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Rev. Carol Harvey
June
June
Dear Friends,
As you will know, I have successfully moved house again, and most people have asked me, “How’s it going? Do you feel at home now?”
I stayed with a friend for three weeks in between moves and was asked if I felt “homeless” and told just to make myself at home while I was staying there. My answer to her was, “I think I am at home wherever I am.” However, it’s a question that has really got me thinking about house and home.
So, I Googled what makes one feel at home and came up with this: “Family photos, fresh bed sheets and a fridge full of food are among the things which most help a house feel like a home. A study of 2,000 homeowners has revealed what transforms four walls into a homely space, with their own bed topping the list according to 65%.”
What is it that makes my house a home? Looking around me now, I suppose it’s old, familiar things - possibly a picture. My sister was an artist, so her paintings remind me of her, and very often we would have spent time together in the setting of her painting. Maybe it’s a book, and I have far too many of those, or perhaps it’s something as simple as a family photograph, or even a favourite chair.
Those things may make me feel comfortable, even happy, with familiar things surrounding me - but no, I don’t think they make my home.
Then I remembered the saying, “Home is where your heart is,” and that put a whole new slant on my thinking. So - where is my heart? Where is your heart?
I was preaching recently on John 1:1–5, where John tells us that Jesus is light and life, and how there are so many things in our world that distract us from the true light, that distract us from our life in Jesus. So often, the things we seek let us down; they don’t really satisfy us. I think we can all identify with this, and it reminded me of the words in Ecclesiastes 3:11, which tell us that God has “set eternity in the human heart”, and the saying of St Augustine: “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”
Home is the place where we rest - and we can have no rest, no true home, until we find our rest in Him. Until we find our rest in God. Until we make our home in Him. Until we come into relationship with the light and life of God, manifest in Jesus. He is our home.
As Christians, we know this. When we make a commitment to God, we often use the words, “I invite Jesus into my heart.” We invite Him to make His home in our hearts - and He is where our heart is.
Sadly, we all fall short of the glory of God, of the infinite riches and treasures in Christ, that full and abundant life - the beautiful simplicity of loving and living life in close fellowship with Him. How sad for us - when we possess infinite riches and treasures so close, and so seldom enjoy them.
We often use that phrase, “Oh, he or she is the light of my life.” Is Jesus the light of our life? Because the more our lives are all about Him, the closer we become to Him - and the more of His life we enjoy.
So just ask yourself:
• What in my life is not all about Jesus?
• Is it my finances - do they not reflect priorities that are consistent with Jesus’ priorities in this world?
• Is it my activities - do they not reflect Jesus’ goals for my life or the life of my family?
• Is it the way I spend my time - does that not reflect how Jesus would have me spend my time?
• Is it my conversations - do they not reflect a heart that beats only for Jesus?
• Is my life really all about Jesus?
Yes - we have much food for thought. Perhaps this letter is a little reflective, influenced maybe by thinking about Andy at his silent retreat. But it’s a good time for us all to take stock of where we are with God.
Where do our priorities lie?
Where is our happiness, where is our hope - and where is our home?
Every blessing to you all,
Carol
May
May
Reflections from the Glebe House
“I was just thinking...
...Where are all the humble leaders?”
One of my heroes and role models whilst growing up was my village vicar, the Rev. Alan Page. On coming to our parish, although having very few gifts in youth work, he opened up his Rectory to the local children, creating a space where we could come together and learn about God. It was through his ministry that I came to faith shortly after joining that youth group. However, it was his godly character which really spoke to me. In many ways he wasn’t a natural leader, being quiet and quite shy and introverted. Nevertheless, there was a real genuineness to his life which, when I think about it, was characterised especially by humility.
Our world seems to be in a very precarious place at the moment and seems to be dominated by a handful of powerful men with a frightening amount of power. Whether it’s Trump and Musk in America, Putin in Russia, Erdogan in Turkey, Orban in Hungary or countless others; all over the world, journalists and ordinary members of the public hang on their every word, often in fear. They have been put on a pedestal both by their own self opinion and by public opinion too, and people everywhere kowtow to them. This is exactly what they want. Even many who disagree with them also pander to them out of fear of what they could do when crossed. Our world seems to be saying that if you are going to be an effective leader you have to be strong, confident, single minded and assertive.
In stark but wonderful contrast, Jesus turns this view on its head. In Philippians 2:5-11 Jesus the Son of God, part of the Holy Trinity, co-equal with the Father, we read: did not clutch tightly onto His divine status and refuse to let go. Rather, out of indescribable love He agreed to step down from heavenly glory onto the earth he was instrumental in creating. Having done this, He lowered Himself further by becoming like one of the creatures he had made: a human being. Not only so, but as a human he chose to serve others and not to promote Himself. Finally, he humbled Himself yet more, by submitting to death - and then not just any death, but the cruel and shameful death of a criminal left to hang publicly on a cross. But Philippians does not stop there, just as the Easter story does not stop at Good Friday. God the Father vindicated Jesus and validated His sacrifice by raising Him from the dead and then exalting Him to the highest place, where he now reigns supreme.
That is an attitude that I admire and someone who I want to follow, much more than a self-important strong man. As Christians we are not called to put our trust in powerful people to solve the world’s problems; nor should we live in fear of what such people may do. There is only one name to be revered, and only one person who can solve the world’s problems: it is Jesus. As we move through this Easter season let us reaffirm our commitment to following Him and choose to join Him on His humble way, putting our trust in Him alone.
Andy
Rev. Andy Heber
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