Article for the March Diary by Christina Rees February 28, 2012

I love some of the letters that children have written to God.  Their depth and directness can be quite penetrating, with questions like, ‘Can you tell me what forever is because no one else can?’  Some of them reveal a deep and simple trust, with statements like ‘God snuggles babies and rocks them in his rocking chair and at night puts them to sleep.’  Of course, some can appear a bit random: ‘Dear God, Please make all the owls tame and friendly.’

The season of Lent started at the end of February and lasts all through this month. Lent is traditionally a time to reflect on our lives and our faith, on how we behave and what we believe. It is a time to search our souls and make amends.

Over the years, I’ve experimented with different ways to observe Lent. Some years I’ve given up favourite foods or tried to stop thinking critical thoughts. Other years I’ve concentrated more on adding things, such as contacting family and friends I’ve neglected or reading more of the Bible or another book that will stretch my faith.

This year, I can’t stop thinking about those children’s letters to God and how they say exactly what’s on their minds and ask the most extraordinary questions.  They also remind me about how Jesus related to children, and how when his disciples tried to shoo away some children that were clustering around him, Jesus scolded them and told them that the kingdom of heaven belonged to ‘such as these.’

What did Jesus mean? Was he saying that once we’re over 12 or 16, we’ve had it in terms of our eternal souls? Jesus’ words are taken to mean that unless we approach him in our hearts and minds with the boldness and directness of a child, it will be difficult for us to live the kind of lives we’re intended to live. If the letters are anything to go by, it means being utterly honest with God and expressing our anxieties as well as our longings, bringing all we are to God uncensored – including any random fear of unfriendly owls!

(The children’s quotes are taken from ‘Dear God Most of the time your quite nice’, compiled by Maggie Durran, Fount Paperbacks, 1985)

Sonia Falaschi-Ray’s article in The Diary in February February 13, 2012

February blues
February!  What can one say in favour of February?  Well it’s short, but this being a leap year, it’s not quite as short as usual.  We’ve had Christmas, New Year and the credit card bills.  Term has started, it’s still getting dark at 5ish and the weather is grisly.  Our New Year resolutions are already looking a bit thin, unlike us.

The Church doesn’t do gloomy at this point.  Until February it is the season of Epiphany, the public display of Jesus, Son of God, to the Magi; wise men from the east.  These were not merely Gentiles, non-Jews, but came from outside the Roman Empire which at that time was considered very exotic. They represent all of us.

Then, Christians celebrate when the baby Jesus was taken to the Temple in Jerusalem to give thanks for his birth.  An old, devout man called Simeon, guided by the Holy Spirit, took Jesus in his arms and praised God, saying, “Lord, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of everyone, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”  Simeon was happy to die, as he had seen God’s promised Saviour.  He was completely at peace.  He knew where he was going and he had fulfilled his life’s ambitions.  He knew, in the words of the lady mystic Julian of Norwich, that “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well”.

You may not feel in the dark days of February that “all shall be well”, but with God everything is possible and, if you would like some encouragement or just someone with whom to explore how God might make all well for you, feel free to give me a ring, or even come to our Tuesday evening Spiritual Support Group.

Many blessings

Sonia Falaschi-Ray

07747 844265