Dear friends,
It is a beautiful day in Darlington. At the moment the sky is an unbroken blue. Walking Lucy at the moment is delightful, as each day more and more flowers are appearing in the gardens we walk by, walks take longer as I stop to look more often. We are now in Lent, which I find unbelievable, where have the last four weeks gone? On Monday, Churches together in Darlington have the first of their Lent Studies ‘Walking with Jesus’; our Bible study group are using the same material. Break4Lent allows us to take time out to share together We are reminded that Easter is at the heart of our Christian faith and its most important festival, celebrating the resurrection of Jesus on the third day after his death, three days that changed the world. In the days leading up to the Crucifixion Jesus and his followers were busy, are our days busy?
Do we take time out of our busyness to share in Jesus’ journey? Have you given something up for Lent? Maybe you have taken something on. There are no rules and regulations as to how we develop our own Lent Journey.
I have not given anything up, but when writing the opening couple of sentences, I started humming Count your Blessings, which led me to look at psalm 28 verse 7. ‘The Lord my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts; so I am helped and my heart exults and with my song I give thanks to him.’
As I think on the blessings I have already encountered today, blue sky, spring flowers, birdsong, trees in bud, reminding us of new beginnings and the love of my dog. I also remember blessings before I went out, comfortable home, family, coffee to wake me up etc etc.
I have decided to make a point of counting my blessings throughout Lent and writing new blessings down each day. I will tell you the total reached when I am with you next month. Perhaps you might join me in being aware of and acknowledging the many, many blessings we receive each day. It is easy to recognise them on a sunny day like today but will I be so ready to see them when the wind is howling and the sky is overcast?
The last verse of the hymn is
So, amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.
And the extra chorus we sang in Sunday school
Count your blessings name them by the score and it will surprise you there are thousands more.
May your journey through Lent be full of Blessings.
Maranny
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