Thought for the week (we 8th September 2013)

A long soak in a hot bath could make you fell less lonely so a recent study suggests.

According to a magazine article I read recently the hot water acts as a substitute for company and can dispel feelings of isolation and exclusion. Four hundred volunteers kept a diary of their bathing habits and how they felt before and after they had enjoyed a long and luxurious time in the bath.

The findings suggested that ‘physical and social warmth are to some extent substitutional in daily life’ There is, of course, something very therapeutic in a hot bath and historically people made their ways to the various bath spas all over the country to benefit from their medicinal and healing processes.

We all look for comfort and assurance especially at times when loneliness knocks on our door. Its then we need to know God always gives us a place to belong and as his children his care and love is never far away.

I officiated at the funeral this week of lady who had chosen in part to live quite a reclusive life. She had long ago lost contact with any remaining family and life had not been easy for her. While there were not many at her funeral, those who were, counted her a friend and the lovely tribute one of her neighbours gave was both moving and filled with warmth and friendship. This lady was not as alone and as she may have thought she was.

So it is with God – he is always with us, warming our hearts with his love and surrounding us with the gentle comfort of his presence. We are never alone, discarded or forgotten by the creator of the universe who Jesus told us is our Father.

‘Why then’ asks the Psalmist ‘am I so sad? Why am I so upset? I shall put my hope in God and keep praising him, my Saviour my God (Psalm 44).