Wildflowers and weeds

April 2021 has been dry and cold. Here in the South East of England, gardens are parched and the heavy clay soil is hard and solid. Great weather for walking but no so good for growing plants. Maintaining a perfect lawn at the moment is a challenging, to say the least.

On the plus side, where the grass struggles to grow the wildflowers thrive. Bluebells, daisies, violets and forget-me-nots are a welcome sight in gardens and parks. Bright yellow dandelions flourish. Seasoned gardeners watch and wait, knowing that it will be wise to take action before their flower heads become 'dandelion clocks' shedding their seed far and wide. Both wild flowers and weeds grow effortlessly with little help from we humans.

Wildflowers and weeds appear in the teaching of  Jesus. On the one hand, we are invited to marvel at the beauty of the wild flowers that surpasses that of even the best dressed monarch. Consider the wild flowers, Jesus tells his disciples, even Solomon in all his splendour was not dressed like one of these. (Luke 12:27). On the other hand, Matthew's parable of the sower is a reminder of the risk posed to the healthy growth of seed crops by thorns and weeds.  

While the sight of wildflowers in unexpected places is a thing of beauty and a source of joy, the unchecked spread of weeds is likely to bring grief up ahead. In nature, as in the whole of life, we do well to watch for the tell tale signs and take action at the right time to avoid problems later.

Consider the wild flowers... but watch out for the weeds.

The promise of spring

Spring 2021 seemed full of promise. As lockdown restrictions eased in England, bulbs and blossom brought joy and spoke of new life. On Easter Sunday, the sun shone while churches gathered for worship. Hymns were sung at outdoor services. The vaccination programme not only met but exceeded its targets. In Shakespeare's words, the winter of our discontent seemed set to give way to glorious summer.

By the end of Easter week everything had changed. An unseasonal cold snap, the death of Prince Philip, and concerns over vaccine safety brought a creeping sense that this spring might not deliver all it had appeared to promise. It seems it will be some time before the shape of the new normal emerges and becomes a reality in daily life.

Jesus' disciples experienced something similar at the first Easter. The events of Easter Sunday promised new life. Encounters with the resurrected Christ restored faith and rekindled hope. And yet, despite the sense that everything had changed, ongoing uncertainty characterised the daily lives of those who had been closest to Jesus. The days and weeks following the resurrection proved to be a period of transition and preparation for what was to come next.

At Easter, and each spring, we celebrate new life. This year, like the early disciples, we find ourselves making our way through a period of transition as we prepare for what lies ahead. In 2021, the promise of spring may take some time to become a reality. We wait in hope.

No greater love

Photo by Ian and Wendy Sewell
http://www.ianandwendy.com/Israel

By modern standards, Jesus and his disciples didn't travel far. Jerusalem was just a couple of miles from the Bethany home of  Martha, Mary and Lazarus. The group from Galilee seem often to have stayed there on their way to the city. 

The route that Jesus walked from Jerusalem to Golgotha was even shorter. Pilgrims still travel along the six hundred metres of the Via Dolorosa. The route is marked by the stations of the cross. Four of the nine stations describe Jesus engaging with individuals that he meets along the way. Two of those encounters are mentioned in the gospels while the others have their roots in church tradition.

The Stations of the Cross represent a spiritual journey for both Jesus and for the latter day pilgrims who follow his path. The journey is a very human one. The encounters with Simon of Cyrene, Mary, Veronica, and the women of Jerusalem are a reminder of all that drove Jesus throughout his life. Even as he walked to his death, Jesus reached out to those he met with compassion and love.

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13

Lest we forget

 

Photo by Eva Dang on Unsplash

Today is the first anniversary of the imposition of lockdown restrictions in Britain. At midday the nation will pause for a minute of silence. As hopes of the end of the current lockdown grow it is again time to remember all that has been lost and all that has been endured in the past year.

Yesterday, March 22nd, was the fourth anniversary of the terror attacks on Westminster Bridge. Survivors of that attack are asking for the installation of a plaque on the bridge to honour those who died that day. For those most affected, remembering is an important part of grieving. 

In the Christian calendar, last Sunday was Passion Sunday. Four weeks of Lent have passed and, in company with Jesus and his first disciples, we turn our faces to Jerusalem. Before celebrating the joy of the Resurrection there must be time to remember death, loss and sacrifice. This year, as we remember the great love of God shown to the world through the Easter story, our celebrations and remembering will somehow be different. the past year with all its losses has changed us all. This Passiontide we will remember and promise together never to forget what has been endured and sacrificed in this year of pandemic.

Lockdown losses...and gains

Water Lilies Embroidery
Lockdown project 2020

 A year has passed. Britain has spent eight of the last twelve months living in lockdown. For most of the year, news reports have been shaped by a litany of limitation, loneliness, and loss. A year of living with uncertainty and restrictions on daily life has brought exhaustion. Frustrations have at times boiled over and tempers have frayed. Even now, with the end on the horizon, there is a sense that we have all been living lives of quiet desperation.

There is another story to be told though. A story of courage, community, and creativity. Faced with the need to stay home, we have found positive ways to pass the time. Elderly people and young cancer patients have found ways to raise funds for the NHS. Workers on furlough have volunteered to deliver food parcels, cook meals, collect prescriptions, and check in on those unable to leave their homes. Creative endeavours of all kinds have flourished. Home improvement projects and hobbies offered a focus in uncertain times. 

Few will mourn the ending of 'lockdown life'. Limitation, loneliness, and loss have shaped our lives for too long. We have missed spending time with those outside our own households. Each of us looks forward to getting back to doing the things we most enjoy. As Christians we have felt real loss at the inability to gather as a community of faith. 

As we celebrate our new found freedom in the coming months it would be easy to forget the positive aspects of what may be the most unusual year of our lives. A year in which courage, community, and creativity flourished in the face of adversity. A year that might change us forever.

How long, O Lord, how long?

Photo by Matthew Ball on Unsplash

On March 11 2020, the World Health Organisation declared the coronavirus that was spreading across the globe a pandemic. One year on COVID-19 still threatens the physical and mental health of millions across the world. It has been a challenging year. 

Mental health matters are a hot topic of discussion. In these difficult days, at times the pressures felt by individuals often seem overwhelming. Campaigns aimed at raising awareness of the scale of the problem appear daily in the news media. At every level, we are encouraged to recognise the signs of mental distress and to do what we can to support each other.

Mental anguish is not a new phenomenon. Those who wrote the Hebrew scriptures knew all about the despair that comes from living in difficult times. Psalm 6 describes the anguish of a soul worn down by weeping. 

How long, O Lord, how long?

Crying out for mercy, this troubled individual reaches for God. Although there is neither a direct reply or, seemingly, any change in the writer's circumstances, the simple act of reaching out in prayer changes everything.

The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer.

Trusting that God will not fail to answer the prayers of one who suffers, the psalmist finds the strength to journey on in hope. As our journey continues we too reach out to the God who has promised never to leave us or desert us. From the place of deep distress, we echo the ancient call, knowing that our cries do not go unheard and that our prayer will be accepted.

Voices from the wilderness

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

 A voice cries:“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Isaiah 40:3

Budget Day. A year ago today Rishi Sunak, who had been in post for just a matter of weeks, presented his first Budget. Two weeks later Britain entered what turned out to be the first of three lockdowns. Then, as now, the Christian church was in the season of Lent. COVID-19 was about to lead us all into a 'wilderness experience' that has changed pretty much everything.

As the official 'Stay at Home-Protect the NHS-Save Lives' message took hold of the nation and social distancing became the 'new normal', video calling quickly became a way of life.  With news programmes keen to interview just about everyone with an opinion to share or a story to tell, the voice of anyone with access to the appropriate equipment and a reliable internet connection could now be heard.  

Today's budget statement will be watched with interest. Many voices will be heard as the proposals are dissected by the media. Amidst the clamour for support for hard hit businesses, other voices are at risk of going unheard. In the coming days there will be both changes to negotiate and opportunities to grasp. Nothing will be the same again but, for those with ears to hear and eyes to see, this is to be welcomed rather than feared.

Lockdown#3 brought with it not only a weariness but a growing concern that we have not done well in listening to the already disadvantaged in our midst. As we slowly make our way to the next 'new normal', listening to the voices crying in the wilderness might just be the start in shaping the future we will share.

Spring is sprung

Photo by Aaron Burdon on Unsplash

See! The winter is past;

    the rains are over and gone.

 Flowers appear on the earth;
    the season of singing has come.

(Song of Solomon 2:11-13)

Spring is just around the corner. Depending on who you ask, the first day of spring falls either on the first or the twenty-first of March. Looking around at the flowering of the spring bulbs, this year the earlier date seems the best guess.

As the late winter snow has melted away, woodlands and gardens are showing signs of new life. Snowdrops and crocuses (or is it crocii?) are in bloom. Daffodils are in bud. Spring is on the way, bringing with it the hope of new beginnings. 

The first signs of spring this year are accompanied by a mood of cautious optimism. With the worst of the most recent wave of COVID-19 infections receding, there is now a 'roadmap' on the road to recovery. Like the spring buds, the hope that is beginning to flower is fragile. So much depends on the course of nature and the prevailing climate. 

The winter may have passed. The season of singing has yet to come.

  

 

Milestones and musings

Credit where credit is due. On Sunday the Government vaccination programme reached a milestone. 15 million people in the UK have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccination. Three weeks after the 'grim milestone' of 100.000 deaths, this milestone is positive news. 

Response to the news is inevitably mixed. As politicians begin reviewing lockdown rules, a group of MPs are pressing for the removal of  restrictions within a couple of months. At the same time, scientists and medics urge caution. High infection rates and the ongoing pressures on hospitals treating COVID patients give cause for concern. Prime minister Johnson and his cabinet face difficult decisions as they meet this week.

This Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. Lent is a time of preparation for what lies ahead on Easter Sunday. There are difficulties of all kinds to be met on the journey but great joy to be found at its end. In the days before Jesus made his way to Jerusalem for the last time he sought to reassure his friends that whatever challenges they faced, God would be with them at all times. This Lent, as we face the uncertainties of our time, Jesus words as recorded in John's gospel strengthen us to face the journey ahead.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

Be still and know

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God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging.

Psalm 46:1-3

Snow hit most of the UK this week. Vaccination centres and schools were closed in Essex and Kent as Storm Darcy arrived. Due to the current COVID restrictions, the snow perhaps caused less disruption than is usually the case in Britain. Home workers and home schooled children had no excuse to take a 'snow day'. Work continued for many in spite of the inclement weather.

Another consequence of the wintry weather was the cessation of  building work. Loft extensions and garden landscaping paused for a time. Lorries, skips and scaffolding ceased to be delivered...but only for a couple of days. Here in London, the peace and quiet was as short lived as the snow. Life in all it's noisy complexity goes on whatever the weather.

As the snow melts and vanishes there are signs that the current wave of coronavirus has passed it's peak. Change is in the air...but the future is at present as uncertain as the British weather. As the writer of Psalm 46 reminds us, neither weather events nor wars need give cause for concern. With the Lord Almighty with us what is there to fear? 

Be still, and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10)

 

Beacons of hope

Yesterday's big news centred on the life of one man, Captain Sir Tom Moore. Last year, ninety-nine year old Tom Moore became famous for raising huge sums of money for the NHS by walking around his garden. Tom's efforts were widely covered by the media. By the time he reached his 100th birthday he was something of a celebrity and became a beacon of hope in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tom Moore achieved fame right at the end of his life. His positivity, good humour and gentle manner brought hope and encouragement to many in what was a most difficult year. Right now, when little has changed, Tom's insistence that 'Tomorrow will be a good day' appears to resonate with many. In death, as in life, Captain Sir Tom Moore encourages us to seek light beyond our present darkness.

Tom Moore died at on 2 February. Each year on that day many Christians celebrate Candlemas. The reading for the day is Luke's account of Jesus being brought to the Temple by his parents. They are met by Simeon and Anna, godly people who also achieved fame towards the end of their lives. Simeon's words that day are well known. 'My eyes have seen your salvation...a light for revelation to all nations.' 

For those with eyes to see, there is always light beyond the present darkness. Tom Moore knew it. Simeon and Anna knew it. 

Tomorrow will be a good day.

Puase, pray and remember

Photo by Eyasu Etsab on Unsplash

This week Britain became the first country in Europe to record more than 100,000 COVID-related deaths. Politicians and medical advisors spoke of a 'grim milestone' for the nation. The Archbishops of Canterbury and York noted that the number of deaths is not just an abstract figure. Each number represents a unique human individual whose death leaves many thousands of others grieving. 

Reflecting on the sad news my own thoughts turn to those not numbered among the 100,000. Most, if not all, of who died during the year were in some way affected by the consequences of the pandemic as were their families and friends. They too will be remembered by those who knew them.

Beginning on 1 February, Archbishops Justin Welby and Stephen Cotterell invite us to join them in pausing to reflect on the enormity of the pandemic and to pray for each other at this time. Their message is one of consolation but also of hope. Because of Jesus, death doesn't have the last word. In God's kingdom, they remind us, every tear will be wiped away.

Gracious God,

as we remember before you the thousands who have died,
surround us and all who mourn with your strong compassion.
Be gentle with us in our grief,
protect us from despair,
and give us grace to persevere
and face the future with hope
in Jesus Christ our risen Lord.
Amen.

To everything there is a season

Photo by Mohamed Mohassi on Unsplash

This Wednesday Joe Biden will be inaugurated as the new President of the United States. Many months of campaigning and several weeks of wrangling over the result will finally come to an end. With concerns over violent protests already overshadowing the event the inauguration of the 46th President seems set to be like no other that the 'land of the free' has known.

Since the election in November, Senator Biden has spoken often about the need for a healing process to begin. 2020 was a difficult year for Americans. As elsewhere in the world, the effects of the coronavirus pandemic heightened tensions over social inequalities and ingrained prejudice. Conspiracy theories and mistrust led to rioting in many cities las summer. President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris face significant challenges as they seek to heal rifts and the nation in this new season of political life.

Similar challenges lie ahead in Britain, in Europe and across the world. Few countries have escaped the impact of COVID-19. Businesses and public services alike have struggled to manage the consequences of the pandemic. Either unemployment or extreme pressures in the workplace have affected millions of individuals and families. Existing inequalities and longstanding resentments continue to produce social tensions in many local communities. Healing rifts and rebuilding nations could be the most significant worldwide challenge in 2021. 

As Wednesday's inauguration takes place many will be praying that 20th January 2021 marks not just a new presidency but also a commitment to healing and rebuilding in the season that is just beginning. 

To everything there is a season; a time for every purpose under heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3)

In such a time as this

Photo by Gary Ellis on Unsplash

I lift up my eyes to the mountains –
    where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

We live in 'interesting times', as the Chinese proverb puts it. One the one hand, COVID-19 is spreading at an alarming rate. Recent restrictions imposed on daily life in the attempt to halt the progress of the virus have yet to have any measurable effect. On the other hand, the rapid roll out of the vaccination programme is encouraging. There is at least some hope that in the coming weeks or months the relentless spread of the virus might be slowed down to a manageable level. 

At times such as this it is difficult to know what to think...how to act...what to do...what to say? 

Psalm 121 suggests we might do worse than to try raising our eyes from our immediate surroundings to the hills above and beyond. These ancient words that have inspired hymn writers and composers down the centuries offer wisdom as the journey of 2021 unfolds.

We are not the first generation of humans to face the dilemma of times such as these. 

 

Travelling hopefully

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As with gladness men of old did the guiding star behold...so, most gracious God, may we, evermore be led to thee.  (W. Chatterton Dix: 1858). 

Christmas has been and gone. December's anxiety over what Christmas 2020 could or should be like has given way to arguments as to when and how the new school term can or should begin. Four days into 2021 there is general uncertainty as to what this New Year might bring.

In liturgical terms, the season of Christmas is not yet over. January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany, marks the official end of Christmas. Two weeks after Christmas Day Christians remember the magi who, after a long journey involving at least one significant detour, finally reached their destination.

2021 begins with much uncertainty. The journey through the pandemic seems likely to be a long one. There will be difficulties and detours on the way.  Like the magi, we continue to move steadily onwards, travelling in hope towards a destination as yet unknown.