Thought for the Day 15th April

Thought for the Day - Wednesday 15^th April


Our reading today is Colossians 3: 1-4 offered here in the ‘Good News Bible’ translation:

You have been raised to life with Christ, so set your hearts on the things that are in heaven, where Christ sits on his throne at the right side of God. Keep your minds fixed on things there, not on things here on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Your real life is Christ and when he appears, then you too will appear with him and share his glory!

In these days of coronavirus it is so easy to focus on the never-ending media coverage of the spread and effects of this Covid-19 virus. Yet, for our well-being we are being advised to listen only once a day to the media coverage and I think that is wise advice. For, if we constantly listen to this never-ending stream of news it can raise our anxiety levels, increase our fears and perhaps even take us to deep places where we do not wish to be.

So, I like Paul’s words for today where he says - Keep your minds fixed on things there, (things that are in heaven), not on things here on earth.

Yes, we need to know what is going on here on earth, yes we need to get the facts and figures each day, yes we need to know what we are being advised to do, but we should not dwell overly long on these earthly things, to me, that would be like staying in the garden at the empty tomb rather than going back out into the world as resurrection people.

Instead then let us follow Paul’s words, let us keep looking above, let’s keep looking to God and spending some of our isolation time with him each day,  let’s not stay in the garden beside that empty tomb but look to the Risen Christ and remind ourselves that he is our hope.    

You know, I was listening to a podcast yesterday recommended to me by a friend and colleague called ‘Three Vicars Talking – Easter’ which appeared on Radio 4 and which you can find on the BBC Sounds App – which I would recommend you listening to if you can. On it one of the vicars, Giles Fraser, spoke of hope and he said something which struck me as interesting – he said that hope also means defiance – in other words with hope we are strong-willed and we will not give in!

So, as we journey through this uncertain time – let us not dwell too long on earthly things, let us keep our focus above, keep it on our hope and with hope in our hearts and with hope’s air of defiance and not being willing to give in, we will get through this time.  

Prayer

Loving Lord,

We do find it is hard not to spend so much time focusing on what is going on around us in the world today even though we know it may not be good for our well-being. Speak to our hearts and minds, Lord, and remind us each day of the Easter hope that we may be encouraged to ‘look above’ us and through that focus be encouraged and enabled to look beyond ourselves to those around us in need of your hope in their lives at this time. Through Jesus Christ our Risen Lord and Saviour we pray. Amen.