Thought for the week (we 17th Nov 2013)

We had an extra visitor to our Sunday evening services before bonfire night. All of a sudden she made a bolt through the chapel door, ran up the stairs of the chapel and planted herself under one of the choir pews.

Shaking and shivering, you will have guessed by now, she was a lovely Labradoodle who was in fear, trembling and blind panic. The loud bang and hissing of rockets overhead had made her frantic and it took more than a little gentle persuasion for her to emerge only to run away again as the bangs continued.

With a great deal of gentleness Susan and Jean who were welcoming on the door of the chapel before the service managed to get her into a car and through the kindness of Mr Gibson who opened up his veterinary practice she had a bed for the night – safe and secure at last.

The good news was that the following day she was reunited with her owners. In some small way the two ladies welcoming members of the congregation were to be the means by which this lovely Labradoodle was reunited with her owners. It may have been just a coincidence that she ran into the chapel but we are so glad she did!

It is, of course, no coincidence that God loves us. Jesus told the stories of a shepherd searching for a lost sheep, a woman who swept her house to find a lost jewel, and a father who looks to a distant land to see his wayward son return home and of the real joy and happiness when that which was lost was found. The prodigal son returned into the welcoming arms of his father who had never stopped loving him.

Nothing of chance or coincidence here with no questions asked or any possibility of rejection because of past failings. Life can be tough; we may be feeling that we too are in the middle of a storm.

Jesus said ‘Come to me all of you who are weary and I will give you rest’ Welcome home!