Dear Friends,
I wonder if you all notice the hive of activity on our streets in the towns who host marathons. This is true in London and Birmingham and in our own town of Reading. I wonder if you have stood clapping and cheering the participants on to the finishing line. Our reading from the book of Hebrew draws on the image of the Christian journey or pilgrimage as a long distance race where we are surrounded by the great cloud of witnesses around us. They are those named in Hebrews chapter 11 up to the unnamed heroes and heroines of every age. They are the ones cheering us on at the finishing line! Our race in life is one that needs patience and a journey in which we keep our eyes on Jesus.
Our task in life is to follow in his footsteps. Jesus kept his eye on the joy of doing his father’s will. I was reminded of this as I accompanied my husband John and a group of residents from ‘Abbeyfield’ on a journey to Windsor to see the changing of the guard. The evidence of joy was in everyone in all that was shared. The Christian journey continues for everyone until the finishing line is reached.
Our collect reminds us:
Almighty God, who sent your Holy Spirit
To be the light and life of your Church:
Open our hearts to the riches of your grace,
That we might bring forth the fruit of the Spirit
In love and joy and peace;
As we all continue our journey of faith may that prayer bring a response in us all.
In Christ, Daphne