Birth of the Mid Loes Benefice
Ashfield, Charsfield with Debach, Cretingham, Dallinghoo, Earl Soham, Hoo, Letheringham, Monewden.
When our second daughter was born 28 years ago, we felt blessed that together with our two year old the family was truly whole. We thought seriously about the manner of their introduction, one to another, as human nature being what it is, we realised that the elder might feel ‘put out’ seeing another deflecting attention from her alone.
Placed together, a family likeness was obvious; baby Kirsty looked so like the Anna of two years ago; but then as one studied their faces and listened to their individual cries, subtle differences were made known and we then marvelled how unique characteristics of each could be recognised within our own family. They were not human clones, they were individual lives, with specific needs, gifted and graced by God.
So we watched both joyfully yet anxiously as the two met, knowing that ‘irreversible’ change had taken place. Kirsty could not be un-born! It was a touching moment when Anna ‘held’ the new baby in her arms and although aged only two we could sense an innate bond of vulnerability that is common to humans flowing from one to the other. Then her attention diverted to a little gift in the cot, with a label saying ‘To Anna with love from Kirsty’. It was a jigsaw, just right for a two year old being more grown up than a baby. How did Kirsty know?
In family life we learnt to play, laugh and cry together, sharing our ups and downs. Now 28 years on we’re having some stimulating and heart searching conversations, full of maturity as we relate past experiences that affected all our lives yet in different ways. The conversations reflect God’s abundant grace and patience with us even when we didn’t deserve it and witness an ‘ongoing action of nurture with love’. Once again, I have been moved to tears reflecting the vulnerability of our human condition and tenderness one to another: most especially God to humanity.
Within our churches we are all individuals, brothers and sisters ‘in Christ.’ Together with the Charsfield Benefice we now embrace one another making a larger family unit. We have much in common to celebrate together and individual unique characteristics to recognise and learn from. We also have a shared sense of vulnerability about our hopes and expectations living together in the family of Mid Loes Benefice. Most exciting though is the diversity and richness of people within each of our communities. Family life will undoubtedly be invigorating, different and enriching, recognising the needs of each and the nurture of one another whoever we are and however old and mature we think we might be.
I wonder how the Mid Loes Benefice will discuss their birth and family life in 30 years time? As equal inheritors of His Kingdom, children of God, all of us need to both give and receive to truly value the blessing that God gives us today, with ‘His love’
“The gifts he gave were……for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.”
Ephesians 4: 11a, 12b, 13 (NRSV)
Wendy Gourlay
We are creatures of habit, aren’t we?
As I write this I’ve just received in the post the details of a holiday Graham and I will be taking in a month’s time. I thank God for the opportunity, every so often, to take a break from the everyday pressures, to spend time with my husband, to eat a meal uninterrupted by the telephone ringing… I am so grateful for these God-given times of rest… and yet I know too, that after a couple of weeks my batteries will be recharged and I will be eager to be back amidst all that God is doing here – and that it will be good to return to the habit of the work routine once again. There is something ‘right’ about having purpose, routine and structure to our lives… about doing familiar things in familiar ways in a familiar environment.
Is that true? Or is it merely a sad reflection of my advancing middle years?
It maybe partly that, but not totally I think. Whatever age we are, we benefit from the presence of certain habitual patterns to our lives. Babies thrive on a regular pattern of feeding, changing, sleeping and cuddling… come to think of it, most of us of any age thrive on much the same thing! Habits are a part of the details of our everyday lives, be they for good or bad – or sometimes downright ugly!
Steven Covey wrote a book which has become a recognised classic, called The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. In it Covey states “Habits are powerful factors in our lives. Because they are consistent, often unconscious patterns, they constantly, daily, express our character and produce our effectiveness… or ineffectiveness”. Aristotle, a few thousand years earlier said something similar: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is not an act. It is a habit”.
Training for excellence in anything, be it sport, music, or our spiritual life, involves the development of good, helpful disciplines and eradication of unhealthy, negative habits. Perhaps a good challenge for us all this summer would be to gain at least one good and lose at least one bad habit. Put an end to the excuses - there’s no better time to start than now!
I know where I’m going to start while I am on holiday - by kicking the habit of lack of sleep! I totally relate to pastor and author John Ortberg who says that he finds it very hard to think, feel or act like Jesus when he lacks sleep. Sleep is both a gift from God and an act of trust. “The world will get along very well even though I am not awake to try to control things. At the appropriate time, my eyes will open and I will receive the gift of wakefulness once again” (The Life you’ve always wanted).
“In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat – for he grants sleep to those he loves” Ps.127:2NIV
Sweet Dreams!
Gill Lee