Thought for the Week
The past 16 months of lockdown restrictions have forced us as individuals, families and friends to make significant sacrifices in how we have had to engage with life.
Many folk have felt the strain of loneliness, many have missed family gatherings to celebrate special occasions like birthdays, family holidays have been called off, numbers at funerals have sadly been restricted and some couples have had to postpone wedding plans.
Thankfully, this in now changing and we are re-emerging back into life in our different communities.
This has opened up fresh opportunities of interaction with people again, allowing you to meet up with friends, family, work colleagues and your team mates on the sport fields.
Reflecting on these fresh opportunities of social interaction, I am drawn to the scripture found in Matthew 5 v 14 – 16 that encourages believers to go out into their respective communities for a specific purpose of shining their faith lights and doing good work for all those people in need.
I believe this scripture is calling us as people in our different communities to do just that.
We all have our own unique areas of influence and, in these spaces, we can make a difference, whether it is a phone call to encourage someone or going to visit someone who has felt the strain of loneliness or buying someone a fresh bunch of flowers or even to have a good old blether.
Let’s be excited in this new season that is upon us, recognising and embracing all the fresh opportunities of service that we can be part of in our respective communities.
Pastor Ryan Taylor, Lochgilphead
Baptist Church.