I took a little bit ill last week. Nothing very specific, certainly not youknowwhat, but it was enough to put me in bed. The next morning, I felt well again. No, that’s not quite right. The next morning, I felt well. I hadn’t felt well before my illness, and I hadn’t felt unwell. I hadn’t noticed my wellness, or thought about it. I noticed being ill, noticed it plenty, and then I noticed being well, and loved it to bits. But I never normally notice being well, so I don’t particularly feel well, which seems a bit of a shame really.

I suppose it’s like rich people not feeling rich because they never have to think about money. We feel poor when we’re struggling, and feel nothing very much if we’re not. And I love these late, light evenings of summer, but if it was summer all year round it wouldn’t be summer, it would just be same old same old.

Our experiences of lockdown are vastly different, so I won’t try to speak for anyone other than myself. But for me, along with some sadness and frustration, there has been, I think, something very healthy about it. How great will it feel, next time I see friends I’ve been deprived of for months? When I visit my mum? When I sing a hymn in a congregation? When I order in a restaurant? When I sit in a cinema? When I play with my band? The challenge is to keep appreciating all those blessings even when I have them. I need to be more aware of these riches, even when I’m not feeling impoverished.

Talking of which, we say a grateful goodbye to Colin Richards this week, creator of Reform’s crosswords. Colin has compiled crosswords for Reform for more than 25 years, and as far back as the 1980s provided a monthly ‘Brainwarmer’. He took what turned out to be a short break from the crossword in 2013, when I started as Editor and in my wisdom decided to axe it in favour of something more theological. The howls of protests from readers continued until I backed down and asked Colin back. Thanks for the extra six years of brain exercise, Colin. Stay well, everyone.

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This article was published in the July/August 2020 edition of Reform

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