FAITH FILES

IT’S harvest time, and my fruit trees are laden once again. Despite little effort from me they are as usual filling my shelves with goodness, producing far more than I can eat or store, so once again I’m gladly sharing my own harvest with family, friends and neighbours. Even then I have more apples than I could ever use, so it’s been our custom for many years to stand a crate of windfalls by our front gate from which passers-by can help themselves.

This year some neighbours from a tucked-away close offered to add their stock to ours! We gladly agreed.

This offering even elicits the occasional much-appreciated card or note of thanks at the end of the season.

This year I was surprised, though, by one note which complained that some of the apples were marked or bruised! Perhaps the writer didn’t understand the concept of “windfall”.

But it got me thinking about the many things which I receive that enrich my life at no cost to myself. Am I always grateful? Do I complain when things aren’t as perfect as I’d expected?

We have taken full supermarket shelves for granted but now supply-chain issues leave some gaps. Are we prompted to complain or to think with gratitude of all those who normally keep us supplied? We may complain about grey days, but do we thank God for other warm and sunny days that lift our hearts?

The Bible’s Book of Job is full of trials and complaints, but it ends with magnificent chapters, putting them all in perspective before God, saying, (Ch 38, NIV) “Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades? Can you loosen Orion’s belt? Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear with its cubs? Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up God’s dominion over the earth?”

Rather than complain when things weren’t perfect, Job was challenged to put his life in perspective before God and to acknowledge the blessings he has received, the many wonders over which he had no control.

The psalmist (107:21) simply says “Let us give thanks to God for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for everyone.” Finding something for which to be grateful each day sounds a good habit to me.

The Rev Philip Webb, Baptist minister