Looking for signs of life.

I love all the sunshine we have been having recently! I find myself looking for signs of spring as hungrily as I do when I stand in front of the fridge, looking for something to snack on before dinner. I love seeing the hedgerows and trees bursting with bright green, taking in the sweet smells of fresh growth and feeling the warmth on my skin.

All this hopeful looking for life makes me think back to my teaching days. We all thrive on encouragement, but children quickly see through empty compliments. I remember one young person I taught who called me out on this one day. The truth was empty compliments were as demotivating and insulting to his abilities as criticism. A good teacher can find genuine achievements to praise and commend, however small and seemingly insignificant they may appear. These can be the glimmers of hope that growth is possible, that success will come.

In the church calendar, we are in the season of Lent; reflection, prayer and simplification to humbly prepare ourselves for Easter. This year I am challenged to not wallow in my past failings, but to see glimmers of hope for change and life. Poet Gregory Orr puts it this way: “Not to make loss beautiful, but to make loss the place where beauty starts”. I think this is where my understanding of Easter lies.

The Christian hope is that life came out of Jesus’ death. That there is a hope that broken things can be mended, and reconciliation is possible. The Easter story, which recognises loss, invites us into the place where beauty starts.

On the subject of new seasons, my time as Curate here in the village has come to an end and I will be moving on after Easter. It is sad saying goodbye and we are grateful for the friendships we have made during our time here. I also pray, particularly for my kids, that their sadness in leaving will be a place where beauty starts too.

I leave a blessing from the Northumbria Community with you. May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you wherever he may send you. May he guide you through the wilderness protect you through the storm. May he bring you home rejoicing at the wonders he has shown you. May he bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

Peace

Mark