This is the year of learning new things. At the beginning of the year, most of us had never heard of physical distancing. We didn’t think about high-touch surfaces and viral loads. We didn’t think of respiratory droplets and the distance they can travel. We gathered together with ease. I remember singing at the top of my lungs at a concert at the end of February. Thinking about that now makes me feel anxious

Now, we have been through about 6 months that none of us could have imagined.

And we’re tired.

One of the latest new phrases we’ve learned is ‘pandemic fatigue.’ It’s what we’re feeling now. Have you noticed? People are tired of all of the things that have become part of our new normal. We’re tired of worrying about high touch surfaces, having to keep distance, not being able to have festivals and concerts, not being able to be in the stands to watch our favourite sports team.

In the early days of the pandemic, it was easy to be kind. People were going out of their way to thank others, to look out for others, to find ways to shine a little light into a dark world.

But now, we’re tired.

And when we get tired, it gets hard to remember things like kindness.

So today, I want to encourage you – be kind. It seems like a small thing, but it is so important. Don’t let pandemic fatigue turn you into someone who lacks kindness. Because our tired world needs your kindness more than ever now. And because when you’re kind, you reflect the face of Jesus into the world that he died to save.

Scripture says, when you are kind, you find life, righteousness and honour.

Until tomorrow, dear friends, be kind!