The Geens are Ready

The geens are ready. Wild Scottish cherries. We’ve got trees all over the property and it’s always a race to see if we can harvest any before the pigeons commence their military-precision stripping of the trees!

A few years ago, we got enough to make a couple jars of the most delicious jam. It took two of us to skim because there is more stone than flesh on each cherry, but it was so so delicious.

Jesus said to be alert and to watch what’s going on around us. We’ve been watching those cherries and also further afield, though things aren’t so straightforward there. It is hard to understand exactly what is going on in the wider political world just now.

Even more reason to keep our eyes on Jesus while staying aware of current events. And staying on our knees. We want to get the cherries before the pigeons do.

Slimy Slugs

Slugs are gross. Another burning question for God when I get to heaven: Why slugs? That’s right after, why didn’t we get a third set of teeth? (And maybe, explain the reason for midges, please?)

One of the most prolific living things in our garden is slugs. And their cousins the snails. Voracious appetites. Sliming along munching our strawbs and lettuce and spinach – nothing redeeming about them as far as I can tell.

This morning I spied the tell-tale trail of one wandering round the doormat. The very rough doormat at the garden door. A modicum of sympathy for him as I thought of how bad that must feel on an exposed belly. Well, then, but what was he doing inside my house? Should have stayed outside in the pouring rain.

He got into the house, but he was flummoxed by the scratchy doormat. The doormat is there to stop the dirt (and slugs) from entering the house. Great thing to have.

It’s good to have a scratchy doormat on every entry way to one’s mind and spirit. There are an awful lot of slimy ideas in current culture. If we’re not vigilant, they can slide into our thoughts and begin to transform our thinking in ugly ways, ways that intertwine and gradually become entangled with the godly thoughts we previously held. 

That scratchy doormat is the Word of God, in writing and in person, and the Holy Spirit. It is friends who hold us accountable. It is meditative listening for that still small voice. 

Be alert, Jesus ordered. Don’t let any of those gross ideas move in with you.

Signs of the Times

Home again. I had my plans for the day. Do the on-line tasks necessary; catch up with e-mails; read some of the accumulated notices which came in while I was away. Then I would step out into the wild wilderness of my garden and very gently start the eternal task of weeding.

Interrupted by the sound of big drops falling from the sky, I dashed out to bring in the nearly-dry laundry, and then resumed my internet-work. A distant rumble of thunder jolted my complacency and I popped upstairs to turn off that computer. I was still on-line downstairs and didn’t want that session disrupted, so kept things plugged in...until the next clap of thunder sent me scurrying round pulling plugs and disconnecting modems and phones. End of on-line session. End of outdoor gardening plans. Onto plan B.

One thing I’ve learned from my years in Scotland is to read the signs of the weather and adjust my plans accordingly. Having grown up where the sun shines more or less all of the time, that has been a hard lesson. But it reminds me of Jesus’ warning that we be alert and aware of what is going on around us, and adjust things accordingly. And pray without ceasing.

I’ve had my head down for a fortnight as I made all the arrangements for my mother’s house-move. Focused on phone calls, weeding through piles of accumulated mail, closing up one place, making all the arrangements at the new place, I never watched the news and was pretty unaware of what was going on even where I was staying. Sometimes we get overwhelmed by life and can’t ‘see the forest for the trees’. But it’s no way to live.

We were created to live with broad horizons. We are designed to have eternal perspectives. In Christ we have already stepped into eternal life, though our shoes are often mired in the everyday clay.

It’s good to be reminded that our little tasks, as major as they seem and often are at the moment, are not all there is. It’s good to have our focus adjusted, our eyes drawn to the horizon, our hearts recalibrated to Jesus. 

So, as frustrating as I might find it to cease the session I was having, as the rain continues and the thunder rolls, I shall pour myself a cup of cinnamon tea and read last Saturday’s newspaper. Or maybe catch a few more ZZZs.

Expectations and Preparations

Political pundits proclaim a tight race in the Scottish referendum, where polls have the Yes and No sides running neck in neck with the Yes having a momentum surge. Rumours are that some individuals and businesses are shifting assets south of the border, just in case. Preparations.

I sat in my prayer window this morning and was amazed at the intense activity of dozens of birds, mostly swallows, swooping and swallowing breakfast to fuel them for today, and beyond, for they will soon line up and head south. 

Signs of the times. Jesus told us to be alert and to be aware of the signs of the times. Why? So we can recognise him and hear his voice and follow his lead. There are many ominous signs globally right now, with wars and rumours of wars, famines and murders and natural disasters. 

Much insecurity. Much to inspire fear.

But Jesus told us not to be afraid. Fear negates faith and faith drives out fear. I know I’d rather live and walk in faith than to be cowed and paralysed by fear.

So we’re not to be afraid but what else? We are to be ready, like the virgins trimming their lamps which were full of oil. We have a part to play in world events which involves more than sitting at the side and waiting for rescue. We are to be storing up truth, promises from Scripture, and speaking them out. 

There is power in the spoken word. We are not to believe the devil’s lies, but resist them and speak out the truth which Jesus is, which he has shown us. 

Speak out the truth. Speak words of life. There is power of life in the tongue. Use your tongue today to speak life into situations which seem dead. Speak life into relationships, into hopelessness, into political situations. 

Speak life. Jesus came that we might have life and have it to the full. Be filled with the Spirit and overflowing to all those around you. Faith. Hope. Love. Powerful weapons in the armour of God.