During the Covid-19 lock-down I have been watching the daily government briefing from 10 Downing St. I have to say, I find the reporting of statistics and developments and actions very interesting and imformative, but one thing that really gets up my nose is the journalists questions!
The questions from the public are far more relevant and interesting because they actually reflect what people want to know! After those questions have been answered, I tend to turn the TV off!
I have managed with social distancing, I have managed to stay at home with only going out for essential purposes, and on the whole, mentally, I have coped quite well! However, the one thing that gets me angry and annoyed is the constant tone of the so-called journalists who use the national platform to constantly criticise and stir up negativity. I am all for challenging questions to reveal the truth, but they seem to go beyond that to incite dissatisfaction and dissent with the government!
There is no doubt they could have handled the crisis better, and hindsight is twenty – twenty vision, but would any other government been any different? This is a new virus and certainly we have seen nothing like this globally before, and I am sure it caught them with “their trousers down” so to speak, but I believe they have done the right thing at the right time with the information and advice they had at that point in time.
I have been reminded of a phrase a dear old pastor friend, Rex Celli, would quote quite regularly – “There, but for the grace of God, go I!” And it is true. If we were put in that situation, how would we respond? How many mistakes would we make? How many lives would be lost under our watch? Perhaps it is by the grace of God, that we do not carry such responsibility!
When this pandemic is over, we will have time to review how the government handled it and assess their performance. I am sure lessons will have been learnt and documented to ensure that the country is as ready as it can be for the next pandemic, but until them I would suggest that now is not the time to judge. That will come when we have all the facts and the impact of the myriad of decisions that have had to be taken.
I can’t imaging the challenge of making policy of saving lives and ensuring the country does not go bankrupt. Releasing the lock-down to bring some normality to folk, restart the economy without risking more lives! The argument over reducing the 2 metre distancing rule to allow traders and services companies to be able to commence business against the risk to more infections and a second wave!
In Paul’s first letter to Timothy (2:1-4) he writes “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
So let us pray for Boris, the ministers of State, the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, that they would be led by truth and wisdom to make the decisions for the benefit for all … because there, but for the grace of God, go I!
What do you think?