Jesus tells us through the Gospel writer, ‘Look at the birds of the air … [Matt 6.26] and ’See how the flowers of the field grow …. [Matt 6.28]. With good reason, we can fail to pause and notice
and learn.
At this time of the year, poppies are in abundance. But they are not poppies of the field! Poppies have become iconic within our national landscape as holding memory. If we pause and look and remember and learn and dream, not only do we remember something of the ‘rock from which [we] were drawn [Isa 51.1], and the individual and corporate narratives we draw from, but we learn something a little deeper about our humanity: fear and courage, mortality and suffering, the giving and the taking of life, of choice and of no choice, of pride and humility.
For many, the poppy draws out the song of poets; for many more, each crimson poppy evokes a memorial to the named and the unnamed. There may be stirrings of an earth crying out for blood that has been spilt.
When you pause and ponder and reflect, where does this take you? What do you learn about yourself, the world and God? And of your dreaming and your hope - where are you led?
This is a sombre and painful time for very many. I thank God that the day will come when swords will be beaten into ploughshares, and spears into pruning hooks; and when nation shall not lift up sword against nation; and neither shall they learn war anymore.” [Isaiah 2:4] and I pray, ‘Hasten the day Lord! And may I be an instrument of your peace.'
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. [Ephesians 3:20–21].
With my prayers, love and thanksgiving for our shared ministry in the Gospel.
+Bev