It’s time for a health check. As the nurse takes my blood pressure (and blood!) I respond with pompous self-righteousness to a familiar list of questions. Do I drink alcohol? Do I smoke? Do I exercise? What did I have for breakfast? Do I drink plenty of water? So far so boring and I add apologetically that mine doesn’t sound like a very fun-filled life. The nurse nods discerningly, as though dealing with self-deception and hypocrisy is all part of the job!

But what about the questions that could be asked? Am I hooked on pornography? Do I nurse grudges? Do I gossip? Do I lie?

In recent days there’s been no shortage of condemnation of famous people for sexual impropriety, and sharp criticism of government leaders for accepting perks. Meanwhile, those responsible for the Grenfell fire were damned as ‘greedy, corrupt, negligent and incompetent’. But I, for one, would hate any of my actions, habits, thoughts or motives to be exposed to public scrutiny. The Bible says ‘All have sinned’, not just ‘some’.

So, what’s to be done? In the Christian tradition, we discover that grace and forgiveness come from God, and that a new start is available to us (all of us, not just some) through Jesus Christ. And there are many ways in which we can then begin to take responsibility for our inner health. What about, for example, St Paul’s advice to ‘put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience’, and, above all, to ‘put on love’ (Colossians 3.12,14)?

Written by Andrew Knowles, St George’s Church, Kendal.

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