A message from the Rev’d Diana Netherway, Assistant Curate and Parish Deacon

Posted by Admin on 27 June 2016, 6:42 pm

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Life for many people can be a bit of a roller-coaster, especially at this time of the year. Not least for young people, many of whom have been taking important exams and we must not forget their teachers, TAs and LSAs who have been working hard to support and guide them during this challenging time. The stress and hard work of revising and preparing for exams is then followed by relief and celebration once the tests are completed. Next comes the build-up of stress waiting for the results which brings either joy and elation at doing well, or the anguish and bitter disappointment at failing to achieve the expected grade. Whatever the result, there is the question of what to do next. Even those leaving university with excellent results face the difficulty of finding a suitable job with enough pay to live on. Basically, life is very stressful, and this is not only the case for our youngsters, but also for us slightly/a lot (!!) older and more worldly wise.
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Therefore summer is as good a time as any to slow down and think about how things are going in our lives. Perhaps press the ‘pause’ button and take a well-earned rest. Have some ‘me’ time away from the hustle and bustle and the pressures of routine.
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The bible teaches the importance of taking time to enjoy our surroundings and our relationships with one another. Part of the creation story shows God stepping back from creation and seeing that it is good. This principle of the Sabbath; taking time to appreciate the good things in life, is a great antidote to the pressure to fill our lives with work and activity. Each of us will find different things restful, and it is helpful when we understand ourselves well enough to know what works for us. This will help us to face up to our concerns, without getting into a state of worry, which gives no benefit at all.
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‘Who of you by worrying, can add a single hour to his life?’ Matthew 6:27.
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Rather we are encouraged to place our anxieties and concerns at the foot of the cross and allow God to deal with them. This doesn’t make all our problems disappear, but it does help us to see the positive side of them.
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There will always be things to worry about in life, whether it be exam results, our own health or that of our dear ones and friends, or it may be about finances or the future. We cannot ignore all these things, but we can put our faith and trust in God and bring these and all our concerns to Him in prayer.
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At the same time though, we are encouraged to take time to rest and enjoy what is good. We don’t need to go far to ‘get away from it all’. We are privileged to live on this fabulous Island with its motto ‘All this beauty is of God.’
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Wishing you a wonderful summer season!

Diana

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