Sunday April5 th

Hi All,

I hope that you are all still surviving and keeping safe here is this weeks message. Keep in touch

Although I love the works of J.R.Tolkien and The Hobbit in particular, I have never actually wanted to be a Hobbit, although the prospect of a second breakfast has often appealed, the hairy feet put me off! But the sense of home, of contentment, of being at peace in daily life, of a Hobbit, I have often admired, not least off all now. 

Being partly confined to home (and I know that I am lucky that I can still go out a bit) brings much more closely to my attention those places where I am not at home in myself.

Grateful for a lovely Manse, I am still restless, not at home, not at peace. Part of that is because our world has been turned upside down with its massive impact on daily life. Part of this though is just me not being at home in myself, and like everyone else, having my weaknesses exposed in these unusual times. 

What I did at home, and when I did it, is now all up in the air and I flit between chores, work, family, crafts, phone calls, online meetings, all the time thinking I should be doing something else, doing something more, instead of just using this gift of time for just being, not always doing.

The hobbit, Bilbo Baggins gave his memoirs the title, ‘There and back again.’ We will look back at these days as he did, from the perspective of having come through the other side, but for now I know, that I must spend time, just being, not always doing. I must go on an inner journey, take steps to develop some more patience for a start, take steps to be at home in myself, at peace with who I am. It is the perfect time, for a journey of spiritual growth.

Jesus, spoke of the many rooms in his Father’s house prepared for us, and he said that he stands, at our door, not rushing off, having rung the bell, as we currently have to, but knocking and calling so that we can hear, open the door and share a meal (Revelation 3:20). So in the coming weeks and months I will try at home, to be at home in who I am and open my door to the one who draws me deeper into life, maybe by putting aside some extra time to just rest in the presence of the one who is light itself. I’m sure I’m not the only one who needs time to rest and feel at home. 

Catch up with you all next week

God Bless

Nik