8th Letter to our Church Members

Letter 8

My Dear Friends at Sion, We are now deep into the adventure of this lockdown. It is certain that many people might find other ways of describing their experience of this unprecedented time! But, as Christians, this is a necessary part of our journey with God and with one another. People the world over are finding any number of ways of occupying themselves, of learning new things; finding new ways of being communities; discovering what it is like to live in even close proximity to husbands and wives or children; maybe having our patience or our faith tested to new and uncomfortable degrees. We are beginning to learn that the hidden and poorly-paid figures in the hospital or care home or at the supermarket check-out or those behind the wheels of articulated Lorries – and countless others - are the real heroes in the drama that is unfolding. We are learning that no amount of money or political influence can immunize a person from heartache, heartbreak and suffering.

Perhaps we thought we were in control of our destiny or at very least in control of our calendar plans to do this or go there. There is nothing wrong, of course, with making plans – as long as they get submitted to the Lord. But this time, in truth, has proved all such presumption and pride to be the most striking of our sins. Perhaps we are beginning to learn what the Psalmist really meant when speaking of the One True God, “Our God is in heaven; he does whatever he wishes…” (Psalm 115:3). There is a saying, I’m not sure where from: “Man plans and God laughs!” This is so true, a salutary reminder that when we pray, “Thy will be done” – do we really mean it?

I have been asking myself some questions over the weeks. What have you learned? What have you learned about yourself? Some of our members, I am sure, have learned that now they are capable of doing things that they never dreamed of, or performing tasks or work that they thought they had, in their retirement, long since left behind them. Maybe, more negatively, we may have learned painful lessons – that so far we have relied too much on ourselves, having placed far too much confidence in our earthly treasures. After all, we may be losing them or will have to get by with less of these things in the future they call the “new normal”.

I cannot help but think that if we begin to accept this we might learn to live more trustingly, day-by-day, in the Lord who makes all these things possible anyway, the same God who gives and takes away. How fragile we are. Maybe we will learn that the things we have don’t really belong to us anyway. Perhaps you have been learning how very little you give to the Lord – and you want to remedy that. Only you can answer that.

There are other questions that this strange, unexpected Sabbath has thrown up. What have I learned about my relationship with God? Only you can answer that – and that’s a life-long thing…

What have I learned about the Church? What can we take forward from our gleanings? You doubtless have your own thoughts. I have learned and you may have been reflecting similarly too that we are probably more of what the church should be than we have been when things were “normal”. I think we are taking care of one another better. We are in touch with folk we might not have easily spoken to in church. When we come to the Lord’s Table (whenever that is) I suspect then it will mean a great deal more to us and to Him.

When we open the doors of our homes, our lives and our church building there doubtless will be great joy. For many there will the joy of reunions; for many the horrible pain of loss and yet more isolation, and the business of starting over again with all its attendant fears and uncertainties. My sincere hope is that when we meet again we will forget many of the former things we did and watch the Lord do a new thing. I suspect we will have learned much about what is really important. I trust we will not just return to “business as usual”. I look forward to hearing all about what you have learned and how together we will be better at how we live and what we do and how we strive to follow the Lord and share His love. Stay safe. Stay with the Lord!

MFR Letter 8 05/05/20

Powered by Church Edit