Inspiration struck during on our ‘one-walk-a-day’ this week while on the beach – so here’s a quick video of some ‘off-the-cuff’ thoughts from me, with some further reflections bouncing off what I recorded below.

Stillness

While on the beach, watching the waves gently lapping onto the shore, I was reminded of the familiar words:

Be still, and know that I am God.

Psalm 46:10

There’s so much ‘stuff’ around us, the cacophony of data, reports and news through the media, concern for well-being during this time of isolation, emotions and feelings are, for some of us at least, feeling a bit unstable – at times we’re ok, at other times we may be anxious, uncertain, worry panicked even.

Many of us have been enaging with a different pattern of life. I’ve found myself in a totally different pattern of life and ministry, doing things differently, and this week I’ve found things a little quieter, a little more stable, a little less panicked and uncertain. I feel like a pattern and rhythm for a new routine has begun to settle in for me.

While stood on the shore, I felt challenged that this time is a time to find stillness. This is a time we’re doing chruch differently, and a time we’re ‘doing’ differently, but also a time to ‘be’, to rest, to have permission to do less, to be still and rest in the presence of God, knowing that God is God.

Isolation and Easter

As we prepare to enter Holy Week in a way that it’s probably fair to say none of us have done before – Easter is going to look different for us, and largely we’re going to be isolated from each other.

I’ve been struck as I look ahead, at how isolated Jesus must have been on his journey to the cross. The was with people, at times crowded around him, but only he knew what was coming. In Gethsemane he pleaded, ‘take this cup of suffering away from me, yet not what I want but what you want.’.

As we approach Holy Week and Easter, wherever we are, whatever we are doing, isolated through we are, let us take opportunity to experience Easter differently, by being still, resting in God’s presence, knowing God is God.

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Where has God been in your week?
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Where have you sensed God’s presence?

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