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Mike's Manse Message |
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July 2008
Dear friendsMany of us will be setting off on holidays around about now; plans will have been made, destinations sorted, Sat Navs primed and we'll be off. For the first two weeks of July the Redshaws are off to Cornwall and Dorset. The Manse, the garden and the dog will be looked after by either my Dad or the girls and we'll be able to relax. Time spent away from the normal routine is so necessary, if possible, to recharge the batteries. In Mark's Gospel, chapter 2, Jesus withdrew to a quiet spot to be by himself. He saw the need to fulfil that which God had initiated in the creation of the world, a period of rest. Despite what we may think none of us is capable of simply going on and on without stopping, pausing and reflecting on life itself. When you go on holiday is it simply a further round of rushing, trying to pack in all the visits to relatives or tourist spots or is it genuinely a time to relax when one can spend time in the sun(!) with nothing more than a good book and our thoughts. That relaxation is vital, but I request that you do not leave Jesus behind when you go on holiday. The friends we holiday with each year share the same routine as ourselves. On the Saturday when we arrive at our holiday cottage we will spend the Saturday evening looking for two things. Firstly a chip shop so that we can have supper and secondly a Church so that we can worship the following day. In all of our holidays together there is only one year when we failed to find a Church to worship in, and that was in Wales because all the Chapels around us failed to have notice boards to tell us what language the service would be in, or indeed whether there was a service or not! You see in the Gospel when Jesus withdrew to be by himself he spent that time in prayer, seeking a spiritual refreshment, and we should be the same. Too often people spend their holidays rushing from this tourist spot to that, or even by rushing to the beach armed with every eventuality. Whilst both of these activities are immensely enjoyable they don't provide us with that spiritual 'fill up' we need. We invariably have more time on holiday whether it be away or at home, but we should use that time in prayer, listening to God, in the Scriptures learning about Him and use the time simply to let the Holy Spirit wash over us. "Be still and know that I am God......" This summer let us find times to be still and be reminded of God.  |
© 2008 Reverend Michael Redshaw |
