What do you do when you come to a road closed sign or, as I had on Tuesday, a path closed sign? Turn around and follow the yellow diversion signs? Scream and get google maps up on your phone? My first thought is always “Really? Is it really closed or are they just putting that sign up out of excessive caution? Or, perhaps they’ve fixed whatever it was but forgotten to taken the sign down? So, whenever I come to “Closed” sign on a road or path I go past it. I would say that my success rate with this strategy is about 50%. On Tuesday I was not successful! My two friends and I made it about 4 miles beyond these signs, getting very wet feet in the process, before the sheer amount of water meant we had to turn back. So, I never got to witness the delightful sights and sounds of Abingdon.
The next day, on Ash Wednesday, I took part in our service in the evening. It is one of the highlights of the church year. As a Priest it is a very special to mark each forehead with the sign of the cross and say “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return. Turn away from sin and be faithful to Christ”. When we receive the ashes we are called to bare our whole selves to God, with no hiding or pretending; just to be honest about life and about death, and to find the faith and the courage to follow Christ wherever it may lead us. Ash Wednesday cuts through all ideas that we can save ourselves and defeat our mortality through our own efforts. With that comes a sense of relief and freedom that life is not all up to us; God is involved too.
Ash Wednesday is also an invitation to go past the signs that have been erected in our life saying “No further”, “This way is closed”. Perhaps we put those signs up ourselves many years ago out of guilt, regret, or tiredness. Or, maybe others put those signs in our way out of care and concern, or otherwise. But now we can look at them with fresh eyes. We can look at them as God looks at them. Knowing that, like the woman accused of adultery, we are not condemned but liberated to journey forwards into this season of Lent with confidence and encouragement. The Christian faith is one that takes the stop signs that have been erected in our lives and says “I am with you, you can ignore those signs now…see what lies beyond. You might get wet feet, and you might even have to try again another day, but you will get there, and I will be with you each step of the way”. Even unto Abingdon!
As always, if you would like me to pray for, or have a conversation about anything then do get in touch. I am available to listen and share in whatever might be arising for you at this time.
"Nothing can separate us from the love of God revealed to us in Christ Jesus" Eph8:38-39
With peace and blessings,
Rev Steve
07503164309
My day of rest this week is Monday