I have to admit that I will not miss having to get up at 7-00am every Monday morning in term time, ready for the invasion at 7-30am, or the feeling of utter exhaustion at 6-00pm after pickup! During this period, I have always had at first one, then 2 young boys with me every Monday, finishing with the final one and now I will only see them after school. I was looking forward to this day but now I have a profound sense of loss for those happy times sharing the day with the boys. And those good at maths will realise that at the same time in September my eldest grandson starts secondary school. Again, it was sad to go to all his leaving events, and frightening when I abandoned him in the huge Weston Road school bus park for his taster day, looking very lost and small until he spotted a pal to walk in together with ..... with one ending comes another beginning. So of course, with one ending comes another beginning – when one door closes, another opens. Life is divided into these chapters, with different gates closing and others opening, and I have recently been reflecting on the rather odd passage of scripture in John, chapter 10, where Jesus talks about being the Good Shepherd, an image I can get my head around. However, He also describes himself as THE GATE to the Sheepfold, which is a more difficult image. “I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture … I come that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John chapter 10, verses 9 to10).
This reminds me of the image, made famous by the brilliant painting ‘Light of the World’ by William Holman Hunt. The painting is based on words of Jesus found in found in Revelation chapter 3, verse 20, “ Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me”. The painting shows Jesus, holding a lamp, knocking at a dark, neglected and overgrown door. Even through our greatest loss, when we can only see the door closing, Jesus is always there, knocking at that closed door, holding that light, ready to lead us through the door into his pastures, to new life, life in abundance ... for our children - life in all its fullness. The words of Jesus recorded in John, chapter 10, verse 10, are part of Weston St Andrew School’s vision statement: ‘By following God’s path, our school is dedicated to opening up the world of possibilities for children to experience “life in all its fullness”. I was privileged to be part of the school’s recent SIAMS inspection (a sort of church OFSTED inspection) where I was thrilled to see the school did so well in, as did St. Peter's school in Hixon recently, so I am confident that the children going there for the first time this year will be helped to flourish. My prayers are with all our young people starting new schools, colleges and Universities. Life should be seen not as a series of slammed doors, but like doorways opening to new opportunities to taste life in abundance, in all its fullness.
So, embrace change and remember, Jesus is always at the other side guiding us with his Light of unconditional love, if only we unlock the door, push through the brambles the other side and let Him in!
With every blessing,