Thought for the Week

At last the storms are abating and we can walk upright again.

Some would say that we need the storms, the turbulent times in our lives, to appreciate the calm days.

Once again the Christian calendar turns to the time of Lent when Christians prepare themselves for Easter and all that it involves.

During Lent, we think of Jesus struggling with his own demons in the desert of life, in the difficult times when he is aware of what the future holds for him – and for what he holds for the future.

He will struggle in the desert of doubt and despair; he will be tried and tested till he thinks he will lose his sanity; he will fall to his knees in prayer – and that is when he will know that God is with him.

Jesus will spend time in the wilderness of life, both the literal wilderness and the spiritual wilderness, and he will come through that desert renewed and soaring on the wings of eagles.

He will be broken, but not beaten; cast down, but not cast out; tested but not thwarted.

In fact Jesus will come through the darkness of that desert into the life-giving light of God. He will see through the sandstorms, past the mirage of doubt and ahead of him, he will see the narrow road, the less travelled road – and that is the road he will choose.

His call has always been: ‘Come, follow me.’

A simple command we might think – but are we really ready to choose that road less travelled, less popular, less easy, to follow the one who is the way, the truth and the life?

It is Lent – decision time - what will you decide?