Never mind the greyness, just feel the warmth. We’re blessed with air from the tropical seas, so make the most of it. Soon, rain will fall. But for the next few minutes, it’s delightful.
I’m not a big fan of temporary happiness – the prospect of the end of happiness or forthcoming trouble kind of overshadows the present – that just seems to be my psychology. However, my faith gives me the chance to paste my happinesses and unhappinesses into a bigger story, the story of God’s love acting in the world. Sometimes that story runs beneath the surface, sometimes it’s told openly. One such time is Mary’s song, what later generations call ‘The Magnificat’, one of Sunday’s lectionary readings…
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
I wonder how many ‘rich’ and ‘powerful’ people have said those words regularly and with untroubled hearts throughout the generations of the church.