Rev. Norris will continue to provide regular ‘Thoughts’ based on Bible verses during these difficult times.

Today’s ‘Thought’ is based on Luke 12 v.24-27.

Luke 12:

²⁴ Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! ²⁵ And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? ²⁶ If then you are not able to do so small a thing as that, why do you worry about the rest? ²⁷ Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.

We are living through such uncertain times, it is very hard not to worry about what the next months will bring, here in this country and around the world. We constantly ask one another when we are going to get back to “normal”, though, in truth, none of us knows what a new “normal” might be. We worry about food (though thank goodness for the shop); we worry about our friends and family whom we can’t see except on platforms like Zoom and Facetime (though they are brilliant ways of staying in close contact and ones I will continue with when this is all over).

And yet, walking in the fields around Coddenham this last week, in such glorious weather, reminded me that life is going on, all the while we hunker down and worry. Spring is in the air. Crops are growing. The trees are coming into leaf. There is blossom to be seen. This has always been a place where walkers greet one another, but now, that greeting seems to be more important than in the past. How are you? Isn’t it wonderful to be out in the fresh air? Are you enjoying your walk? We may be isolated, but such exchanges (at the requisite distance!) reminds us that we aren’t on our own.

The Bible verses I’ve referred to above show Jesus telling his disciples how destructive it is to worry, how it achieves nothing. He reminds them that God loves them – and all of us – so much more than the birds, who are still able to find food and live their lives. If God is there for the birds, how much more is He there for us.

Being outside – whether we are walking or in the garden – realising that spring is here – lifts the spirits, calms us, helps us feel more positive and stop worrying. God’s gift of nature is a gift to all, one that we can grasp with both hands. Even today, when it’s grey, I can see blossom on the hedges in the garden and the forecast is for 18 degrees at the week end! We can all look forward to small things one day at a time and continue to support one another; that way everything looks brighter, not just the weather!