Tag: being honest

Opening up the windows!

Fresh air……

It is the time of year that I really want to open windows and get some fresh air in. That can sound great, but it is rather chilly air, maybe a bit bracing, and on a day like today pretty gusty as well. Getting a through stream of air through a room however is refreshing, and brings a certain vitality.

You don’t realise that when there is poor ventilation, that the air gets stale and heavy. It can cause a heaviness of being, and listlessness, even cause allergies or poor sleep. Fresh air as they say, sweeps out the cobwebs.

Sometimes our souls need spiritual fresh air. We have been doing the same things for so long, our habits have become a dull routine rather than a life giving practice. It is easy for life to become a mundane trudge of just surviving.

I believe that God wants to refresh our souls. The holy spirit at Pentecost is described as a violent wind. When Jesus encountered Nicodemus in John  chapter 3, it says in verse 8: ‘ the wind blows where it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the spirit.’   

We really need the strong breeze of the holy spirit to blow away what is old and stale, and to bring new life and energy. In this season of Lent, we pray that God would disentangle us from bad attitudes, destructive habits, acceptance of an unhealthy status quo. We pray for discernment for what needs to be let go of, and what needs to be embraced- new ways forward that are life giving and enriching. In the desert, Jesus was tempted but at the end the angels came and attended him, and he was prepared for his years of ministry. Sometimes there is a stripping away of superficial things, but then new possibilities can emerge. In this period of Lent, may God helps us welcome the new creativity and inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Gracious God, despite our best efforts, at times we get stuck in a rut, we are going through the motions, but life feels discouraging and stale. We confess our helplessness and our our wrongdoing, the way we have hurt others, and we beseech You for cleansing. Then Lord Jesus, You send the Holy Spirit to breath life into us. Wind of the Holy Spirit fall afresh upon us, upon Your people, upon this world. In this time of Lent may we not settle for bland compromises that please no one, but seek to honour Your name by loving truly and deeply, with integrity and generosity. Open the windows of our soul, stir us up, help us see the world through Your eyes, and to show radical grace and mercy to all. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Dustbin lorries bring hope!

Letting go

My bins are all full, but my house is full too. Despite my best efforts, there seems to be ‘stuff’ everywhere. And worse than this, the stuff symbolises memories, events and people. Many of these are good, but some are sad or poignant.

I have a number of black bags in the house, which I am categorising as being ‘ in transit’. They are no longer meant to be in the house, but the bin is full, so I wait for the bin lorry to come soon. ( even though I recycle what I can!)

This might all sound very trivial, but the decluttering symbolises my cry to God to cleanse my soul too. We have so many memories, sometimes that haunt us, and that we try to bury. But actually we need to take them out into the light, and to look at them, and ask God to heal us. Sometimes we need to forgive, or sometimes to ask forgiveness. And then to let them go. And it has to happen one memory at a time- such a painstaking process, but it is the only way to make space, and to find peace.

Readings from Ecclesiastes 3 figure largely in my life just now- there is a time for everything, amongst others, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to be silent, and a time to speak.

This seems to be a time of cleansing, of letting go, of making space. But it is painful. To make space means to let go of old ways and assumptions, and to embrace new ways forward. And the new way is not always clear, and it is easy to take a wrong turn. And then I have to forgive myself, and seek God’s strength to find the right path.

Every now and again, I catch a glimpse of what space and freedom feels like. It could be receiving an act of kindness or being understood, or a moment of peace. And it is such a revelation, a moment of integration, and of communion with God. Breathtaking and inspirational momentary solace. And then it is back to looking at the black bags again. They are on their way out- honest…….

Gracious God, in this season of Lent, we are more aware of our shortcomings, and of the darkness within. We confess our struggles once more, our desire to hang on to stuff from the past, because its familiarity brings comfort. Lord Jesus, show us what you desire of us this day. We trust that You still have a good purpose for our lives. Holy spirit, reveal to us the truth about ourselves, cleanse us from all that weighs us down, and heal our sorrow. Thankyou that You understand our frustration, for letting go is such slow and painful work. May we have a loving community around us, to support us in our healing process, Amen