March: Thoughts from Huw

Dear Friends,

Hope this letter finds you well.

March sees the start of Lent which is the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter in the Christian Calendar. By observing the 40 days of Lent, Christians replicate Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and withdrawal into the desert for 40 days. Lent is marked by prayer, fasting and giving to charity. The colour of Lent is purple which represents repentance and hope.

Jesus spent 40 days in the desert, reflecting and praying. It was a lonely place but we too need a place for reflection and praying. Where is our place? Often we live foolishly and unspiritually, driven by stupid desires and imprisoned by selfish habits. We are surrounded by noise and constant activity. We get our priorities wrong. We are unable or unwilling to be alone, to be silent, to be still.  And we wonder why we aren’t happy, why we don’t find it easy to get on with others, and why we can’t pray.

We need solitude. In solitude we begin to stand on our own feet before God and the world, and accept full responsibility for our own lives. The hermit goes into the desert, not to lose himself, but to find himself. In solitude we meet our demons, our addictions, our anger, our frustrations and our need for recognition and approval.

We don’t go into the wilderness to escape from others, but to find them in God. “Only in solitude and silence can I find gentleness with which I can love my brothers and sisters.” (Thomas Merton) 

After nearly two years of Covid 19 restrictions  and challenging times, we can meet in person again for our Lent course. This year it will begin on Tuesday 8th March at 2pm and every Tuesday during Lent at Sheriff Hill Methodist Church. It will be led by the Circuit Evangelism Enabler Mr Ian Stimpson on the theme of ‘Our Church’s Story’. Ian started this course in March 2020 but after two sessions we were in Lockdown. So, I have invited Ian to share it again and hopefully we will manage to complete  the course.

Look forward to seeing you.

God Bless

Huw