Day eight - Point you towards God

Do you follow the work of A Rocha UK? Are you signed up to become an Eco Church? If you are you will perhaps have seen their latest Wild Christian newsletter which has some great inspiration this month. In particular, there are two articles that I’d like to share with you: the first a Biblical reflection; the second some practical ways to connect with God throughout Lent.

The reflection is based on 1 Kings 19 and is written by Júlio Reis who is the webmaster of A Rocha International (I like the sound of this guy!). This chapter is a very familiar passage which partly provided inspiration for John Greenleaf Whittier’s wonderful hymn Dear Lord and Father of mankind. When we reach this chapter we find Elijah a tad indisposed – “I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too,” cries Elijah - or as Reis describes it:

“Elijah in this passage, however, is not feeling very positive. He is alone, despairing and depressed. His work is pointless: the people refuse to listen; they never will. To top it all off, the queen wants to take his life, and Elijah really wants to die – just not like that.”

This leads to a beautiful encounter between God and Elijah, where Elijah is fed to give him strength for the tasks ahead. God also reminds Elijah that he is not alone, there are 7000 other faithful servants just like him.

Reis points out that God’s action to reach out to Elijah should inspire us to reach out to help others who themselves might feel isolated, vulnerable or down. And if we are the one who is isolated, vulnerable or down facing our own ‘Elijah moment’, Reis shares what helps him – “Look for the seven thousand. Seek inspiration in what others … are doing around the world … engaging communities in caring for creation.”

The Lenten resources come from Rev Hilary Bond, who is a Schools worker and Pioneer Priest for the Parish of Wareham and one of the A Rocha UK Wild Christian members. She shares six ways to get outside in Lent to find God in nature, providing thoughtful ideas and inspiring reflections. She wants us to connect with nature through trees, flowers, soil and seeds, water, insects and animals, and birds and air. There are practical things to do. I love the very first one, hug a tree – it is the only thing we can hug at the moment! Before we are asked to still ourselves, to think deeply and share a prayer.

For me this encapsulates what Lent is all about, encountering God, encountering the world around us. Hilary Bond ends each of her reflections by saying, “Stand for a moment and let the [tree] point you towards God.” In this season of Lent what is pointing you towards God?

Heavenly Father,

You have taught us, through your servant St Francis,

That all creation is your handiwork.

Grant us your grace that we may

Exercise wise stewardship of this Earth;

Tread lightly upon it;

And cherish its resources;

That our children may enjoy its riches, throughout all generations,

And your name be glorified through all that you have made.

Amen.

Rt Revd David Walker, Bishop of Manchester

Neil Chappell