We'll meet again

One of the most poignant moments in the Queen's address to the nation last night came at the end when she said 'We will meet again.'

Having already alluded to the Second World War and her own first broadcast as 14 year old schoolgirl in 1940, it was a clear allusion to Vera Lynn's wartime classic 'we'll meet again.'

Her Majesty struck a chord with that reference because one of the harder parts of being on lock down is precisely not being able to meet with families and friends.

If nothing else, the Coronavirus has taught us just how precious meeting together actually is.

It is only in having it taken away that we have come to appreciate just how value it is.

And we have learnt that as churches too.

Long before churches had buildings, they had meetings. In fact. the first churches was just meetings of believers, gathering together in homes for prayer, worship and teaching.

But now we cannot meet, and notwithstanding the opportunities for digital communication, we are all missing that intensely. But, as the Queen has reminded us, it is only for a season, and, before too long, we will meet again - and how sweet that experience will be.

In the meantime, I love that old hymn that assures us that wherever we meet - even on our own - we can meet with the Lord. He is not confined by buildings, but can meet with us, wherever we are, even in lock down:

 Jesus, where'er Thy people meet,

There they behold Thy mercy-seat;
Where'er they seek Thee, Thou art found,
With grace and mercy to abound.

For Thou, within no walls confined,
Inhabitest the humble mind;