Glass half full?

I have a water bottle on my desk with the slogan ‘half full / half empty’. It helps me to keep perspective and choose to count my blessings, rather than get stuck in every day’s woes.

Most of us are really proud of our city, aren’t we? But I must be honest, the physical state of large parts of Sheffield city centre is truly depressing. I used to work in an office overlooking Fargate: it was awash with the noise of buskers, busy shopping, cafes, full of people and life. Today, post-pandemic and business closures/relocation the same space feels half dead.

We could see parts of our city centre as a desolate wasteland. Or there is a glass-half-full alternative. Could we see it as a beautiful place? Looking closer, some heavenly and heart-warming initiatives are blooming in the centre, amidst the backdrop of decay.

The prophet Isaiah in the Bible paints a picture of the effect of God’s good news coming into apparently baren places and people.

“Give strength to hands that are tired and to knees that tremble with weakness. Tell everyone who is discouraged, “Be strong and don't be afraid! God is coming to your rescue. The lame will leap and dance, and those who cannot speak will shout for joy. Streams of water will flow through the desert.”

Sheffield was the UK’s first City of Sanctuary (CoSS). For people seeking sanctuary through asylum there is a weekly drop-in at the Methodist-run Victoria Hall, on Chapel Walk by the Crucible. CoSS signpost people to various sources of help all under the one roof: Citizen’s Advice, Red Cross aid, solicitors and MPs and accommodation. Other days they host English lessons and a clothes bank, all with a warm welcome. It’s an integrated service in the strongest sense: if you think about it, the staff and volunteers really SERVE our city’s most vulnerable. Last year they worked with around 1000 individuals and 200 families.

One Christian team member was interviewed saying,” I just look to serve the people who come through the door at City of Sanctuary. I just try to fix the next problem. Slowly, bit by bit, people will find shelter, have food to eat, be able to access heating, and then it’s amazing to see their smiles.”

Today I see streams of water beginning to flow in the desert places.