The Manse, Houston.
21st January 2012
Dear Friends,
Last Sunday a few hours after Worship Liz and I took to the road for a short 2 day break. When you head off , be it for just a couple of nights or an extended holiday what type of traveller are you? Are you the kind of person who packs well in advance? Do you meticulously pre-plan your route to your destination if travelling by car knowing exactly what roads you will take, which road junctions you will negotiate and exactly where you will stop for a break and of course an accurate estimate of when you will arrive? If you are that finicky you will always pack a First-Aid Kit, plenty of socks and spare underwear. Your mobile phone will be fully charged, the Sat-Nav will be set and naturally you will carry the chargers for your electronic gadgetry plus the car adapters as well.
Or are you the traveller who sweeps clothes off the bedroom floor and bedside chair stuffs them into the suitcase, grab the keys and go? No toothbrush? Will get one on the way! No map, no Tom-Tom? No worries just head in the general direction, after all short cuts, side roads, slight detours they are all part of the challenge. There are of course some of us (is it only the male of the species?) who never admit to being “lost” merely seeking out a more scenic route to the destination.
Probably most of us fall into the first category, while some of us will be a bit of both. The majority will certainly plan ahead and be equipped for the way. If the unexpected should occur we want to have a reasonable chance of dealing with it. We are now almost a month into another year of our journey through life. As we travel through this first month of 2012 are you a person who wants to know exactly what this year holds for you so you can be prepared for it; or are you one who just accepts things as you find them.
There are very few certainties in any given year. But the one certainty we in the Christian family have is that whatever the future may hold we have the assurance we do not face it alone, for God goes with us this year, into the unknown. The words of one of my favourite Psalms, Hymn 43, O God, you are my God alone, whom eagerly I seek, ends with great words of comfort…. Beneath the shadow of Your wing, I live and feel secure; and daily as I follow close, Your right hand keeps me sure.” We sing that psalm to a tune called “Resignation” but don’t take the negative meaning of that word, please think of it as reconcilement, adaptation and acceptance. For after all we have not only God’s presence with us but the assurance that our Church family will continue to support us, especially through the difficult times.
With every blessing for 2012, your friend and Minister, Donald
