St Andrew's Church
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Today is a gift
“Today is a gift”
From looking around the shops you’d have thought that it had been Easter since the day after Boxing day. So fast does our culture shift and look to the next new thing. No sooner will Easter be over and we’ll be into summer fun, then harvest, Halloween and before you know it, Christmas once more.
We’re not very good at living in the now; allowing ourselves to dwell in the current moment, and appreciate the blessings which surround us before worrying about the next thing on the horizon. When we do dwell in the present it tends to be on the negative – a hurt, a grief, a break up or break down – this is natural human behaviour; it’s what many of us do. And yet we miss out. If we always worry for tomorrow or dwell on current grief’s we miss out on knowing the blessing of the present.
That great and wise scholar Master Oogway (yes I know he’s from the film Kung Fu Panda!) has said “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift. That is why it is called the present” – corny perhaps but also true. We can regret the past or look back with rose tinted spectacles; we can fear the future or ache for its coming because we’re desperate for change, but when we ignore the present we also ignore those around us, we miss our children or grandchildren growing up, we miss the simple pleasures of a walk in the woods, or of good company. It’s hard to let go of the past, and its easy to say don’t worry about the future, but when we learn to accept the present and live in it, we can become at peace with the past and leave the future to the future.
It doesn’t mean that the present will be easy and I can appreciate how hard it must be for some of you, but it is in the present that God promises to be present with us. Jesus spoke of not worrying for the future, for God knows our needs and each moment has enough worry for itself. We also know we cannot turn back the clock, we must trust in forgiveness to be at peace with it. The forgiveness of others, of ourselves and also the forgiveness and healing that God offers.
My daughter has a prayer we often say together especially if she’s going through a hard time and I’d like to offer it to you here. It’s based on a prayer by St Francis of Assisi; it’s called the Serenity prayer
O God,
Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.
Accepting one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.
Amen.
This lent, in preparing for Easter, may God grant you his strength for all that is to come, his peace for the past and his presence in yours.
Many blessings
Chris Ramsey
Dates for your diary
First Friday films – First Friday of every month, 6.30pm we’ll be showing a selection of recent films @ St Andrews – all for free. Bring the kids, bring your friends, bring yourself ad enjoy. See www.standrews-gc.org.uk for details of the line up or call 01787 376293.
Messy Easter – Sunday 6th April 3pm – crafts, stories and activities for all ages – all welcome!
Holy Week meditations and quiet times – Monday 14th – Friday 18th April 6.30pm @ St Andrews
Easter Sunday – 6.30pm Dawn Service & 10am Family Celebration Communion
Church open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday for prayer at 9am – feel free to join us any time – you don’t need to worry about knowing what to say or do, just come if you would like.
Also open on Friday mornings from 9.30 till 12 for Coffee, quiet, chat and prayer
Just come and be.