Letter from our Minister

Dear Friends,

I read this just recently : "As you grow, you learn more. If you stayed at 22, you'd always be as ignorant as you were at 22. Aging is not just decay....it's growth".

The quest to remain young these days is one embarked upon by so many. In lots of ways people try to keep away what they perceive to be an awful experience : growing old. But the thing is with age can come experience, wisdom and a wonderful ability to see what is truly good in life. Again I read that people who wished that they were young again haven't found meaning because "if you've found meaning in your life, you don't want to go back ....you want to go forward, ...to see more, to do more ".

Perhaps you don't agree with the above but for me it is reflective of the Christian life. Faith takes us on a journey into wholeness; it enables us, by grace, to grow up into who God wants us to be. And that process is about learning what is important, what is right, what God wants us to be doing. Such an experience doesn't happen overnight, or in months or years but over a lifetime.

Involved in our calling as Christians is a call to grow old gracefully,  so to speak. In order to do so we open our lives to God that He might change how we think, the attitudes we have, the way we use our time, talents and money, all in ways which open the door of a much richer life to us. And part of allowing God into our lives is by making time for Him which I'm sure all of us do not do enough of. The Christian season of Lent begins on Wednesday 9th March. Why not use Lent to give God more of a space to bring age to your life, to shape your life more into what it should be.

The sad thing is, of course, that many Christians never get out the Christian nursery! They just never grow old the way God wants them to. Embrace God's old age. Don't be afraid of what God has in store for those who love Him. It might not be eternal youth but it will certainly be eternal life.

Blessings

Joe

Book Referred to is Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

Pastoral Needs

Please inform the Minister if you are ill, in hospital or facing particular difficulties.  If the Minister knows about your needs he will endeavour to offer every possible assistance.  Contact him at the Manse or by phone on 0141 616 2410.

The Pastoral Group makes regular visits to the elderly, infirm, housebound, those in a care home etc.   Please call Jean Henderson  if you know of anyone who should be on our list.  We will be very pleased to visit them.