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Applauding the NHS Workers

The Lord said to Samuel, ‘The Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.’ (http://www.biblegateway.com 1 Samuel 16.7)
On Thursday night at 8pm Helen said, 'Shall we go outside then and applaud the NHS workers?' I peered through the window and could see no visible signs of activity but we ventured to the door. 'We'll have to go to the gate,' I said, because we have quite a big turning circle in front of our house.
Once we were on the roadside we found there were quite a lot of people gathered in small knots outside their homes. Our neighbours were making their way up the garden path. And then the applause began. Leeds Road is wide, and usually busy. It's normally hard to make much impact in such a big space, so I wasn't sure many people would have taken the trouble to express their solidarity and gratitude in this way, but the noise was suprisingly loud. Some of the cars passing sounded their horns and were greeted with whoops. Suddenly it all seemed very moving.
Unless they're wearing their uniform it's hard to tell who's an NHS worker, or a care worker, or someone doing an essential job. Fortunately, 'The Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.' He knows who's doing their bit for their neighbours and fellow citizens and who's letting them down by thoughtless or selfish behaviour. This is a God-given opportunity for us all to rise to the occasion and allow ourselves to be anointed by God's Spirit of compassion and concern for one another, and to become people whose hearts are acceptable to God.

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