Clouds and mist
Dear Friends,
So the sun doesn’t shine everyday in Felixstowe, there are times when the clouds and mist descend? The last few days have reminded me of a time a number of years ago now when Elizabeth and I and our then young family spent an enjoyable time on holiday in Northern Spain. We were camped about 100 yards from a sandy beach with the ‘Los Picos’ mountains as our backdrop. It was an idyllic spot as we enjoyed uninterrupted sunshine for the first three days of our stay. However, when we awoke on the fourth day we found a sea mist had rolled in and enveloped our site to such an extent that we couldn’t see our wonderful scenery anymore let alone feel the sunshine on our backs. We hoped it would lift during the morning but it didn’t and so by midday we decided to get in the car and take a drive along the coast in search of clearer weather. My sense of direction isn’t that great so instead of sticking to the coast road we found ourselves negotiating a twisty road up the side of a mountain. After about an hour of careful driving and with the children getting a little impatience in the back we decided to return to our campsite. However, it wasn’t that easy to find a convenient let alone safe point to turn the car around and so some 10 minutes later we were still climbing up the side of the mountain. Just as tempers began to reach breaking point we broke through the mist into brilliant sunshine. We spent the rest of the day paddling in a glacier lake. Sunshine is what we had hoped to find and sunshine is what we found and also a great deal more, including a little sunburn.
It’s a bit like that when we decide to follow Jesus in our lives. There are times when we are not sure where he is leading us and the way forward is unclear, but when we take courage and venture out on that journey we find there is always more than we could possible or even hope for.
This time of the year can be an uncertain time for many. Our young folk have returned to school and colleges by now, started new courses, which in its self brings some anxiety. Perhaps some of you have changed jobs or homes recently and are still getting used to new surroundings and faces. This is certainly the case for some leaders and ministers up and down the country as they continue to settle in unfamiliar places.
If you have gone or are going through such a period of change or uncertainty in your life at present I pray as you step out into the future that when the cloud of unknowing clears you will find the Son of God shining upon you and many new blessings ahead.
David
PS It doesn’t matter if the clouds or mist do descend on Felixstowe from time to time we’re still enjoying our life with you all!