11 September

I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

Nineteen years ago the world watched in stunned disbelief as the city of New York was hit by terror attacks. 2,977 people died that day. The world vowed never to forget. Everything changed following what became known as 9/11.

This September, with the world caught up in a pandemic, remembrance events were scaled down due to restrictions imposed to control the spread of COVID-19. On 11 September 2020, few outside of the USA gave much thought to the anniversary. 

As autumn approaches, concern is growing over the resurgence of the virus that has killed hundreds of thousands worldwide. In Britain, new restrictions on social gatherings will be introduced from Monday. The fear of terror attacks that followed the 2001 attacks on New York have been replaced by fear of an invisible but deadly organism.

Throughout history, Christians have lived through times of fear like our own. Political turmoil, persecution, sickness and death were ever present threats in the world in which they lived. Seeking to reassure the Christians in Rome, Paul reminds them that nothing we face in this world can separate us from God's love. In our anxious times his words encourage us to look above and beyond the days in which we live.