When the Government announced the three-tier system last week, I wept for the Liverpool City Region going straight into Tier 3. As someone already struggling with how things are, I can’t imagine going back into a more stringent lockdown again. Like the Psalm writer of 13, I cry out ‘How Lord o Lord?’

Did you know that our remarkable human bodies have a three-tear system – reflex tears, basal tears and emotional tears? We share the first two with other animals but the third is unique to human beings, which alerts us to the fact that something more than physical reflex is going on when we weep. Not only do emotional tears flush particular hormones and other toxins which accumulate during stress, tears also stimulate the production of endorphins, our body’s natural pain-killer, but much deeper than that, when we are moved to tears our emotional, psychological, spiritual and bodily selves meet.

Weeping isn’t very British is it? But it is incredibly Godly. The bible is full of occasions where weeping is recorded, including Jesus on several occasions. I’m comforted by the verse that says that God has recorded my lamenting and collected my tears (Psalm 56:8).

Lamenting is so important. If we don’t grieve what is lost, there is no space for something new to grow. Why not try reading out loud one of the 42 lamenting Psalms or have a go at writing your own Covid psalm. And remember that however long this period lasts, it will one day end. Our ultimate hope is in the new heaven and a new earth where there will be no more death, weeping or tears (Rev 21:4).

Katherine Lyddon

Children and Families Rural Pioneer

in Tone Deanery