He plants his footsteps in the sea and rides upon the storm …”
Certainly in our troubled chaotic world of today we need divine intervention …but isn’t that the essence of our faith ? As this epiphany tide suggests THERE is light in the darkness AND the darkness will not overcome it ! ( John 1..) But are we clinging on by our metaphorical finger tips ? Rather it’s about hope, the Christian essence of hope, rather than the crossed human fingers variety ! ..instead of despair which seems even more pertinent as we begin another new year… shrouded in dysfunctional human behaviour… of failing ‘to love one another, as ourselves,’ as our Lord suggested.
Our insecure world begats insecurity … within the perimeters of fake news, conspiratory theories and AI, do we honestly know who is pulling humanities strings. Rather like Michel Angelo’s painting of God and Adam ? Are they reaching out finger wise to each other or is Adam already parting from his Creator ? Each of us will have our personal interpretation.Fond remembrance of the Bethlehem story certainly has many similarities to today; the holy family were living under the cruel brutal Roman occupation, any perceived wrong doing often ended in crucifixion. The authorities preferred that way of making an example of someone ! As our Lord was to later experience, despite Pilate pledging his innocence. There was even an element of Big Brother …as everyone was summoned to their home town to be taxed … questioning my own taxation ..I was informed the banks etc are now required to divulge our monetary assets! Such is life two centuries later !
Even the shepherds and wise men partially recognised Jesus in his difference of being God’s Son.. being fully human and divine. Do we? Affirming our faith is the starting block for all the human race even in the complexity of today.!For Doubt sees the darkest night, faith sees the day,
Doubt dreads to take a step, faith soars on high,
Doubt questions who believes, faith answers “ I.”
As we start another year … May I pose the question Is God your ‘go to God ‘ in all eventualities or an Aladdin’s lamp divine image rubbed only when absolutely necessary I
We have been very blessed by Revd Jane and Alan coming to us in March, please pray for this time of transition, both in Barton and here. Her installation as priest in charge is on March 9th at Shiplake at 7:30 pm all are welcome.