FROM REVEREND ROBIN                                                                 

I don’t know about anyone else but January has not been the peaceful post Christmas relax I was hoping for. Besides the storm knocking out all the power and phone lines, it felt a bit like as soon as Christmas was over it was straight back to it with school runs, wedding planning, funerals, rotas, meetings to discuss the future of the Glebe land in St Breward. It was just as busy as the run up to Christmas but without the joy of Christingles and Carol singing at the end. I was hoping February, with its shorter length will bring a bit more peace, but then a quick look at my Church diary tells me February contains Lent, and with that, the run down to Easter. No rest for the wicked!

Lent is traditionally the time where some of us look to give up something, to remind us of the trials and temptations of Christ in the wilderness. Before storm Goretti, I might have considered giving up social media or scrolling on my phone but having gone through those dark days so recently I don’t think God would want me to put myself through it again. He is after all a loving and merciful God. So, I will look for something else to give up. Chocolate is always a good one as I have been known to fill up my car door with empty wrappers. Somehow, even though I now drive an electric car I still find a reason to stop at the petrol station. My general rule of thumb for giving something up for lent is pick something that won’t hurt but that will remind you regularly of what you are doing and why. If you choose to give up coffee but absolutely can’t function without it, maybe this is not the best thing for you. If, however, you regularly drink it but could just as easily drink water or tea then this would be a good one. Whenever you go to drink it or are offered one, say no and draw your mind to God. It is a really good way to bring you to God during the day when you might not usually pray or think of Him.

If, however, you are already finding life difficult enough without the added stress of giving something up then take something up instead. Even if that is trying to find ten minutes a day to read or sit quietly. This repetitive daily action will give you the reminder that God is available whenever you want.

The best bit about giving or taking something up is even if you fail (which I often have), while munching on a Mars bar you remember you shouldn’t have had it, and speak to God. The end result is the same, your relationship grows.

I’m off now to fill up on enough chocolate now that I can last at least some of lent before the call to the shop gets too loud to ignore. But even then, I will thank God for all He has done and for the goodness of this delicious sweet treat.

                                                   GOD BLESS, REVD ROBIN.