Easter Sunday

Four Directions Prayer: From Hopeless to Faith-full

Facing NORTH:
Sometime in our yesterdays something happened and hope was lost. A singular moment, a particular event, a slow seeping away, a series of setbacks - however, whenever it was, hope was lost.
Hope lies hopelessly among our yesterdays

SOUTH:
Looking ahead we search for signs. Will there be, could there be? Is it possible that sometime beyond this 'now' there might be a moment, an event, a string of small successes or a succession of small smiles. Maybe?
Hope waits uncertainly among our tomorrows

EAST
With each new dawn, hope rises. Will today be the day of its return? Will this new day be yesterday's 'sometime', the time when, looking back and remembering, hope rose and remained?
Hope rises hopefully everyday

WEST
As dusk falls, hope settles in faith; if not today, then maybe tomorrow. Hope knows that it can be hard to find, hard to hold on to, hard to accept. Hope can be harder than sorrow. But hope knows it will return when the moment is right. Till that time...
Hope rests faithfully, because faith is being sure of what you hope for!

(written by Ruth Abbott)

From the Manse, April 8 2009 - Emmaus Walk

Dear Friends,
The alarm went. I woke up feeling tired and heavy. Gym! I just didn’t feel like going to gym, but that was what the alarm was for. I dragged myself out knowing exercise was important, got ready, made a cuppa, a piece of toast, turned the computer on, opened some mail, read the junk mail, mucked around with things, put the rubbish out, and then decided it was too late for gym because it would be too much traffic coming back. Successful sabotage!

“Two days without exercise Rod!” “You know how easy it is to let it slip!” said the authority. Immediately a whole chorus of voices arose from the deep whining and grumbling, muttering excuses, abuses, justifications, arguments, until another quiet but firm voice said, “why don’t we go for a walk instead?” Silence! Blank stares! Nods of agreement! Shakes of indecision! “We’ve heard this voice before …is it a trick?” “No, he’s never tricked us before” The quiet voice said; “I’ll walk with you! Let’s go!” And one of them said; “It’s you, I thought they had got rid of you, but you are here, stay with us”

Grace and peace

Rod