by Rev Paul Graham
For a number of months, we’ve been hearing about a “new normal” that we will all be living in any day now (or so it seems). The phrase was first coined (or was first widely reported) following the First World War, and then again rose to prominence after each global event since that time, and has featured widely during the last fifteen months (and counting) of the COVID-19 pandemic. But what is this “new normal”?
Are we going to find the wearing of face masks or elbow-bumping part of our “new normal”? Or will we be more cautious in crowded areas, mindful of our own (and others’) coughs and sneezes? Or will we just have to get used to governments having a greater influence in our daily lives, for the good of the more vulnerable? Or will we continue to be better neighbours, willing to run errands for others and really take time to find out how people are? Or are we going to reprioritise those who we value across society, caring more about those who care for us and giving value to those whose jobs have kept us ticking over?
What about our “new normal” in church? Will our attitudes to God, to each other, and to the wider communities around us need a shift from the old to the new? As we look carefully at what God is asking of us as a church family, with the changes that are being made to our building and facilities, we are having to make adjustments that will in time become habits.
One of the great illustrations of the “new normal” is being played out before us in the building as I write this. As part of the kitchen refurbishment project, and because of our increased awareness of the need for infection control as well as cleanliness, we are fitting a dishwasher. We know the science that means such a device is increasingly valuable, if not essential, to keep all those who use the kitchen safe. We will learn to use this new dishwasher, possibly even to love it, as it becomes part of our normal routine in the kitchen.
But that’s only an illustration, because the concept of a “new normal” isn’t just about what we do, but also about who we are in relationship to ourselves and others. And here we have a problem, because, if that’s the case, then we still have a long way to go.
It is depressing to see that we are still fighting against racist ideologies on the anniversary of the “Black Lives Matter” protests that spread across the world in protest to the unlawful killing of George Floyd and the centuries of injustice suffered by a proportion of God’s beloved human race. It is depressing that we still see so much division in the name of politics and religion. It is a shame that as we have opened our doors again to welcome people in, we still keep our minds closed.
But it isn’t all hopeless and there is a way forward. Educating ourselves, living alongside others, being willing to listen instead of speaking; these can all be part of our “new normal” as well.
But how do we understand what is required of us as we face this new, shiny, frightening future?
Many years ago, I was told of the learning cycle as part of my induction into IT training. Our starting point is unconscious incompetence, we then move through conscious incompetence and conscious competence, to finally arrive at unconscious competence. I’ll illustrate this with an example that we are probably all familiar with.
When we are first born, we don’t know that we can’t walk – we are unconsciously incompetent when it comes to all things ambulatory. Over time, we notice that those who care for us get about the place much quicker by remaining upright and moving their legs and feet in a coordinated way that we are not capable of – we are now consciously incompetent. With the aid of a walker, or a baby bouncer, or a helpful supportive finger, or a combination of all of these, we go from rolling to shuffling, from crawling to falling, from hanging on for dear life to the edge of the coffee table to walking, concentrating all the way – we are consciously competent. Finally, we reach the point where we are happy to get about the place without having to think about it and can instead concentrate on more important things like the cup of tea that we’re on our way to make – we have attained unconscious competence. Give yourself a pat on the back, though not too hard in case you fall over.
In the same way, much of what we will adopt as part of our “new normal” will have to go through the same process. For example, eighteen months ago, we didn’t know that elbow bumping someone was an alternative greeting to a handshake. We have had to learn quickly that this is OK in lieu of not just a handshake but also any other form of physical contact, from the high-five to the hug. However, for many people and in many places, it is now common-place, and the elbow bump is part of accepted body contact the world over.
However, before we become too unconsciously complacent, as we navigate the complicated waters of relaxed regulations, we will go through further turns of the cycle as we learn the right time and place to use it. Our journey back through conscious competence will involve reading the situations and people we are attempting to bump elbows with. For instance, there’s nothing more embarrassing than accidentally elbowing someone in the face when they lean in for a hug only to be met by the pointy bit in the middle of your arm.
To give this a biblical slant, just think about the “new normal” that the disciples had to adopt. Firstly, several of them dropped their fishing nets, or their tax records, or their membership to the Zealot cause, in order to follow Jesus. Then they had to adapt once again to his absence and the gift of the Holy Spirit, where preaching to thousands and dodging persecution became part of their daily routine. Adaptability and flexibility are two gifts of the Spirit noticeably absent from Paul’s list in 1 Corinthians 12 (also missing from the list of fruits in Galatians 5, if you’re interested), but could be deemed essential to those who respond to the call of Christ.
In church also, we didn’t know that it would be possible to go through a month or so without a cooked breakfast either for the men or the women. Now we are learning not just that the absence of a shared fried egg is possible, but that there are new, as yet unexplored possibilities for hospitality before us. What will be our “new normal” when it comes to food and community in church?
And in our worship services, will we retain the “new normal” of Zoom-connected congregation members alongside those who are seated in the building? Or will we find another new method yet to be discovered? How will the new display screens open up possibilities for us to adopt as our practice in mission and ministry?
Everything about this depends on our attitudes – are we willing to embrace the good in the “new normal” while being mindful of the changes that these will ask of us and those around us? Are we willing to be asked the questions raised by the changes, many of them necessary, that we never considered answering in the past? Are we willing to recognise our incompetence and then, by the grace of God, educate ourselves to become so familiar with all that the present offers to us that the past can be finally laid to rest?
