A Quiet Word – July 2021

Have you ever noticed how quickly the grass grows at this time
of year? I pondered this as I tried to cure my gardenembarrassment
and cut the lawns and de-weed the paths at the
manse. In the recent wet and then hot sunny weather the grass
and weeds had quickly grown up and the front and back gardens were beginning
to resemble an overgrown jungle. The adage “don’t let the grass grow under your
feet” certainly applies in this situation. This means act now and don’t delay in
seizing an opportunity. Grass grows very quickly if we do nothing about it.

Similarly, the Apostle Peter in his second letter to the Christian believers in the
Black sea area emphasised that outwardly displaying good Christian behaviour in
faith and loving service was desirable: ‘So, don’t lose a minute in building on what
you’ve been given, complementing your basic faith with good character, spiritual
understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm
friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the
others. With these qualities active and growing in your lives, no grass will grow
under your feet.’ (2 Peter 1:5-8 The Message). In the same way we, as a church
and as individuals living 2,000 years later, are called to act and seize every
opportunity to share our faith and the love of Jesus with those living around us –
our families, our friends and our neighbours. Our coffee mornings on the lawn
and side garden (which incidentally are kept beautifully manicured and free of
weeds by Peter, Alan, Adrian and others) is an opportunity for us to actively show
those qualities of warm friendliness and generous love that Peter speaks about.
As we meet outside and have a natter over a cup of tea or coffee, let us seize and
enjoy every opportunity to act in Jesus’ name and imitate his loving character
rather than standing still, doing nothing and letting the grass grow under our feet.

We give thanks for the sunny weather and sights and sounds of God’s wonderful
creation growing and alive all around us and that we can meet in the ways we do.
Amid this, we continue to uphold in love and prayer those both in the church family
and wider fellowship who are unwell with ongoing health problems; those who
are awaiting hospital appointments or test results; those with family, job, or money
worries; and those who have been recently bereaved. May they and you know
God’s richest blessings and loving mercy in the month ahead.

Blessings and love

Robert