faithbook A message for quiet meditation
by JAN FARROW, Lay Reader at Holy Epiphany
Pooh Bear and a Difficult Day
Today was a Difficult Day," said Pooh.
There was a pause.
"Do you want to talk about it?" asked Piglet.
"No," said Pooh after a bit. "No, I don't think I do."
"That's okay," said Piglet, and he came and sat beside his friend.
"What are you doing?" asked Pooh.
"Nothing, really," said Piglet. "Only, I know what Difficult Days are like. I quite often don't feel like talking about it on my Difficult Days either.
"But goodness," continued Piglet, "Difficult Days are so much easier when you know you've got someone there for you. And I'll always be here for you, Pooh."
And as Pooh sat there, working through in his head his Difficult Day, while the solid, reliable Piglet sat next to him quietly, swinging his little legs...he thought that his best friend had never been more right." A.A. Milne
Have you had any difficult days recently? I think many of us have; the whole world seems to have changed around us, do you long to return to normal? I could certainly do without the long supermarket queue, and yes, I would love a convivial drink at the pub once more.
We were not designed for a socially distanced existence, and it takes its toll on most of us. Some of us don’t even have a piglet to sit with us on those difficult days, but we do all have our Father God to turn to.
Matthew 11 v 28-29: Then Jesus said, come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
I sometimes think we resemble a sponge. A sponge is useless if it is dried out, especially a natural one. Just as the sponge needs to be filled with water, so we too need to be filled physically, emotionally and spiritually. There are still challenging times ahead for which we need to be prepared.
If 2020 has taught us anything it is that we were not created to live on zoom. Yes, we thank God for technology, but we were created for relationship, relationship with each other, and relationship with God. To invest in any relationship takes time and energy, but brings a great reward. If we take the time to be with Him, then surely, He will show us the way ahead, which will be very different for each one of us.
A prayer: We pray that as we come out of this difficult period of lockdown, our relationships with each other and with the Lord will be even stronger. That we will know our true selves a little better, that our faith will be stronger than ever, and we will have the certain knowledge that God works for good, in and through everything. May our faith and trust be daily renewed through His spirit living within us. Amen