Saint Michael’s Church
Serving God and Bishop’s Stortford since 673
Clergy Letter For March
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CLERGY LETTER FOR MARCH |
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The Revd June Knight Writes... |
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David and I have just returned from the holiday of a lifetime. We left Heathrow on the 29th December and flew to Singapore; the following day we arrived in New Zealand, spent three weeks touring North and South Islands before continuing our holiday in Raratonga in the Cook Islands and Tahiti then commencing our journey home, which entailed a stop-over in Los Angeles. Five wonderful weeks, so many experiences and so many wonderful memories. I was asked by a dear friend, ‘what were the two most precious memories from your trip?’ What an impossible question to answer! Was it the sight of Mount Cook covered in snow and bathed in the evening sunlight; the acres of wild lupins, the rare white herons, the unsurpassed natural beauty and tranquillity of Raratonga or the experience of sleeping in a water bungalow in Tahiti during a tropical storm? . . and I could go on. Sitting in my study on a cold wet windy Saturday in mid-February thinking about this article, I ask myself the same question again. ‘What two memories will stay with me forever?’ Strangely, it is none of the above but the sheer joy and privilege of being able to spend five whole harmonious weeks with someone you love. And my second memory which I will always equate with the holiday was the beginning of my book. Let me explain: when I was six years old I started to write a book. I think I managed about one page and then got bored, but the desire to write has never left me, and the difference now is that I have a lifetime of experiences to draw upon. Sitting in the car driving around North and South Island, some 2,000 miles and many, many hours in the car, gave me ample time to think and scribble. Trawling through long forgotten memories was fascinating. Whether this ‘book’ will ever be published is irrelevant, it’s a journal of my life and it was this trip which gave me the space to commence the long haul of piecing together fragments of memories, rather like a jigsaw puzzle. Memory is a wonderful gift from God, sadly as we move on in years, rather like our eyes and ears, it ceases to be as sharp – I would love a pound for every time I go to my larder, stand and say, ‘now what did I come here for!’ It’s not until I have retraced my steps and realise, ‘oh yes, I needed a new jar of coffee’, then walk back to my larder saying, coffee, coffee, coffee that I am able to achieve this simple task. Or put things in a safe place, only to forget where that safe place is! Does this ring a bell with you I wonder? If so, join the Memory Club! In our home groups we are all being encouraged to share our memories of ‘how we became a Christian’ which is a very interesting exercise. Might I encourage you at home to sit quietly and think about this; trawl through your distant memories to see when you first became aware of the existence and presence of God in your life, what brought about this experience? And then maybe think about how a faith and belief in Jesus Christ helps you in your daily walk. May I also encourage you to think deeply about the following question: ‘what are your two most life changing experiences?’ Since I have asked you this personal question, it’s only fair that I share mine. The first was meeting David when I was just 14 years old and the second was meeting Jesus when I was . . . . . . You will have to read my book to find this out!! Happy trawling and every blessing. June |
Office Address:
Saint Michael’s Church
Windhill
Bishops Stortford
Hertfordshire
CM23 2ND