I asked one of my children what she was most missing about not being able to gather as a church and she said: ‘Sheila’s hugs’. I laughed. And then I thought, maybe that’s what I’m missing most as well.
We are able to hear preaching online; are (kind-of) able to sing in live streams; are praying together via Zoom; and having Bible studies more often than before. Chatting is going on over the airwaves, though it is a bit awkward. Now we’re branching out into socially-distanced walks and picnics. But we still can’t hug our church family, or kiss them, or even shake hands – somehow our meetings don’t feel quite real.
The truth is that Christians are mystically connected to each other through Christ, made brothers and sisters in one family, and in Scripture we are commanded to connect as family – to love and forgive and bear each other’s burdens – but also to greet one another with a holy kiss. To be together and yet not touch means a dimension of our communion is missing.
Misogyny, rights & Rowling
It might have seemed as if the isolation of lockdown was making people mad last month when the stars of …