Zipping up my fleece, and pulling on my gloves, I headed down to the beach to take advantage of the welcome sunshine. I found myself looking ahead to days when a T-shirt and sandals would suffice, rather than todays' multi-layers. Two nights ago it had rained heavily, resulting in flooding across roads where drains had been unable to carry away the downpour. Now I glimpsed the first sights and sounds of Spring; birds singing in the trees and the first couple of inches of growth as daffodils push up through the ground.
Walking along the beach has many benefits, for the body, mind and spirit. It gives me physical exercise at no cost, and fresh air blowing in off the sea to fill my lungs. The sound of the waves breaking on a stormy day, or the clatter of pebbles and shingle rearranged by each tide renews the spirit. When I am struggling with a sermon, a walk by the beach relaxes my mind enough to find a way to proceed when I return home.
Today the waves had thrown up some seaweed and shingle overnight, and further on some distinctive Isle of Wight “blue slipper” clay had slid onto the path. Nothing very remarkable in this. However, I have learned to listen to God as I walk along the beach, and the next sight really caught my eye.
The cliff had become so wet due to the rain, that yet again a portion had become unstable and fallen. As I looked up, a distinct track was clear, down which a complete tree had descended. About five feet tall there it rested on the promenade, complete with its root-ball. “Uprooted” was the one word that came to mind.
“Uprooted”- here in my path was a visual picture of how I feel. I have recently left a Church where I have been extremely happy for eight years, during which I made many friends and developed gifts to use for God. God has now called me to move to a Church nearer my home, which makes perfect sense in practical terms, but currently I feel as uprooted as the tree I was looking at.
The poor tree is unlikely to be replanted, and will probably go to a civic landfill site, or at best be recycled. Happily that is not the case for me. However, it will take time to put down roots, to develop a strong connective system which will provide me with stability and the necessary water and nutrients for growth,. I will need to make new friendships, build new relationships with fellow members of the ministry team and find fresh opportunities to use my God-given gifts in this new situation.
In short, this currently uprooted tree has to put down new roots, and I need to keep this in mind for it cannot happen overnight. Some days I am inextricably drawn to the beach, and today was one such day on which to be attentive to God's voice.
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I sense refreshment here. (I do hope that you are not living too near the IOW's cliff edge). I hope that you will soon feel securely rooted in your new situation and will then be able to send out new shoots. God bless you in your ministry.x
I sense refreshment here. (I do hope that you are not living too near the IOW's cliff edge). I hope that you will soon feel securely rooted in your new situation and will then be able to send out new shoots. God bless you in your ministry.x
