Thought for the Week
Many streets in built up areas have them – speed bumps. These traffic calming devices, also known as traffic thresholds and speed breakers, are there for a reason; to provide a calmer street environment and enhance safety for all road users. Most of us agree that it is good that traffic is slowed down as we do not wish to see anyone injured or hurt. Still, from time to time, these speed breakers annoy drivers as they disrupt our driving pace. At other times we may not see them in time to slow down, and our travel experience ends up rather bumpy.
Our spiritual journey also has speed bumps. They are not to be viewed as obstacles, rather calming opportunities for us to slow down and think about life and our walk with Christ. They are there for our spiritual safety.
As Christians we do not only encounter speed bumps on our journey through life. Sometimes there are roadblocks that also impede our travelling. Rather than seeing them as obstructions and dead ends that force us to turn back, maybe those blocks should encourage us to change our mode of transport instead? Why not replace the speeding spiritual car, which requires a wide road, for a prayerful bike that will take us on small winding roads where we both smell and see what surrounds us in a different way. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is reflecting on the way we walk through life. He is advising that wide and broad doesn’t mean right. Instead, he says: For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life. Then he adds, not all find it (Matthew 7:14). Don’t turn back when the roadblock is in your way. Stop and find another means of travelling on the way that leads to life.
One of my childhood’s hymns capture it as follows:
Show me the way, that leads to life, the one that was once marked out by God!
Tell me the saving advice God has given in the many voices of his messengers!
“Dear soul, I advise you,” Jesus replies, “seek me!”
(Lars Linderot, 1811)
Blessings,
Helene
Canon Dr Helene Steed
Rector of St Mark's Dundela
Our spiritual journey also has speed bumps. They are not to be viewed as obstacles, rather calming opportunities for us to slow down and think about life and our walk with Christ. They are there for our spiritual safety.
As Christians we do not only encounter speed bumps on our journey through life. Sometimes there are roadblocks that also impede our travelling. Rather than seeing them as obstructions and dead ends that force us to turn back, maybe those blocks should encourage us to change our mode of transport instead? Why not replace the speeding spiritual car, which requires a wide road, for a prayerful bike that will take us on small winding roads where we both smell and see what surrounds us in a different way. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is reflecting on the way we walk through life. He is advising that wide and broad doesn’t mean right. Instead, he says: For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life. Then he adds, not all find it (Matthew 7:14). Don’t turn back when the roadblock is in your way. Stop and find another means of travelling on the way that leads to life.
One of my childhood’s hymns capture it as follows:
Show me the way, that leads to life, the one that was once marked out by God!
Tell me the saving advice God has given in the many voices of his messengers!
“Dear soul, I advise you,” Jesus replies, “seek me!”
(Lars Linderot, 1811)
Blessings,
Helene
Canon Dr Helene Steed
Rector of St Mark's Dundela
|
| ||
