Now you see it, now you don’t…
When the newsletter-writing roster was discussed at a senior leadership meeting last term, I was, of course, eager to write the article for this cycle as it would have been a celebration of achievements following on from our annual athletics carnival. However, as with so many other situations this year, it never came about.
How many times have we thought that something we were planning for, or something we were expecting or something we had was a sure thing - a given, but then it didn’t happen, or it failed to materialise, or it was taken away?
When I ponder these questions, I am reminded of the Matt Redman worship song “Blessed be Your Name” where he acknowledges life’s “streams of abundance” juxtaposed with its “desert place”. When we remember how fortunate we are as a state to have had such significant shelter from the worst effects of COVID-19, it is easy to consider the abundance in our lives. We can, however, be forgiven for contemplating the things that have gone wrong – family gatherings not happening, holidays being cancelled, loved ones getting sick, jobs lost… Redman mentions that the “darkness closes in” and it is then that we have a choice.
Just this past week, I have been thinking at length about seeking out the good in all situations. As a teacher, parent, husband, mentor, coach, I try to live a life worthy of being an example to others around me and to lead by that example. I was faced with an incident this week where, whilst riding my bicycle, I got knocked by a car. Having come off at a reasonable pace, “losing some bark” as the policeman would later say, damaging my bike and the car that was involved – I was able to get up, dust off, chat to the driver, re-assemble my bike and eventually ride on.
That night, after detailing the crash with my family, we were able to pray a prayer of thanksgiving for God’s protection over me and also over the driver of the car who was visibly shaken by the incident. Is it always easy to find God’s favour in our daily situations? – NO, but when we choose to have our hearts say “Blessed be Your Name”, then we are able to recognise God’s provision and His grace and His protection.
Life happens – sometimes we can see it coming, sometimes we can’t – but what we can control, is how we deal with the messages it brings. As for me and my family, we choose to praise God when the streams of abundance flow, and we praise God when we are walking through the wilderness.
Blessed be His name!
Ken Holloway — Director of Operations