Thought for the Week from the Rev David Jones

 

‘Near yet so far!’-

 

This time it was France, runners up in the Rugby World Cup losing the final by just a point, yet another bitter pill as it was for Wales in the semi finals.

Losing by such a small margin get’s our minds into overdrive and the inevitable ‘If only’ thoughts begin. If it hadn’t been for a controversial sending off and those missed penalties, who knows, fortunes could have easily have been reversed.

There again that’s the nature of the game and in the end the host team raised the cup and we don’t for a moment begrudge them that. Now’s the time to put the ‘If onlys’ aside and look forward to a Welsh team who have much to be proud of and look set to dominate the six nations championship.

The Apostle Paul persecuted the early Christians and had a major part in the death of Stephen the first Christian martyr; He was on his way to hound the early believers to the same fate when Jesus appeared to him on the Damascus Road. Following his conversion he emerged as a man of faith knowing that he was forgiven and accepted, even by those to whom he intended harm.

How often do those ‘If onlys’ creep up on us when we allow our minds to dwell in the past. Paul trusted his future into the hands of a loving God who through Jesus had forgiven his past. It can be the same for us. In knowing that same assurance and love, the past is gone, a new day begins with no more regrets – and that’s the best result of all!

Click here to find out more about The Rev. David Jones.