It’s felt recently as though the world has been flooded with talk about this situation and what it all means. Everyone’s a preacher, everyone’s a political analyst, everyone’s a megaphone. When I said the other day that I thought there was ‘a lot of noise’, this is what I meant. And I’ve gone on about it too.
But there is one person in our society, who carries such gravity and strength - but also most certainly knows the power of not commenting. The Queen, with her unique anointing, has been able to reign silently and majestically for almost seven decades, and not once has she put a foot or a word wrong.
Tonight, in the unprecedented wake of the virus, The Queen gave a short address to the nation, and by extension, the Commonwealth. It was wonderful.
I had never fully appreciated the impact of royalty when the nation went through the war. Faced with bombs raining on London, King George VI stayed in Buckingham Palace, and he too addressed the nation. And it stirred something up in us in a way that nobody else could have achieved.
That’s why I call this a ‘unique anointing’ - there’s something so protective and fierce and tender and strong about a king or queen bringing the nation together, setting the tone, inspiring us to be who we are.
And there she was tonight, a 93 year old lady, daughter of King George, looking down the lens of a camera in an empty room of her castle, reminding us all that ‘better days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again.’
And it was truly stirring. To be honest, I can do without the running commentary from everybody. I’ll leave the long sermons behind, and with time I’ll long forget the flumpbook preachers and whatever their latest angle might be! What I needed today was a grandma, a warrior, a leader of nations and families, to reassure and comfort, to bind, heal and inspire.
There’s lots of noise out there. But a long time ago in Westminster Abbey, God anointed a quiet young woman to step into a role, knowing this moment was coming, just as many others have come. And in quietness and confidence, she’s been the strongest of all us today, as people with unique anointings often are. Thank you Ma’am.
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