- Obviously it must be a lovely thing to sing together Darren but I, like you, am left wondering if the past 18 months has taught us anything about our lives with, and for Christ? Just because we couldn't and can't do some things didn't and doesn't mean we couldn't and can't do any 'things'. I'm back out in the world if you will, being careful as I have to be with my condition/disease/call it what you will even though I'm fully vaccinated, but I've always had to be cautious anyway long before the pandemic struck. While I've not always looked to to God and given it all to him when I've needed to, I do my best to in these days. That doesn't mean things have always worked out as I've wanted them to but I have, if nothing else, been taught it is always His will and not mine - regardless of the outcome I have to learn how to be thankful... I mean I don't always show it, I have a chunter to myself and a whinge and a moan too on occasion but a) I'm human and b) He understands, of that I'm sure. Frankly I don't think it will hurt to wait a little longer, and patiently in His presence before deciding what 'normal' is going to be going forward. I'd had high hopes that the outpouring of unselfishness, generosity, patience, love, support and thinking of others shown last year might continue in this year, and our post-pandemic world, but I'm not sure that is going to happen now....for reasons too numerous and maybe, contraversial to go into here (😉). There are still stories that make my heart sing but they do, as so often is the case, get drowned out by all the negative 'stuff' and I feel t'was ever thus. Anywho....as you rightly say 'God is my portion, and I wait upon Him' & if that's all I can do as the world starts to gear up for 'normality' then that's what I shall do. Thanks for your ramblings, as always, and especially on your holiday too 'Paul of Keswick'. Safe journey home to you and everyone else who's been with you from church.
- Great ramblings Darren - thank you. Thanks Sarah also for your encouragement - as always, a boost when times seem challenging from my brothers and sisters. Praise be to God for His faithfulness to us.
Ramblings of a Curate!!
Is God truly all we need?
Lamentations 3:22-24
Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”
I am writing to you all from Keswick, I now know how Paul felt as he wrote to churches. Well maybe!
We started our week with a talk at the all-age service, the preacher spoke of the past year and all the things Covid has taken away. Meeting family, swimming, dancing, singing, gathering, and the Lord's Supper to mention a few. There has been a lot of loss, frustration, and anger, yet it looks like we are slowly returning to some sort of normality as the guidance is beginning to be lifted.
The author of Lamentations speaks of a great deal of loss and the destruction of the temple, we can connect with that sense of loss. As gatherings were prevented, and worship as we know it changed with no singing or sharing the peace and the Lord's supper.
Yet as restrictions are lifted, we long for those things that covid took away to be restored. Pinning our happiness and identity on those things. For the author, though they had no temple, they had nowhere to sing and sacrifice and were being exiled, everything they once knew and held dear was gone.
Yet for them God was all they needed, He was their portion. Singing, sacrifice the temple were all good things but it was about God being all they need. The other things just aided worship and praise but God was number one in their heart and so was obedience to His word. Though they were facing horrendous persecution all their hope, trust and faith were in the one who saves.
It leads to me think personally why am I in a rush to go back to the way things once were, why am I so eagerly wanting to sing and bring back everything Covid took away. Though they are good things am I seeking my identity my own happiness in those things? Or is God my portion, He is the one who I come to meet with He is all I need? Am I waiting for Him and being obedient to His word which God sees as worship above the rituals we perform on a Sunday. God is more concerned with my heart more than my voice (with that I truly thank Him). 1 Samuel 15:22, Romans 2:25-29.
Can we truly declare that God is all we need? As much as the singing, the Lord's Supper, and the other things are great, it is not what it is all about. Coming to hear God's word, being transformed by Him and then sent out. God firstly calls us to Him then out to reveal Him. We have an opportunity to place God first and then to prioritise the other stuff around Him.
As we do move towards a time where we do slowly introduce those things that aid us in glorifying, and praising our God I ask that we wait for Him, we trust in Him and we hope in Him. Let God be our portion as we live worshipping lives 24/7 as we are obedient to His word.
While at Keswick, though we can sing here I want to live in that obedience, so where we as a church have decided to take things slow and committed not to sing yet, I am placing God first and standing with you by deciding not to sing here at Keswick, but to make this time an opportunity to draw close to Him allowing Him and He alone to be my portion and He alone who I worship.
God is my portion and I wait upon Him.
Rev. Darren
St Andrew's Church
Kinson, Bournemouth.