I Bring Glad Tidings

In an age of bad news, 24 hour news, Twitter gobbets, news segments, and filets, glad tidings seem preferable. Glad Tidings of Great Joy, sang the angels, that first Christmas. "Fake news!" say some, but that's missing the point. If angels bring glad tidings, I've encountered more than a few recently. 

I've started a list to explain what I mean:

1. Outside In, a group of dedicated, thoughtful, experienced and willing-to-be-vulnerable individuals whose lives are not easy for a variety of reasons, have won a social care accolade. I work with this group, and they are phenomenal. Watch the glad tidings here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TM__2YgCD7U You'll also see other people from across social care settings in Wales who give of themselves, and do so gladly. 

2. Students at St Hugh's College, Oxford, said, 'So what?' to lockdown, and compiled a virtual advent Nine Lessons and Carols: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfPr1ZMDAoQ  as did many other colleges and universities in the UK and beyond. These young people, who've spent a term in various forms of isolation, make themselves vulnerable by singing in their rooms, recording, splicing it all together. They know it will be flawed, and it's extra beautiful as a result. Reaching the top notes without a hitch is not an angel requirement. They choose to use the privileges of their youth to record a service which has brought comfort and joy to the 281 people who've watched it so far. 

3. Those scientists who've been working on vaccines, vulnerable to criticism and false claims of conspiracy. Those health professionals who are working out how to get it to, and in us, routinely working 12, 14 hour days, vulnerable to exhaustion. 

4. Teachers going into schools day after day, carrying on regardless, working harder than ever, risking the vulnerability of exposure to C-19 on our behalf. 

Angels: they're everywhere, shown up not by bright light and lofty positions, but by their willingness to engage with the grit and the grist of human experience.  

I'm so glad I know so many of them.