iGod

How do you have a good Christmas?

Maybe, like me, you are fed up with all the rain that we have been having this year. However, there is some good news.

Christmas trees have thrived, making their foliage greener and glossier. Also, more fragrant. That means for those who like a real shrub in the corner of your room at Christmas you will not be disappointed.

However, those hoping for romance under the mistletoe may have to go for the plastic option as holly and mistletoe are in short supply. Ho hum!

Recently I have been humming Good King Wenceslas and thinking what an odd carol it is. In fact, I discovered that it is not technically a Christmas carol at all.

The famous ditty is about a king (well, duke actually) who lived some 1000 years ago in Bohemia (now modern day Prague) who, on Boxing Day, saw a poor peasant from his castle and decides to go and take food and wood to them.

Although based on a real character, this story is a myth. That is not to say Wenceslas was not a “good king”. Thanks to his grandmother Ludmilla, Wenceslas was brought up a Christian and was gifted with a strong faith, as well as a strong sense of public duty. This would later have a positive impact on his dukedom. Unfortunately, his mother who did not share her son’s convictions had her mother murdered.

He was widely called ‘good’ because he set up an education system and a successful law and order system for his beloved people. So, being generous, we might say that some parts of the carol story about him being a kind King are true.

Sometimes people will say to me: “You’re a good man”. I politely smile, but the truth is I don’t feel I deserve the accolade. Besides, who really decides if someone is good or not? My atheist friends quite rightly get uptight when a church claims to be better at being ‘good’ than others.

Goodness is the product of ethics. And if we understand ethics to be a set of principles for behaviour, good morality is surely just learning to live by them. That means we like ‘good people’ to be elected to government. ‘Good people’ to win the lottery. ‘Good people’ to win music awards.

Just like Wenceslas, those with Christian faith and a social conscience continue to shape our modern system of politics, law, education and health service, but I doubt any of them would call themselves ‘good’.

However, there is still the big, unanswered, philosophical question: who is good enough to say they are ‘good’?

Let me stick my neck out and say, in my view, there is only one– Jesus Christ. The Bible says that he is without sin and moral failure. That’s quite a claim. First century historian Josephus wrote without bias: "At this time there was a wise man who was called Jesus. And his conduct was good, and he was known to be virtuous”.

I like to think people come to our church not to be good, but because they want the Christmas message of hope that talks about God’s son coming into the world to transform their lives.

Meanwhile, if you would to know how to have a good Christmas yourself, why not plan to come along to one of our special services or another one local to you?  Some of us may even have a “Ludmilla” that we can go along with.

ASD

Foodbanks - a welcome addition to the festive season

Dr Eve Poole, associate faculty at Ashridge Business School, writes for EA's Friday Night Theology on the value of foodbanks and makes a strong case to go shop for families and individuals in crisis at Christmas.

Often we have to explain that our Storehouse, a Vineyard church initiative inspired by Ann Watson (wife of the late David Watson), is not a homeless programme, but a hard-pressed programme. For whatever reason people fall on tough times. We feel strongly that ours is not to judge, but to show mercy.

Eve Poole cites that "fewer than 5 per cent of those who use foodbanks are homeless. Most of them are ordinary families with cashflow problems from rising bills, spiralling debt, or delayed benefit payments. Many are suffering from unexpected sickness, bereavement, or unemployment."

As our own church prepares for its second weekend at Waitrose, I would recommend having a quick read of Eve's article and letting the stats soak in.

Meanwhile, if you are not near Sudbury Suffolk, there are plenty of other foodbanks around, not least those that are franchised through the Trussell Trust, so why not get involved?

Let's go serve somebody!

ASD

 

The best of times and the worst of times

There is something in us that loves it when a record is broken. And what a summer it has been for records. But just when you thought nothing could outdo the Olympics for breathtaking achievements I found myself watching on TV the fearless skydiver Felix Baumgartner leap from edge of space, beating as many as three world records, including the highest freefall jump.

He becomes the first man to break the sound barrier in a record-shattering, death-defying freefall. He reached a top speed of 1,342km per hour and travelled 39 kilometres.

As I watched from my conservatively 18-inch high comfy chair seat I thought, you have got to be insane! I quickly made a promise to myself to never ever contemplate going up in a hot air balloon without a short chain first attached to the ground. But, still, what an achievement.

Of course, not all broken records are to be celebrated. Recently I read that the demand for emergency food by struggling families was on the sharp incline. According to food bank charity The Trusell Trust, four years ago the number of people in need of its services was 26,000. In 2012-13 it is predicted to rise steeply to 200,000.

If I may borrow from Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, these are then “the best of times and the worst of times”.

Last month I shared some of my own personal journey how, by faith in God, I came to have my heart broken for the most harassed and helpless in life. Also, how our church, Stour Valley Vineyard, in its small way, is wanting to make life better through Storehouse, our compassion programme.

What I wasn’t expecting was the response.

We have simply been blown away by the response of local schools, churches and organisations who have been in touch to hand us cheques. You are all amazing people. It says a lot about our community. Thank you.

As we hurtle towards Christmas, there is now another opportunity to do something for those going through “the worst of times”.

Our church’s Storehouse has been asked to partner with Waitrose for a special seasonal food bank initiative. On the last weekend of November and first weekend of December we will be there, collecting items of food for our Storehouse Christmas Hampers. We want those who have been bruised, crushed and beaten up by life to experience a Christmas like no other.

As Christians celebrate the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ, so we would like to see the birth of new hope for many living in gloomy circumstances.

Last year, with the help from a couple of local churches, we were able to provide a record 43 hampers (we started our first year with seven), but by the grace of God and the goodness of people’s generosity, I would love to see that record smashed.

As you arrive at Waitrose some nice person will give you a suggested Christmas shopping list and doubtless a smile. We are not saying buy everything on it, but if you could purchase maybe a couple of items you’ll be doing a fantastic thing for someone in desperate need.

If you are unable to get to Waitrose or don’t usually shop there, don’t worry. We also have an online Storehouse Christmas Hampers online shop.

Meanwhile, as Christmas draws ever nearer, I pray that out of the darkness, out of the toughest and longest of recessions, out of “the worst of times”, comes “the best of times”.

As someone whose own life has been changed by the one who put Christ into Christmas, may the lives of others be changed too and given hope for a brighter future in 2013.

Together we can make a family or individual in crisis this Christmas a time of joy.  On their behalf, we’d love to have your support.

ASD

Storehouse – offering more than a can of food

A number of years ago I fell for this girl. She was beautiful, bright and played the cello, but she also had something else that made her attractive, well at least to me. It was an unselfish desire to do something for others in desperate need.

I don’t mean simply giving money to an appeal that comes through the front door or handing in half-worn out clothes to a charity shop, but actively doing something.

And that was how I got involved.  She and I became part of an ambitious homeless project called the King’s Table, which was started by a couple of London Vineyard churches to provide food and clothing to the down-and-outs in central London.

After a church service cars loaded up with large vats of hot food, along with a rusty white transit van full of boxes and clothing rails crammed full of donated items, left for the Embankment, off the Strand. We spent two hours giving away the stuff, as well as befriending and praying for people’s needs.

On my first visit I was staggered to find a queue of over 100 people waiting. Quite honestly, I felt more than just a little out of my comfort zone.

The team leader of The King’s Table, gave me a simple, idiot-proof task. “Andrew, can you collect the ticket numbers? They need to hand them in before they can get food. Got it?”

Got it! What could be simpler? However, it was not long before there was “an incident”. A young man came up with a friend and said, “My mate ‘as just been stabbed, Whatcha gonna do about it? The bloke who done it is over there.” He duly pointed to this moody older man to make his unequivocal point. I really wish he hadn’t.

As I looked down I saw a dirty, shaking hand clutching a wound through a blood-soaked t-shirt. I stole a glance to the older man just an uncomfortable 30 yards away.

“Well, what are you going to do about it?” The lad now glaring at me awaiting a firm and resolute response.

“Do about it? Mate, I just collect the tickets!” Actually, I just thought that.

Eventually I muttered something utterly pathetic. “Oh dear, that does look bad. Dear oh dear. Goodness! I, er, well, goodness!” I caught the eye of one of the team. I must have had a look of abject desperation and uselessness because he rushed across and immediately stepped in. The boy was mercifully taken away to safety by an ambulance and the older man arrested. I heard later that he made a full recovery.

It’s not easy reaching out to people with extreme needs. Often they are the unlovable and undoubtedly some of us are emotionally equipped to help more than others. However, for the Christian it is part of what we are called to do, to show the same compassion of Christ. In fact, Jesus talked about how the poor will always be with us, so it demands a compassionate human response.

Homelessness often comes with mental illness and gut-wrenching stories of broken families, sexual abuse and bullying. Sadly for some drug abuse and alcohol problems are never far behind. For me, that first day with the King’s Table changed me forever. My heart was simply broken.

It is one of the reasons I was keen that Stour Valley Vineyard Church made the value of compassion a central part of its local vision.

Our social programme, Storehouse, has now been going for five years. We have provided hundreds of food bags to those in direst need. They include items such as, pasta, rice, cereal, tinned vegetables and meat, tea, UHT milk, as well as essential toiletries. These are then thoughtfully put together to suit maybe a single mum and their baby, or a teenager who is “sofa-surfing” or someone sleeping rough in a tent. It comes with no judgment or strings attached, just a lot of love.  

On Sunday mornings at the Delphi Centre food and household items appear at our Storehouse collection point from members of our church, along with valuable midweek donations from a couple of other local partners.

But it is one thing to give a hand out and another to give a hand up. We have recently assisted someone with a background of drug addiction and prison to move on to start a degree and a new life for himself. Something he could never have imagined once upon a time. 

We also provide a free three-week Money Management course for those who struggle with their finances and slip into debt. No-one at our church gets paid for doing this. It just comes with the satisfaction that today maybe someone’s life might have just got a little better.

The problem is the need is growing, which sadly reflects the national picture. And as the need grows we want to do more through Storehouse. If you are an organisation, church, school or individual we’d like to invite you to help. Could you support Storehouse with a financial gift or donate a couple of cans a week? If so, why not drop a line to our team or ring 07973 710905.

By the way, I married the girl. And grateful I am too.

ASD

Stour Valley Vineyard is a contemporary church with traditional beliefs. It meets on Sundays 10.30 am at the Delphi Centre, Newton Road, Sudbury (apart from the first Sunday of the month).

You are amazing!

I forget how many times I have said to my family that this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but the fact is on this occasion, at least, I was right. It will be a long time before we see the London 2012 Olympics come to our country again.

We witnessed 10,500 athletes descend upon the UK, along with the hopes of 204 countries. There were 302 medal events across 26 sports, 70,000 games makers with two million visitors over two weeks. It was estimated that another four billion watched it on TV. Then there is the paralympics which is no less an amazing spectacle in itself.

When I hear the personal stories of courage and endurance it is hard for something not to stir deep inside of me. Athletes will stop at nothing to win and will consequently put themselves through any amount of pain to do so.

Kate Walsh, the captain of the Team GB Women’s hockey team refused to let her injuries stop her from playing against New Zealand. There she was out there on a pitch with a broken jaw, picked up after an early game with Japan, leading the way. For the game she had to have emergency surgery to insert a titanium plate in her jaw and then play with a protective mask.

Kate was restricted to having meals blended and was reduced to drinking through a straw. She also received nerve-blocking injections before each game to dull the pain. Her team eventually walked away with a well-earned silver medal, but hardship and pain are not automatic ingredients for success.

Women’s BMX racer 23-year-old Shanaze Reade told a BBC Sport interviewer of how over the years she had broken multiple bones in her body and dislocated both shoulders, but thought nothing of it compared to winning. However, after a disappointing Beijing Olympics, there was no fairytale ending for Shanaze at London 2012, only further heartache.

Yet, it is these extraordinary stories of courage that “inspire a generation”.

I think we would all be off our rockers if we were inspired by failure, but what really moves me is the capacity of the human spirit to achieve more than we feel able, to overcome adversity, to dig deep and find that little bit more from within.

In the Bible Paul the Apostle writes, “We are more than conquerors” Now, he was someone who knew how to take suffering to make gains. Although his endeavours were not in track, hockey or BMX, he nevertheless put himself through immense pressure and pain for what he believed.

He was not driven for gold, but for his passion for Jesus. But here is where maybe Paul the Apostle and athletes have something shared in common: victory is not found in the absence of hardships, trials and tribulations, but in the overcoming of difficult circumstances. For some, it will mean glory; for others, a wooden spoon, but for all there is a deep soulful satisfaction that no amount of effort and hardship is ever without purpose.

At times I have had to tell people that becoming a Christian is not about having an easier life than others. It is not. In fact, the Bible says quite the opposite. Faith is there to strengthen and empower us to cope with whatever life throws at us.  Jesus, in himself, gives us the deep compelling reason to get up and carry on. It is not a belief driven by a fear of failure, but one driven by love and acceptance.

But there is a second part to Paul the Apostle’s words: “We are more than conquerors…through him that loves us.”

Kate Walsh and Shanaze Reade are both amazing people. No-one is going around feeling disillusioned with them because they have not walked away with gold. In the same way neither does God ever get disillusioned with us. He thinks we are amazing and will never be prouder of us. That’s how deep His love is for us.

For those who beat us ourselves up for failing, it might be time to get a little upwards perspective.

 

ASD

 

A legacy of sport that keeps on running

Well, the biggest sporting occasion this country has ever known has begun and our family has been fortunate to get tickets for the games. We will be attending the synchronised swimming event in the Aquadome. (Hm!) Although, I confess, to knowing little about this sport, but I am sure it must be more than matching swimming costumes and latex hats.

My own sporting achievements have been less than meaningful. When I was young, long-distance running meant missing the bus and haring down the road to avoid being late for the school bell. While an unfortunate rifle shooting incident involving a missed target and a scoutmaster saw the premature end of my scouting days. No medals there.

One of the many ways in which the Olympics are being celebrated this summer is through the re-release of Chariots of Fire in digital remastered form. The scene of the athletes running in slow-motion across the sands, accompanied by the haunting Vangelis soundtrack, still has the power to evoke feelings deep within me.

One of the heroes in the film is the Scottish athlete Eric Liddell, a man known for his strong Christian faith and personal conviction. As the story unfolds we see Liddell taking a stand not to run on the Sabbath (Sunday). A position that seems inconceivable today.

Whether someone shares another’s conviction of faith or not, I find courage often draws the admiration of others. It has a universal attraction and appeal to many people.

It is this human quality in Eric Liddell that inspired David Putnam to make the film.

Liddell says to the crowd in the rain, “You came to see a race today. To see someone win. It happened to be me. But I want you to do more than just watch a race. I want you to take part in it. I want to compare faith to running in a race. It's hard. It requires concentration of will, energy of soul.”

Against all odds the film was eventually produced, overcoming various financial and distribution crises along the way. Putnam observed recently, “At every turn there seemed to be what I can only describe as a “hidden hand” that helped provide the best solution to each seemingly impossible hurdle.” It resulted in an Oscar.

Eric Liddell had his own moment of glory in the Paris 1924 Olympics, winning gold and breaking the world record. But he was later to die ingloriously from a brain tumour brought on by severe hunger after being arrested and interned by the Japanese in China during the Second World War.

His family said later that Eric was never a great speaker, but he was able to communicate his message in the way he lived his life. You remember the line: “I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure.”

Ultimately it is not how we say it, but what we do that speaks the loudest. Life is uncertain, sometimes precarious, often challenging and seldom dull. But I believe, like Putnam, there is a “hidden hand” waiting to help.

Being a Christian is not a weak option; neither is it a light decision. It comes from a “getting it” experience, a deep place of conviction, and somehow matters more than anything we are now doing—however good we are at it. As Eric Liddell’s last words state: “It is complete surrender.”

 

ASD

How are we doing at doing good?

I have often found myself prefixing four simple yet powerful words to a sentence when trying to get our children to behave or to do something. You know the ones: “If you are good I will take you to the toy shop.” “If you are good I’ll let you have a friend round.” “If you are good you can stay up longer.” And so on.

Of course, there are different understandings of what it is to be good. You might have heard, “Sarah’s mum lets her do that.” Or “Grandpa says it’s okay?” Instant conflict!

I suspect being good or doing good matters to most of us. Sometimes it is out of vanity. At other times we are simply moved by compassion to make a situation better and in the process we feel good too. To encourage us more, scientific research shows that we have improved mental health when we do something for others - it takes our mind off our own woes.

One thing is for sure, doing good definitely does not just belong in the domain of churches, faith groups or charities. Many companies, too, are encouraged to have social ambitions alongside their commercial goals. Just look around at your local supermarkets and you’ll see what I mean. However, this is nothing new.

Back in the Eighteenth century Josiah Wedgewood, the celebrated pottery maker, gave affordable housing for his workers. He also trained them in an age of wide-scale illiteracy. Wedgewood, also the grandfather of Charles Darwin, provided adequate food supply for his staff and went on to build one of the first so-called company towns. Extraordinary achievements in themselves, but he went further.

He eventually became part of an international campaign that would help to see black slavery abolished. Wedgewood was part of a Quaker-led initiative that had as its advertising slogan “Am I not a man and a brother?” He engraved these emotive words with an image of a slave in chains kneeling and praying for mercy. It was a sentiment that caught the imagination among both the religious and the secularists campaigners of the day.

Josiah Wedgewood made the message into fashionable jewelry for well-to-do ladies. It contrasted greatly with the religious upper classes who at that time only stood in prayer as it would be demeaning to do otherwise.

Today many commentators talk about having a social footprint. We are faced with the challenge of leaving either a positive or negative mark on society.

None of us are as good as we would like to be. We have all done things that we know we should not have done, and possibly even feel guilt-ridden about. Is there any hope for us?

I find my own encouragement in the words of the famous hymn Amazing Grace, written by ex-slave trader John Newton: “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound / That saved a wretch like me. / I once was lost but now am found / Was blind, but now I see.”

Goodness comes, even from the word alone, from God. In Jesus we see the perfection of all that is good and worthy. This kind of goodness is holy. I know that I shall never be as good as I would like to be, but by God’s grace and mercy, I am working on it. Like Newton, I can also find forgiveness when I screw up. Meanwhile, keeping close to God in prayer is the thing that helps keep it real for me.

How are you doing at doing good?

ASD

Finding faith is meant to be simple

When I was a young teenager all I wanted to do was to be in a band. My first performance, outside my own bedroom, was with a little known four-piece band called Sub Division. I had borrowed a jacket akin to the one worn by Adam Ant in the early years and felt like the bees knees.

The problem was the music was not that hot. I recall that we did a version of The Damned’s Neat, Neat, Neat that was quite simply bad, bad, bad. Not least because the only way I could get in the band was by replacing the bass player who left due to musical difficulties as opposed to differences.

The trouble was I hadn’t really had time to learn any of the songs, but in the spirit of ‘76 none of that seemed to matter. We all took ourselves far too seriously, of course, but for some reason people liked us. Honestly, it was a surreal experience.

As the years progressed I managed to master the guitar a little more competently and have been privileged to play with better bands.

Alas, though, these days are now far behind me, along with much of the hair, make-up and attitude, but every once in a while I will get a phone call from old friends and hang out together.

Now, this feels funny, to say the least. None more so than when they discover I am now a church pastor. Not very rock and roll.

So you might ask why would anyone want to become a Christian? Something dramatic has got to happen, hasn’t it? You’d be dead right.

The plain honest, undressed-up, down-to-earth truth is that I encountered God in the most unexpected way. For the sake of saving space here, I simply cried out after one bad Saturday night, “Oh God, help!” and was heard.

It’s hard to explain the full extent of this experience, but that night everything started to slowly change: how I saw myself, how I saw life, how I saw others, how I saw God. Admittedly, it sounds a tad cheesy, but I discovered an unexpected joy in Christ. And it really took me totally by surprise.

A lot has happened in the last twenty years, but I believe it is no harder discovering God today than it was then if we want to seek him out.

In the very early years of Punk there was a short-lived but lovingly produced fanzine called Sniffing Glue. One of its more famous front covers showed three guitar chords with a headline underneath: “Now form a band.” The philosophy was that anyone could do it. The bar was set very low. It was attractive to us.

In the same way when Vineyard Churches, my own denomination, started writing worship songs some 30 odd years ago it made a point of just using three guitar chords, so everyone of limited talent could learn to pick up an instrument and play them easily. They were intentionally very simple and non-wordy ‘love songs’ to God. They also made it okay to come to church in shorts, t-shirt and flip-flops.

Finding the reality of God is meant to be simple and accessible. It is straightforward and profound, but it takes a lifetime to explore its fullness and joy.

God is still to be found in the most surprising ways, as some of the guys at our church will tell you. However wanting to find God is another matter. It may mean putting aside our image, our pride and recognising we need more than a human-made solution. Now that makes us vulnerable, but I tell you, it is worth the risk.

ASD

Easter is not just for the religious type

A local vicar and pastor stood by the side of the road holding up a sign that said, "The End is Near! Turn yourself around now before it's too late!"

"Leave us alone, you religious nuts!" yelled a driver as he sped by. Then from around the bend they heard a big splash.

"Do you think," said one clergy to the other, "we should just put up a sign that says, 'bridge down' instead?"

I have heard people say that they are not the religious type, insinuating that, perhaps, I am.  As if I came out of my mother’s womb clutching an open Bible with a full-robed choir singing the Hallelujah Chorus by the bedside. I mean who sets out in life to be religious?

For some strange reason though a few atheist writers recently, such as Alain De Botton and Richard Holloway, find “religion” attractive. In fact, the former writer has gone so far to try and set out a religious life for non-believers. Then there is AC Grayling who has even written a bible for the atheist.

Someone once wrote, “To be is to be connected. And to be connected is to be plugged in.” The Bible states that we are all “made in the image of God”. These are both big, big statements and this is a small, small brain here that reflects upon them. Yet, life is a big experience and so I think it deserves a little of our time to dwell on the big stuff once in a while, don’t you?  And it is also okay not to have a conclusive answer in two minutes. Some things are meant to be pondered over a lifetime. Maybe even over eternity.

I guess for many people though “religion” in the UK stands for a shrinking minority of church-goers who hate gay people, resent women and despise those who have abortions, but anyone with a bit of savvy will know that this not quite the case but, of course, it makes a convenient headline.

However, personally speaking, if my faith does come across as judgmental, intolerant and exclusive, it bothers me and the finger needs to be pointed firmly back at my face.

Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” Sadly, I think at times he is right. I have met many non-Christians whose conduct is better people than Christians. Religion in itself does not make anyone a better person - Christian or atheist. But, of course, choosing to follow Jesus is not principally about ethics, it has to do with an awe-inspiring divine-human relationship.

Shortly our local churches will be celebrating Easter, a time we celebrate new life in Christ through his resurrection, but maybe we could see as the time when Jesus Christ, the son of God, came as the non-religious type for the non-religious type to draw all people to himself into a real, relevant and restored relationship with God the Father.

I truly believe the message of salvation is still as powerful and pertinent as it was 2,000 years ago, because you see Jesus’ death happened in a secular setting, not in a private religious community. It was not really a religious event at all. It happened in the city of one of the busiest and most important trading outposts of the Roman Empire.

On Good Friday we remember how Jesus, isolated and with a minority following, gave his life in a divine act of love for the majority, regardless of belief or faith. Now, I am not wanting to impose my position on anyone, but I do want to put it out there to our community.

We are all free to accept or reject, but let me leave you with this last thought: did Jesus really die just to make us religious? It just doesn’t stack up for me.

Maybe see you at Stour Valley Vineyard Church 10.30 am on Easter Sunday at the Delphi Centre.

Happy Easter!

ASD

Too busy to read this? All the more reason.

This last week I just had to get things fixed.

Life was becoming stressful. My laptop was not synching with my other devices, so it meant that when I put a date in my diary it would go missing or not carry over properly.

I knew things had gone desperately wrong when I realised that I had to be in three places at one time.

So having had tinkered around on my laptop for long enough and reading various geeky online conversations, I booked an appointment to see a Technician in the Genius Bar at my nearest Apple Store. This is fancy language for saying an “in-store IT guy who knows a lot more than me”, as much as it pains me to say I hasten to add.

Looking at my diary on different devices, he asked which one was my master diary. “Haven’t a clue”, came my muffled reply.

After much clicking and sighing, he awe-inspiringly managed to bring all my various calendars together in one place. Towards the end he look up and said, “You sure have an active calendar!” Which was euphemistic for saying ,”Sheesh! I wouldn’t want your life, mate!”

We have entered the period that the Church calls Lent. It is traditionally a 40-day period when Christians spiritually prepare for Easter. It mirrors the time that Jesus spent in the Wilderness without food and water being tempted by the Devil. Christians often use the 40-day opportunity to abstain from something as part of their spiritual discipline to keep prayerfully engaged throughout the time.

It gives space to reflect on our part in Christ’s death. A time of year when we focus our thoughts on our human fragility and remember that we are “dust.” As the first book of the Bible says, “From dust we were made and from dust we shall return. We remember our capacity to be selfish, cruel and weak. And we remember that despite humanity’s great achievements, we are fragile, vulnerable human beings.

Creating time and space to reflect isn’t easy. Just recently I have begun to re-read a book called Too Busy Not to Pray. I have been waiting patiently for a sequel, To Busy to Read Too Busy Not to Pray, but alas still not forthcoming.

Prayer, he says, is an unnatural activity. We are forced to learn from an early age the rules of self-reliance and struggle to achieve self-sufficiency.  It is the complete opposite to all that we are ingrained to think and do. Therefore, making time to pray doesn’t come easily.

So what does prayer do?

Well, that’s a big question, but one of the things is achieves is a sacred space in our busy day that allows God to speak to us and we to communicate with him. It also gives us the gift of de-cluttering the mind with unimportant things that vie continuously for our attention like a demanding child.

If we take the possibility of prayer seriously the busyness of our lives may just start to improve also our emotional health. (Actually, medical research has proved this to be the case.) It will start to help us prioritise our values.

There is an old hymn by Emily May Grimes Crawford, which has the moving words: “Speak, Lord, in the stillness while I wait on Thee.  Hushed my heart, to listen in expectancy".

Where is your stillness to be found? Do you need to slow down and cool off on a few things? Because if you discover an IT techie telling you that you have a very “active diary” a reflective prayer life might just help to save you.

 

ASD