Dear Friends
Welcome to the month of May. ‘May’ has two special birth flowers – the Lily-of-the-Valley and the Hawthorn. The ‘Lily-of-the-Valley’ represents the return of happiness and sweetness whilst the ‘Hawthorn flower’ is a symbol of hope. Both flowers speak in a relevant way to these challenging times as we are surely in need of hope and a return of happiness and sweetness.
The ‘Lily-of-the-Valley’ connects the recent Easter celebration to this month by virtue of a traditional hymn I sang as a teenager (and which has also been covered by many singers including Willie Nelson). ‘Lily of the Valley’ was another name for Jesus Christ. The hymn’s chorus shares that “In sorrow, He’s my comfort, in trouble He’s my stay; He tells me every care on Him to roll: He’s the Lily of the Valley, the bright and morning star; He’s the fairest of 10,000 to my soul”. Another version of the hymn cited that “because of ‘the Lily in the Valley’, there is peace for us in the ‘valley’ of despondency and despair, hope in the valley and deliverance in the valley because the only way out is ‘through’”.
So, why these reflections? It is because the resurrection of Christ celebrated last Easter Sunday gives us hope now and for His return. A bible quote from Matthew’s Gospel invites us to find rest for our restless spirits now, which doesn’t need to wait until Christ’s return. Jesus said: “Come unto me, all who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls”.
The themes emanating from the birth flowers are timely in light of the wars around us in Russia and Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, Iran and other continental regions. The despair of the fatally wounded, lost loved ones, disrupted communities and infrastructure is all painful to hear as well as painful to see. How can we sing songs of hope as well as songs inviting the return of happiness and sweetness for all affected?
The clue is in the songs shared earlier, the key word being “Peace”. We change our internal reference to the “peace” quoted by Jesus Christ one person at a time. We begin with acknowledging Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, who expresses His care and concern for us out of his self-giving love and conduct. He approaches us with peaceful intentions to bring rest to our restless spirit. He comes with Peace. His words, which carry much weighting, are: “Peace be with you”; “Peace be unto you”; “Be not afraid, it is I”; “Peace, good will toward men!”; “Peace I leave with you… not as the world giveth, give I unto you!”
The Peace of God gives meaning to our journey through the “Valley of Despondency”, where the absence of hope is experienced. Life becomes the frequent place of despair, of no hope or outcome. Yet, the “Lily of Valley”, Jesus Christ, stands ready to journey with us through our valley of despondency into a place of beautiful life, the gift of each day moving towards the gift of eternal life. The Lily of the Valley points towards a way out of our “valley based” life challenges. Deliverance becomes a reality following the work of the Holy Spirit unleashing the enduring faith in us that transforms lives. An unknown writer quoted that “Exits were Entrances in reality”. If true, then we can take hope that the present circumstances, however difficult, will lead us into a transformed reality as a Christian. Our experienced pain will therefore be reoriented towards helping others. The external environment may not change in the short term, but our faith will build resilience to keep on keeping on in the faith until the Lord calls us home.
We hope that you can join us at St Sebastian’s during May in the 8am and 10am Sunday Worship services in the main congregation and The Base, particularly, on Pentecostal Sunday, to find out more about our faith. To also be curious about our reasons for belief, finding hope and a return of happiness and sweetness.
Stay blessed with love
Reverend Rickey Simpson-Gray
Parish of Wokingham St Sebastian’s
w=ww.stsebschurch.org.uk
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