The storm may roar
without me, my heart may low be laid,
but God is round about me, and can I be dismayed?
Our
country has faced some of the fiercest storms on record; even as I write I am
watching the fir tree outside my window at Zion swaying violently; let us hope
its roots are strong! We have already
lost eight roof tiles, but for many their lives have been simply decimated. Weeks
of flooding, the devastation of watching nightmares realised. How can we
respond to this crisis, what can we learn from these floods? These are not easy
questions, we have seen much finger pointing, and certainly if you build on a
flood plain and save money by not dredging rivers there will be consequences.
One question remains and that is, are these storms freaks of nature… or a sign
that nature has lost her balance due to human activity: ie global warming? You
will be relieved that I am not about to pronounce these floods as some kind of
godly vendetta against our nation, even though I acknowledge that they may be
in part at least the consequence of human greed and poor stewardship. What these floods and storms do remind us is
how fragile we are, and yet how resilient the human spirit. In the midst of
adversity some of the most godly and frankly fully human acts of kindness are
being performed. This is worth celebrating, even as we weep with those who weep.
For many of us our lives are only moderately affected, but we can and must
expend the energy of love and prayer for those who face years to untie the
consequences.
Should
disciples of Jesus react any differently to others through this situation? I am
reminded of the story of Jesus in a storm; he simply slept while everyone
around him panicked. There is something intrinsically attractive about those
who can stay calm in a crisis. Very often they are the ones who can think and
act most creatively. Peace comes from
knowing that ultimately all storms will pass, floodwaters will recede. As the
hymn writer put it: ‘God is round about me,
and can I be dismayed?’ Jesus’ intimate knowledge and
relationship with the Father meant that he seemed to be aware that nothing
would befall him that wasn’t somehow timely. This did not of course spare him,
ultimately from death. But it did mean in the face of the storm he was unafraid
and able to command a stillness and calm.
In a few weeks time we will be celebrating as a church the building of a
‘beacon’ a lighthouse. I can only imagine the bravery of those who go to sea,
in weather such as we have seen recently. Navigation and a battle with the wind
and waves require real skill, but at last resort the beacon is both warning and
guidance to where safe haven lies. I am
not sure as Christians we are called to be different, but we are certainly
called to shine, to flood the darkness with light and offer a hope that
whatever the storm, there is a love and a power who is more powerful. It would
be sad to celebrate the opening of our beacon building, whilst those of us who
are called to shine make little effort to rekindle our light or our faith by
becoming better acquainted with the love of the Father. To this end I urge you
all to look seriously into your own heart, are a desire to love the lord your
God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and a commitment to love your
neighbour as yourself the chief aims of your life, do they give you purpose and
energy? Probably the answer to that question is both yes and no, we want to
love but find it hard. If that is the case I urge you to consider further our
discussions about Inspire, and ask yourself the question who do I know who may
be able to help me to burn a little brighter, and love a little better. This is
the aim of the Inspire movement, to help us all to become the beacons we are
called to be. Not asleep in the boat, oblivious, while all the waves crash upon
others, but awake and alert with the confidence that comes from faith, ready to
speak peace and love into every situation that confronts us.
Wake up o sleeper, rise from the dead , and Christ will
shine (from) on you.
Stephen
