about what the world will be like when all is said and done. We can all see the problems in this world and whilst we are seeing a lot of good in people, we are also seeing the bad - the selfishness, the greed, the self interest and the lack of care for others. Good Friday reminds us that this is what Jesus came to deal with. He came to sort out a broken world and broken people.

Trusting God and asking for forgiveness is not a desperate act. It's not about being frightened into doing something no logical person would choose. It's about looking at the world around us, looking at ourselves and acknowledging that this is not right, we are not right and that only God can fix it all.

We may still be concerned about what the future brings and when we will be allowed our freedoms again but if we just stop, think and listen to what Jesus said then we can be reassured that God is still in control and if we trust in him, we have a certain hope and a future waiting for us.