Life is fragile

When we are young we feel as though we are immortal. As we grow we begin to experience events that make us recognise that we are fragile, that life is fragile. Although we may look back at the naivety of youth as something good, the change in understanding can bring about a deeper understanding of what is important. When we  realise life is fragile we begin to treat life as something to be treasured. We treat life as something special. We begin to treat the lives of those close to us as special.

Benedict (a monk) used to suggest that "Day by day remind yourself that you are going to die" reminding our`selves we are mortal is a positive thing. Considering our mortality helps us realise the extent to which we can or can't control life. Resulting in a true understanding of our human-ness. It reminds us that our lives are limited in length and gives an immediacy to life. 

Recognising this fragility can be negative. By focusing too much on the temporary nature of life we may begin to cling to it, through worry, through hoarding, through self preservation. We end up living in fear. But this need not be the case....

For me understanding my mortality inspires me to take joy in what I have. To love life, to enjoy each moment, not living in the past thinking about how things didn't work out or constantly looking to the future. But enjoy the here and now. It also causes me to reflect on whether how I am living will leave a positive impact on the earth for those who come after me.

Knowing that my time here is limited inspires me to find out more about God who is not limited by time, top search for him and what . and the advice that he has to give on how to live and be.

Look at your reflection

How long do you spend looking in the mirror each morning? If you are like me then maybe it isn't that lot. But if you do...and if you see a splodge of mud on your face...you clean it off! Seeing what you look like makes you change who you are.

What about a different sort of mirror? How others respond to you?

How people act around us or respond to us can be a mirror for what our personality is like. How you behave will cause a response in others. If you are a bubbly sort of person then you entering the room will probably get a cheery response.If you are an aggressive person maybe people will act a little defensive around you.

Have a look in the mirror this week. Look at your reflection in other peoples reactions.  How do people speak to you? How do they act when they see you? Does this reveal anything new about who you are? What will it cause you to change?

Spending time with God can reveal even more to us about who we are. As we stop in a quiet moment away from the distractions and ask God to speak, he can reveal to us more of who we truly are. We will see parts we need to change and the parts of us that bring God joy.

Play dough, stones and community

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As people, in our family life, in our working life, in our Church, in our friendship groups we need to have a hard core and soft edges.

Always be humble and gentle. Patiently put up with each other and love each other. Try your best to let God’s Spirit keep your hearts united. Do this by living at peace. (The Bible, Ephesians 4:2-3)

A hard, stone, core, and soft, play dough edges. 

All of us need to have values that we cannot compromise on that form a solid core within us. Maybe these are that family is a priority, that we should treat others with respect. 

However in a community of people who are not willing to compromise, and who are therefore not humble or patient gentle or loving will constantly be in conflict, we will scrape up against others and hurt them and ourselves. There must be loads of things we are willing to compromise on that form our soft edges. 

A tower made up of hard stones will wobble and fall but a tower of play dough covered stones will stand.

People who are willing to compromise, who act lovingly towards one another, will be able to live, care and work together to greater effect. 

Which of these do you struggle with? How have you seen you inability at it affect the lives of others around you.

Humbleness - Humbleness is not thinking how great I am but looking and seeing other peoples positive qualities.

Patience - Waiting, persevering, not quickly getting frustrated or angry

Gentleness - Gentleness is strength restrained. Each person has power whether in family, work or elsewhere. Do you only exert that power when absolutely necessary.

Love - Love as a choice, not a feeling. Choosing to act lovingly to others whether it benefits us or not. 

What are your core values and what are the things you can compromise on with the people around you.

Look closer

I was walking home today and saw so many things I had never noticed before. When I got home I stopped to look at a leaf I had picked up on the way.

It really struck me how amazing the world is that we are part of. Try thinking through this tomorrow when you are outside or go outside now!

Focus on the leaf, hold it, feel it, it is real, you are real, you are connected with it. Think of how many different things it has going on inside it to make it grow, to give it its colour, the energy stored in it that can give another creature life. It is amazing! And it is only a small part of our world

Focus outwards. Consider the birds of the air, the grass, the sounds. Become aware of all that is around you the wind on your face, the ground beneath your feet, the gravity that keeps you anchored. . What do you see, hear, smell, sense. This world is amazing.

Focus further out. See yourself in global perspective, on a planet spinning, a tiny jewel surrounded by billions of stars, the unimaginable vastness of space. Consider you’re part of a miracle.

Develop a sense of awe at the world you’re in. God’s name echoes around it, his autograph is all over creation. As you think of the world, thank God for the environment he’s given you, the world that sustains you, all that you see and sense.

Watch this and consider the awesome world we are part of!

Psalm 8, from the Bible talks about creation. Chew over some of the words as you go about your day.

God, brilliant Lord, yours is a household name.

Nursing infants gurgle choruses about you; toddlers shout the songs that drown out

enemy talk, and silence atheist babble.

I look up at your macro-skies, dark and enormous, your handmade sky-jewellery, moon

and stars mounted in their settings.

Then I look at my micro-self and wonder, Why do you bother with us? Why take a

second look our way?

Yet we’ve so narrowly missed being gods, bright with Eden’s dawn light. You put us in charge of your handcrafted world, repeated to us your Genesis-charge, made us lords of sheep and cattle, even animals out in the wild, birds flying and fish swimming, whales singing in the ocean deeps.

God, brilliant Lord, your name echoes around the world.

(King David, The Message Translation)

Are you a follower or followed?

Most of us follow the culture of our country, follow what other people are doing, the unwritten rules. We only occasionally stop to question it. Only a very small proportion (maybe 2%) actually shape the culture. Are you someone who tries to change things or someone who goes with the flow?

How can we change our world? Is it really possible? To to make a difference may seem impossible, but history proves that is not the case. There are individuals in history who have shaped our world.

The overriding characteristics these culture shapers have are; influence, passion, determination and focus. William Wilberforce, is an example of someone who stood up against the culture of his day. He stood up against the slave trade because he was passionate it was wrong. He was a man whose passion, determination and focus lead him to do great things. He refused to give up, he refused despite pressure to water down his message or to be put off by criticism. Eventually, he brought about change.

What are you passionate about? What injustices do you feel determined to change? You may not have the position that William Wilberforce had but you do have influence somewhere. Whether it is in your home, your workplace, your local school or your neighbourhood, your voice can be heard and can make a difference. You can change the culture of your workplace, of your home, maybe your town!

God desires for injustices to be put right and one day God will put the world right again, and there will be peace and unity of all people. But until that time God calls all people who follow Jesus to bring about change where they are. Christians are told to fight for God's values of honesty, love, care, self sacrifice. Others have caught the vision for a world living in unity and peace though they may not believe in God.

Think about how you can bring about change in your home or work as you listen to John Lenon, Imagine: Click here

Where is your God?

Where is your God when things are hard? Where is your God when things are going wrong? Maybe this interpretation of part of the Bible in a poem by Rael Mason gives the answer from a Christian perspective better than most. I think it does, but have a listen and decide for yourself. Where is your God, Rael Mason.

Click on the link to listen above to the poem then think about the quotes below, and decide whether you agree.

Things are... "this way so that I can be in it, and rather than burn it or bin it,
He lovingly crafts at the cracks and decays, He tends to me slowly, adding colour to greys.
‘til He restores me to His masterpiece; His ‘meant to be’.
Here is my God" (Rael Mason)

“God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” (C.S. Lewis)

Hold out your hands...

Maybe the things that are most precious and bring us most joy can also be a source of worry, a cause to fear. The fear of loosing those things. 

This canal boat near our house has been named 'Precious'. The person who owns it obviously loves it and takes joy from it. To them it is something precious. We each have things like this whether it is an object as big as a boat or as small as a wedding ring or a person; a friend or our children.

Stop today to consider the things you hold close.

Hold your hands out in front of you in an open position.

Imagine in your hands all those things that are important to you. Is it family? Is it meeting with friends? Is it food? Is it sport? Or is it ambition? Read through the following as you consider those things in front of you and what they mean to you.

In our hands we hold what is most special to us.
Consider why they are special. 
What do they add to your life?
Why do you care for them?

We often cling on to these things, 
in the hope that if we cling tightly enough they won't escape.

That somehow we can keep them always. But is that real? 
How much can we hold onto the things we love?

Think about the ways you can protect those things, how you can treat them as precious.

Consider those things you are holding in your hands,

Over the passage of time things will change.
People move on, ambitions may remain un-achieved and desires unfulfilled.

What now, after those things are not there? 

Stop and think what feelings come to mind, when you think of loosing those things? How does that make you want to respond? Are there things you want to change in your life as a result?

The creator of the world holds all things in his hands,

He knows what is precious to us,

All that we hold close he can hold in his hands,

When we give God what is precious to us,

Our hands will be empty to grasp onto his.

What part does God play in your life?