Carol Purves

We all have periods in our lives when we worry. Some worries are real and big, others are small and passing. My small worry at the moment is that I’m moving home within the month and at the moment am not strong to do all that is necessary. I realise that this is probably a small worry compared to yours.

So I need to take my mind off myself and turn to God. Over the last eighty years God has never let me down, so why should He now? I read in the Bible that worry will not add an hour to my life (probably the opposite) There is the saying ‘Why worry then you can pray? God knows all about our worries and troubles and what is more, He knows the solutions. How arrogant I am to think I can sort out my own difficulties. I think I’d better get praying!

I serve at the local welcome table at my local hospital. Among the staff, visitors and patients we are popular for the sweets we give away. They give people a sugar boost after and long day on the wards or a stressful visit to relatives. Occasionally people ask for prayer. I know very little about the situation I am praying into . I don’t know whether people are Christian, atheist or of some other religion.

But God knows, He knows every single detail of those lives involved. Furthermore He knows exactly what prayers are needed. I am praying into the unknown, I pray that by the help of the Holy Spirit He will lead me to the right words and lead the prayers in the right direction. I never know the results of my prayers but that is not important. I am only the intermediary.

Why does God give me the task, and you, the task of visiting the sick or listening to the lonely? He could send better people to do these tasks or arrange for these things to be done with out any of our help. There could be people more capable and skilled to work for Him.

I now realise that it is for me and our benefit. Yes, there are others to visit and listen and do other things for Him. But by allowing us to participate there is great gain to us. It gives us the chance to learn compassion and empathy. By doing these things our love for Christ will grow. I am humbled that He should trust me. My love for Him and others will increase as I mature i my Christian journey.

I read psalm 23 again today with fresh eyes. I noticed the verbs that were used – ‘makes’, ‘leads,’ ‘restores’ and ‘leads.’ How interesting, ‘He makes me to lie down in green pastures.’ My God knows I’m always on the go and trying to achieve so many things, so He makes me and probably you, to lie down. It is an order, we have to do it or else we would burn out.

I have a mental picture of lying in a wild flower meadow, the sounds of myriads insects buzzing in my ears. I feel completely enveloped by the scene. The blue sky is above and the tall trees sway in the zephyrs. My mind is relaxed and at rest. I feel God’s restorative powers working in my body. I am so pleased that God ‘makes’ me lie down. It is not left to me to decide; He knows how much we all need it.

I wonder why God chose the colour green with which to clothe so much of nature. Although we have flowers clothed in beautiful colours, most plants are surrounded by green foliage. No green ever clashes. There are greens of every hue but no green ever jars against another; they all blend in together.

Not so in my life. I have a green jumper and green skirt but I can never wear them together, their greens completely clash. One is a bluey-green and the other a purpleish-green. The combined picture is not good. At the moment I’m thinking abut the colour even more as the carpet in the living room of my new bungalow is a pale green. How will I cope with new furnishings? Will the greens clash with my carpet? It’s not as if I can take the carpet to the shops to compare them. Maybe I should have the furnishings a complimentary colour. At present I have a green bedroom with floral curtains and bed linen. It works but I’m not sure if it would work in a living room.

We might emulate nature but we can never equal it. There is nothing more relaxing than walking in the woods or sitting in a meadow quietly absorbing every shade of green imaginable. God certainly got it right.

I couldn’t believe it! I had bought the book by one of my favourite authors at a second-hand bookstall. It was very tatty but I hadn’t read this one before and I had so many hours of enjoyment as I turned page after page. Would the villain get his just reward? Who would the heroine eventually find to be her soul-mate. Would it be the good-looking Ben or the rich Max? I got to the last couple of pages and disaster struck. The last page of all had been torn out. I would never know the answers to all my questions.

How unlike life for those of us who know and love the Lord. During our lives we will have ups and downs, joys and disasters like in my book. We won’t know until it happens if we will end up with our Ben or Max or somebody else. As I’ve said before, we don’t know how many weary ways or golden days we will have. But we do know the last page of our lives. . God has a place in heaven ready for us. There will be no more parting, pain or death. I thank God for the last page.

‘What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and love mercy and walk humbly with your God.’ Micah 6:8. The Lord requires us to act justly. What does this look like? Maybe I shouldn’t use a cheap car wash as this could be employing slave labour. I need to look into the shops which sell very inexpensive clothing. Were these produced in sweat shops? But I also need to work out if it is better for these people to earn small amount rather than nothing. Could I take a little more interest in these problems by looking at the political implications?

‘To love mercy. What does this look like? Should I contact the police if I see or hear serious domestic abuse? What should I do if I witness a kid being bullied in the street? It would be too dangerous to intervene. What I did once was wander over innocently to the group to ask the way to the High Street. It defused the situation and the bullied kid ran away. No danger to me!

This Micah text is the motto of my city, but unfortunately they leave off the last five words. It rather makes me think, doesn’t it.