Irene and I went to the Lincolnshire Wolds for a bit of time out and to pray. We found a lovely spot near the top of a ridge with amazing views to the west of Lincoln city, the cathedral standing proudly on its hill, and Boston in the southeast, dominated by the tower of the Stump. There was a vast panorama in between, over the fens, across to the Norfolk hills and Lincoln Edge, taking in Newark, Grantham and Spalding, even Stamford. We had packed a picnic and sat in the boot to eat it, looking down at the road, the nettles in the verge, and the hedge behind it. After several minutes we realized that we had gone there to be inspired by the view, which was behind us, but had spent all the time so far looking at an area stretching no more than ten feet in front of us.
We could have gone home and said that we had had a lovely time eating our picnic in a country lane with some nice blossom in the hedge, but decided instead to turn around. When we went back we could say that we had had our picnic overlooking 100 square miles or so of beautiful countryside between landmarks in several of the main towns and cities in the county, fields, hills, woods, sky - and even a country lane with hawthorn blossom and nettles.
We can go through life preoccupied by our personal issues and immediate concerns, or we can lift our minds higher and take in the bigger picture of existence. We can worry about the problems of today and tomorrow, or even yesterday, and fail to enjoy the moment we are living in, like a butterfly savouring the nectar in a flower, not knowing that it doesn't have long to live. We can allow ourselves to be confined by the details of nature and its scientific explanations, or we can open our spirits to the God who made it all from nothing. We can live in our own box of our own making, or in the expanse of life that God has given us.
Jesus knew this and told us not to worry. "Don't worry about your life or your body, or finding food or drink or clothing. Life's about more than that. Look at the birds: they don't farm and store their produce, but God feeds them. Aren't you worth more than them? And can you make your life longer by worrying? The flowers in the fields don't knit and sew, but no king rivals the splendour of their apparel. Lots of people chase after food, drink and clothes, but God knows that you need them. So chase after his kingdom and seek his righteousness; then God will meet your material needs as well. Don't worry about tomorrow; there is enough to be getting on with today." (Matthew's Gospel, chapter 6, verses 25 - 34, my paraphrase) Let's lift up our eyes and take in the big perspective, trusting God to help us fill in the details.
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