A letter from the Vicarage – Rev’d Andy Stand

Hi Everyone,

How are we all doing? I hope and pray that you are all keeping well and still enjoying the Easter season; hopefully you are enjoying the warmer, brighter weather as well.

As I was waiting to be served in the bank the other day, a number of conversations took place between one of the tellers and any customers that had come in, along the lines of: “Can you believe we are almost at the beginning of May? Where has the year gone? We’ll be halfway through the year before you know it!” I was quite concerned that somebody might reply with a count of the number of shopping days before Christmas – it’s far too soon for that!! My inner pedant wanted to point out that the end of April is only a third of the way through the year, and so some distance from being half way through!

I wonder, do you find yourself doing this, counting away the year, bemoaning how quickly the days are passing? Do you, maybe, find yourself counting down the days towards some big event for you, or for your family? Or have you found yourself just wishing the days away so we can get to the warmer days of Summer?!

All of this reminds me that some years ago now, in preparation for doing my theology degree, I did an Introduction to Theology course, as part of which we were set the exercise of writing our own psalm. For mine I chose the passage of time to be its focus.

I opened the psalm with these lines:

1 ​My God,
a time you say for everything,
a season you say to be born,
a moment to die.

2​ But where would you say is the time to live?

3​ It flies, it flees
Like a thief in the night it steals away!

Later, I demanded:

12​ You are the omnipotent one,
won’t you dam the raging torrent?
Won’t you hold back time?

13​ Won’t you
STOP THE CLOCK!

And finished it:

19​ A moment you say, for everything,
a season you say, to be loved
a time to wait.
Impatiently I must wait.

20​ A time, you say for new beginnings,
a time, you say to play and dance and sing
A time, when time be rendered impotent by eternity.

21​ A time once more my God to crown you as our King.

I have to say I really quite enjoyed doing this exercise and would, and have, recommended it as a means of expressing your thoughts and feelings to God. Maybe read some of the psalms from the Old Testament and then write something that expresses your thoughts and concerns maybe, or even your joys and delights As a Spiritual exercise, why not be honest with God.

Every blessing, Andy.