I did my back in this week. On Monday I went for a run and I was fine. On Tuesday I went climbing with my son Silas and I was fine. And then, suddenly, I wasn’t. I don’t know exactly what I did, but when I sat down I found I couldn’t stand up.
Getting home was painful – halting steps and sharp intakes of breath, helped along by Silas. Thank you, Silas.
Getting up has been painful – patiently dressed by my partner, Susie, because I can’t put my own pants on. Thank you, Susie.
Getting out of the car is painful – such a richly comedic, slow-motion struggle that my neighbour Matt came out to lend a hand. Thank you, Matt.
My occasional back problems have often caused hilarity as I shuffle around the kitchen like some wizened Yoda or cling to the banisters like a three-toed sloth. But what they’ve taught me is that I am only ever a tiny, shambling step from being entirely dependent. I need everybody.
We all do. St Paul wrote to remind his friends in the Greek city of Corinth that they needed each other. He compared them to a body and said, ‘The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you”. There should be no division in the body, but its parts should have equal concern for each other’.
The world has just had what’s felt like a particularly rancorous, shouty, angry year, seemingly more divided than ever, more willing on every side to imagine that we don’t need each other.
But there’s nothing like needing help to put your pants on to make you realise that there really is only so much anyone can do by themselves. You never know when you’ll need help, so I reckon we’re better off working together.
That doesn’t mean we have to agree on everything – debate can be as helpful as an extra pair of hands – but it does mean recognising the value of one another, of everyone because, as St Paul put it, even ‘those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable’.
And it does give us the chance, I think, along with our friends, families and neighbours, near and far, to make 2017 a really excellent and happy new year.
I also could not put on my shoes.