LENT 1 - 21st February -   Changed by serving 

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READING - Mark 10;   42 - 45

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REFLECTION -    Changed By Serving

Now imagine how different it would be
if no one would do anything to help:

no doctors, nurses or first responders;
no scientists, lab technicians, researchers:
no teachers, shop assistants or builders;
no farmers, vets, delivery drivers;
no bank clerks, council or postal workers:
no dentists, chemists, no sandwich makers;
no taxi, buses or phone repairers;
no volunteers, vaccinators,
... carers.

And imagine how different it would be
if you did not do anything to help:

no happy morning smile and cheery air;

no family (bubble) or listening ear;
no, “Happy to talk,” on a walk somewhere;
no helpful advice about new software;
no, “Yes, I’ll set to and do that repair”;
no, “I’ll remember you daily in prayer”;
no, “Can I offer  you help in your despair?”;

no gentle enquiry, concern
... or care.

 

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PRAYER - Gracious God, may we learn to serve one another in the way of Jesus and may we not be afraid to care and be cared for. 

AMEN

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LENT 2 - 28th  February -   Changed by waiting 

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READING - James 5 ;   7 - 11

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REFLECTION - Changed By Waiting

The gift of time came unexpectedly
so she sat and took to thinking
about what had been said
and what had not been said.
How? Why? What if?

It had been raining all morning
but now the sun shone
and warmed her face.
She closed her eyes
and heard birdsong
through the open window.
Peaceful, quiet, resting.

Taken by the hand
she visited country walks,
family happiness, holidays,
and work, struggle, sadness.

You’ve done alright,
she heard.
You’ll be OK.

A gentle touch on the shoulder
lifted her from meditation and prayer.
“... I am ready for you now.”


© David Buck 2021

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PRAYER - God of hope, you are patient with me, may I be patient with you and risk the changes that might come through waiting

AMEN 

LENT 3 -  7th March  -   Changed by struggling

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READING - Romans 12 ;   17 - 21

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REFLECTION -  Changed Through Struggling

They had fought for as long as they
or anyone could remember.
No one is born like that, surely?

It began with what belonged to who
           and who could run the fastest;
who was stronger, cleverer, smarter;
           who did best at school.

And then to outdoing with jobs, home,
           marriage, children;
friends, position in society, respect;
           power and control.

The distance and difference
            became immense;
fear determined the decisions
           and actions between them.

So now we see them facing each other
           in the field
by the roads from north to south,
           east to west.

What now?
           Who will make the first move,
with so many watching?
           We waited.

“Does the butterfly struggle
           as it comes out of the chrysalis?”
“I don’t know,” the other replied,
           “but as it holds still and the blood flows
           through the veins into the wings
           it is at its most vulnerable.”

The silence was long before we saw
           the offer a hand in greeting
transformed in reciprocation
           to embrace and blessing with kisses.
 

“I never heard you say that before,
           you knew everything.”
“And you had everything,

            all that was possible.”
 

And so they fell to the pattern
           of each making the other complete;
here, take my cloak;
           let us walk slowly together.

 

The past was always there, we later observed,
           to trip them up;
habit, ‘tradition’ and ‘belief’ take
           a long time dying.

But the angels rejoice now,
the joining of brothers
birthing oneness.

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PRAYER - Lord God, help us in our everyday struggles and give us strength and wisdom and a willingness to overcme evil wth good. AMEN