Message from the Manse
Does the thought of change in your routine trouble you? It does me. I am a creature of habit and I like order in my life. I follow the same routine most days and do so without thinking. I suspect most of you do likewise. Much of it comes about because of family or work commitments which have to be fulfilled if we are to keep functioning but some of it is just habit which has become comfortable and routine. I recall someone once saying to me, “A good place can still be a rut” and it took me some time to work that out. When we are afraid of change because we happen to like our little rut then we have ceased to grow. Children, you will have noticed, accept change more readily than adults (unless of course there is some major trauma) but on the whole they can cope with changes in their routine because they are still excited about living and each new day is another adventure. There is something wonderful about toddlers going along with whatever you throw at them because, well – it’s new. When did we lose the excitement of living?
The Christian Faith should be exciting, it should be something of joy and wonder but all too often it has died. Died because the people have forgotten that life is to be lived in all its fullness. That means, laughter; it means love; it means anticipation; it means grace; it means joy. For far too many, the Christian faith has become something which has to be endured rather than lived with joy. Jesus lived a life of grace: he wasn’t always laughing nor was he always joyful but he, by the power of the Holy Spirit, gave to us something that is exciting and is joyful. When did we lose the joy of faith?
Shortly we celebrate Pentecost – does the thought excite you? The gift of the Holy Spirit is about being empowered to live as Christians with faith. Sometimes we forget to live in faith because our routine (rut) has taken over. Do not become a prisoner to dullness. Do not allow your faith to become jaded. Instead think of the child seeing a new day and thinking, “What will we do today”. We’ll have fun. Let your faith lead you into joyful places so that other can see in you the joy of belonging to Christ in faith.
May God bless you - Tom
Does the thought of change in your routine trouble you? It does me. I am a creature of habit and I like order in my life. I follow the same routine most days and do so without thinking. I suspect most of you do likewise. Much of it comes about because of family or work commitments which have to be fulfilled if we are to keep functioning but some of it is just habit which has become comfortable and routine. I recall someone once saying to me, “A good place can still be a rut” and it took me some time to work that out. When we are afraid of change because we happen to like our little rut then we have ceased to grow. Children, you will have noticed, accept change more readily than adults (unless of course there is some major trauma) but on the whole they can cope with changes in their routine because they are still excited about living and each new day is another adventure. There is something wonderful about toddlers going along with whatever you throw at them because, well – it’s new. When did we lose the excitement of living?
The Christian Faith should be exciting, it should be something of joy and wonder but all too often it has died. Died because the people have forgotten that life is to be lived in all its fullness. That means, laughter; it means love; it means anticipation; it means grace; it means joy. For far too many, the Christian faith has become something which has to be endured rather than lived with joy. Jesus lived a life of grace: he wasn’t always laughing nor was he always joyful but he, by the power of the Holy Spirit, gave to us something that is exciting and is joyful. When did we lose the joy of faith?
Shortly we celebrate Pentecost – does the thought excite you? The gift of the Holy Spirit is about being empowered to live as Christians with faith. Sometimes we forget to live in faith because our routine (rut) has taken over. Do not become a prisoner to dullness. Do not allow your faith to become jaded. Instead think of the child seeing a new day and thinking, “What will we do today”. We’ll have fun. Let your faith lead you into joyful places so that other can see in you the joy of belonging to Christ in faith.
May God bless you - Tom