Wonder - Reflection by Canon Mike

It was great reading and hearing the reflections from Canon Leslie and Canon Neal yesterday – especially that of the wonder of Teddy Horsley on his trip to Aber falls!  I have my own favourite spots that I like to visit – I am sure you all do too; and we hope and pray that it won’t be long before we can visit them again, safely.  The place above is one of them and one I hope I will be fortunate to visit this summer – holidays and restrictions permitting.  The Holy Island of Lindisfarne…..a place of wonder and beauty, peacefulness and prayerfulness.  Home to such a wonderful part of our English church history and Christian calling.

And even in this strange lockdown land, amid the blur the weeks seem to have become right now, (the endless life (for me) focused on computer screen and electronic devices), the God of love is still so much at work in such a wonderous way. And we must continue our prayers that the changes and opportunities brought, are grasped and held onto tightly in our new normal. For change must come from our thoughts and prayerful reflections on what is going on right now.

For instance, in reflecting upon our vulnerability – that something so small and invisible can have such a vast impact on our global lives; highlighting how we can all be affected, are all vulnerable in the same way.  In that sense the virus is a leveller – showing that across ‘boundaries’ of race, religion, class or creed….we are all one humanity, one race needing to draw together rather than separate in order to overcome the current challenge.  We have witnessed that coming together in terms of an increased neighbourliness; increased care for one another through immense volunteering; the overcoming of problems of communication and care…because we have been forced into finding solutions, finding new ways.  The God of love and care, the God of creativity and resourcefulness is at work right here, right now – not just in our own faith context, but in other faiths and none….that too should be something we reflect upon and wonder about closely.

And we see in the world right now, in terms of response to a most shocking of incidents, how we as humanity want to live in peace with one another; to not have racial and other barriers; to have a love, care and respect for all persons.  The outcry is real, it is vocal, it is loud….and we must pray that translates into a love for all, just as we as Christians are commanded to do.  May that be taken up genuinely by world leaders – if they would perhaps listen more closely to the ones whom they actually serve. 

There is a lot to reflect and pray and wonder about in these times.  So may our hearts this week continue the prayer journey; may our eyes, ears and minds be opened – just as they were for the first disciples in stepping out into the unknown….into a life they knew was changed forever from their following of God, through the gift and sacrifice of the Son and in the power of the Holy Spirit.  May the gift of the spirit – freely given to the disciples, freely given to us – continue to guide us through these times; so the wonders that we may gaze upon and enjoy in the future are the wonders of God in nature….but so too, the wonders of God in all of us.

With my love and prayers for you all; continue to stay safe….
 
​Canon Mike 

While you're here:
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