The weather was glorious for the first fete of the season, held in the grounds of The Old Vicarage in East Dean. Visitors enjoyed all the traditional attractions of a village fete, plus a Pimms and Prosecco stall and a swimming pool for the children.
I sat down at my desk this morning, turned on the computer and, with fingers poised over the keyboard, started to think about my Ramble today. The problem was, nothing came. My mind went blank and I had what can only be described as writers block. What to talk about? There is so much going on at the moment, there is so much I could reflect on, that I was a bit overwhelmed. Should I talk about the hot weather? Well, by the time you read this we may well officially be in a drought and we all know the advice about keeping safe, about keeping cool. How about the rising cost of living? But do you really want to know about our situation at the Rectory? Then there is the continuing conflict in Ukraine? But what can I add that hasn’t already been said in the news, on the internet, and in social media? None of that will stop me reflecting on these things in the future, but not today, today I had nothing to offer. So, I did what I usually do at times of difficulty or confusion – I opened my Bible, randomly, and my eyes hit on the passage below. ‘Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.’ (Matthew 6: 34) Well, that was certainly true of me, as I sat looking out over the Trundle, troubled by what to write, wondering about all the emails and phone calls I had to make, and letting them get in the way of clear thinking, and of doing what I have to do, today. Tomorrow will bring worries, issues, concerns, for many of us, and today isn’t going to be easy for a lot of people, but is Jesus telling us that we should not think about tomorrow, and live for today? No, because we do need to plan, we need to prepare. Those in work need to plan for retirement. Farmers need to plan for future planting, and decide what will work in the changing climate. Parents need to plan for the rest of the school holidays. The PCC needs to plan for fundraising, and I and the Churchwardens need to plan for this Sunday, and next, so how can Jesus tell us not to think about tomorrow? Well, He isn’t. Jesus isn’t telling us not to plan, not to be prepared, not to think about tomorrow, He is telling us not to worry about it. Before telling his disciples, and us, not to worry, He asked a question, ‘can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?’ (Matthew 6: 27). I admit I am a bit of a worrier; I don’t take to heart Jesus’ words. I worry about next week, about next month, about next year, but does it help? No, it leads to sleepless nights and stressed days, not only not adding a single hour to my life, but wasting some of those I have. What I, what we, need to do is plan, is be prepared and, to quote my old boss ‘control the controllable’, and then to focus on what we can do, today, and not what we can’t. So, after I have finished my Ramble and sent it out to you all, I will turn to the next task, and then the next. I will send out the readings for Sunday, and agree the music. I will answer emails and make phone calls. I will do what I can today, and what I can’t will be left for tomorrow, without worrying about what I couldn’t do, but giving thanks for what I could. Rev Sarah
