weather

James’s Blog: Fair Weather Friend.

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James’s Blog: Fair Weather Friend.

We’ve had some really nice weather over the past few days but, as they say, every silver lining has a cloud. In this case the warm weather has played havoc with our Wi-Fi signal as it climbs the stairs to my office. It’s not an uncommon issue for me – in the past few houses we’ve lived in, the room where I do my work has often seemed to form the nexus of a cyberspace Bermuda Triangle. I have noticed that it’s particularly bad when the weather is good, with the signal dropping out frequently. Simple tasks like sending e-mails or logging on to WordPress become lengthy trials, turning my internet usage into some kind of hostage negotiation.

Of course, this plays out like a metaphor for my relationship with God. I’ve also noticed that when I’m enjoying my own warm weather that I can be a slow to invite God into my days. I know full well how much I need to be attentive to God in every moment of my life but when the sun is shining and life is good along comes the temptation is to drop out and cruise. Sometimes it takes the sun vanishing behind a cloud to remind me that I haven’t been connecting with the one who made the sun and the rain. I hate the idea that God serves no purpose in my life other than to be a comfort blanket, and I know that – on balance – that’s definitely not the kind of relationship we have…but every now and then I am reminded how easily I fall into the trap of calling out to God when it rains, and ignoring Him when the sun shines.

Alright, it’s not a great analogy. In fact, it’s rather weak – but then so is my Wi-Fi signal. Speaking of which, it seems to be working at the moment, so I’d better save this while I can…

James’s Blog: The Music of Easter.

Lioness Writing Ltd Author , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
James’s Blog: The Music of Easter.

We had nice weather last Friday. It was somewhat glorious, to be able to collect the children from school without needing to wear a coat. Spring is at hand, despite the best efforts of the weather system known as The Beast from the East, who has been trying to prolong winter. Winter, I think, is always trying to hold back spring. It won’t work though. You can’t stop the changing seasons.

Easter is also at hand. If you listen, you can already hear the Palm Sunday crowd, its praises echoing forward through time. The Pharisees tried to stop it, their own little Beast from the East tantrum, but that didn’t work either. It’s no wonder that we can hear it all, two thousand years later. Jesus himself said that if the crowd didn’t get it out of their system then the stones themselves would have to take up the song; it’s just that powerful.

Later that week, there was more music, though it was more muted. After their last meal together, Jesus and his friends sing a song before heading towards the garden. A glimpse of spring on the darkest night of the year. Winter tries its luck again: “The one I kiss, he’s the one that you want.”

And it seems to work. The friends scatter. Jesus is tried by a kangaroo court and nailed up to die.

But you can’t hold back the changing seasons, and you can’t hold back the magic of Easter song. Even in the darkness of Gethsemene night; the darkness of that Friday eclipse; the darkness of the tomb, we know what’s coming.

The ice is thawing, the green shoots are peaking through. For us, spring will turn into summer and summer into autumn and autumn back into winter, but as far as Easter is concerned, winter is behind us and always will be.

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