Reading the Bible is a greater freedom than the end of lockdown

Over these past months of lockdown we have been unable to access most of our public facilities and amenities and whilst understanding the reasons this has left many of us feeling frustrated and looking forward to the day when we can avail ourselves of these once more.

This is now beginning to happen with the gradual easing of restrictions and I’m sure many are glad that they can visit places such as parks and resume activities such as playing golf once more.

It may be that having been so curtailed over this past while, we will appreciate certain things more than we did before especially those things we took for granted.

Here in Dornoch the news that our public skip is not going to reopen has certainly annoyed many of us and, as had been predicted by many, is sadly already resulting in fly-tipping taking place.

It’s also the case that as we adapt to the new normal important safety measures will have to be in place before certain places such as restaurants, schools, churches and libraries will be able to function again in any meaningful way. Our local businesses certainly need and deserve our full support.

As far as the church is concerned many local congregations have made our services available online through Facebook and You Tube and I hope many of you are watching and listening and are continuing to be blessed as God’s word is brought to you in this way from week to week. Many have also been making use of Zoom and other such means to keep church activities such as prayer meetings, Sunday School and Christianity Explored courses going and we are very grateful for the technological advances that have enabled us to do this.

The Scottish Government have issued a four-phased roadmap out of lockdown. Currently we are in the second phase and church buildings are now being allowed slowly but surely to open their doors again but we are as yet nowhere near the “back to business as usual” stage. Some of us are currently considering holding open-air meetings in our church grounds so that we can meet together physically whilst adhering to all the rules.

As well as museums, galleries and cinemas, libraries can expect to reopen in phase three of the route map. As I read this it dawned on me that though all libraries have been shut there is one which any of us can access at any time, and that is the Bible! This is because the Bible is 66 books, not one book as appears at first glance. It is a series of books bound together between two covers. The word Bible comes from a Greek word, biblia which is plural and means “little books” or “booklets” so that what we have is really a library of smaller books. These books recount the story of God’s covenant with people whom those of us who are Christians claim as our faith ancestors.

The 39 Old Testament books are law (5), history (12), poetry (5), and prophecy (17). The 27 New Testament are: historical and biographical (5), letters (21), and prophecy (1). How wonderful that all of us can visit this library today physically by taking it off our bookshelf or electronically online. Why don`t you do that? Reading it prayerfully can lead you into experiencing a much greater freedom than any easing of lockdown restrictions ever will!

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