Winter-weary world

Winds whistle and whip the cold drops of rain in all directions. This is what my cousin calls horizontal rain, and I’m sure it happens in places other than Scotland but certainly, it does happen here.

The news is full of reports of the beleaguered folk in the southwest of England, some of whom have been living in a moated village for a month now since the flooding first began. Prince Charles paid them a visit yesterday, arriving in a tractor and wearing welly boots. His visit no doubt encouraged some people and raised the morale, but after a couple of hours, he left again. 

This morning the winds down there have uprooted trees from the soggy ground, sending them crashing across power lines and knocking out the electricity supplies, adding yet another layer of misery to people who have had too much water. And their royal visitor has gone.

So often in the Bible weariness is equated with dry, parched desert conditions, but a daily regime of grey skies overhead and flood waters underfoot is another recipe for creating weariness in people. 

Times of refreshment which the Bible promises the Lord will send may not always look like a bubbling brook. In our case, they look like clear blue skies and a powerful sun bringing warmth to a winter-weary world.

It’s hopeless to depend on the weather for refreshment from life. The Bible promises that ‘times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord’. 

Wherever you are today, may you experience the presence of the Lord, and the refreshment that only Jesus can bring.

Shed that heavy cape

For some reason, this morning on our walk I was remembering the heavy lead (?) cape which the dentist used to wrap round your shoulders to prevent the x-rays going where they shouldn’t go, when he was x-raying your teeth. Maybe they still use those capes, but I’ve not had it on for years.

I remember how heavy it hung on my shoulders. How awkward it was to sling round your shoulders.

It reminds me of the responsibilities I carry. The responsibilities Don carries. They weigh us down. They elicit sighs from time to time. Mutterings of ‘weary, weary’ from Don. 

I’m then reminded of Jesus’ invitation. ‘Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will refresh you. Take my yoke on you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble and you will find rest for your souls.’ 

The modern paraphrase from The Message is wonderful. ‘Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.’

The unforced rhythms of grace. Nothing heavy on my shoulders. I don’t think he means we are to cease caring about those we love, or adopt a ‘whatever’ attitude to life. But as we share our burdens with Jesus, they cease to be burdens and perhaps even become blessings. 

Which of course, most of them are anyway. Most of the burdens we carry are for those we love. 

Blessings every one.

I’m going to ask God to help me shed that heavy cape today. I want to wear the gossamer one that Jesus gives.