Leap of faith

Snow globes of hope

Who doesn't love a snow globe? They have a magical quality to them that touches young and old. We start off with the still scene, give the globe a shake and hundreds of snowflakes bounce around. Then they gradually settle back down creating a new snowy carpeted scene. 

Our lives too have changing scenes. Well-being becomes a barometer altered by the shifting tides of failing health and healing. Relationships can grow or break down, blossom or fade, heralding emotional fluctuations. A family's dynamics shift when a member dies or leaves, for whatever reason. They also alter when there is a birth or a new person joins the family. People's roles or jobs in life can change bringing new senses of identity and have financial implications. Moving house, relocating, emigrating or working abroad bring with them altering parameters to familiar routines.

Like a snow globe we are caught in a maelstrom that requires our response. And for those of faith, our relationship with God can affect how we respond. We can bring God into the equation. We can be like the wise man who built his house on the rock. We can rebuild our lives using the roots of our faith as foundation stones. The rebuilding may be slow. It may only evolve one brick at a time. We may not even be able to envisage what the final build will look like. But, that is ok. We don’t need to know. We just need to trust that we will get there.

Then, when the snow eventually settles, we will find a new shape has been created. It won’t be the same as the one before. Life has changed. But, it will have the unspoken tenets of faith built in to it. Those building blocks of love, trust and peace enabling us to look to the future again with a sprinkling of hope.

The Sifting of Words

The book 'A Life for a Life' was written by Dinah Maria Mulock Craik (pictured right) is not one you come across everyday. In fact, it was published in 1859. She herself considered it to be her best work. Although very old, it is now available courtesy of the British Library who have worked alongside Microsoft to digitise around 65,000 of its 19th Century books.

I came across this book earlier this evening when I was looking up one of my favourite poems. Rather, what I thought was a poem. The 'poem' turns out to be a quotation from Dinah's book.

It is a favourite reading of my friend Pauline and I. For it speaks of a relationship between friends that is safe,  honest and full of trust. It goes like this:-

"But oh! the blessing it is to have a friend to whom one can speak fearlessly on any subject; 

with whom one's deepest as well as one's most foolish thoughts come out simply and safely.

Oh, the comfort - the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person -

having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, 

but pouring them all right out, 

just as they are, chaff and grain together; 

certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, 

keep what is worth keeping, 

and then with the breath of kindness blow the rest away."

What a blessing indeed and surely one of God's greatest gifts.