Where do we go from here? – from the family worker

I’ve been sitting staring at my computer screen, all sorts of thoughts and images going around my head, and that phrase ‘where do we go from here?’ keeps dropping into my mind.  It’s a question God’s people have asked so many times, often, with varying degrees of despair.  When our dreams are shattered and everything we hoped and worked for has disappeared from view into the darkness, where, now, is the path?

That sense of ‘where to now?’ is something I have heard from many people over the past few weeks.  Our community has lost someone terribly precious, someone who was a trail finder, a trailblazer, and, it feels as if with the loss of this bright light the paths have become that little bit colder, that little bit less appealing.

We have no answers other than those that are found in the love that took Jesus to the cross and brought him back from the grave.  We do not know the why’s, how’s or when’s, but, we believe that God does promise, as Malcolm says in his letter, to transform our suffering, in the same way that Christ’s passion of abandonment and pain was transformed into hope and healing.  God does not promise to take pain from our path, but as we travel together as a community, there is deep comfort in the fact that we do not journey alone, but in company with others who are prepared to share in our difficult times – to talk, to listen, and sometimes just to be an accompanying presence, someone who is prepared to say ‘I am here with you.’

One path you may think about exploring this Easter is our Easter Labyrinth.  We gave it a test-run last year, and many people said it had touched, challenged and comforted them.  We offer it again this year as an opportunity to spend some time with God, meditating on our own journeys and being given permission to ask those difficult questions: the ones that seem to have no answer.  In the prayer labyrinth space no question is banned, no pain or tears shunned, and no experience denied.  There is no pressure to ‘do’ anything, and no particular response expected.  It is there for everyone – for those of any faith or none – to use in a way that is helpful for them.

There will be stewards on hand to help with practical questions, but also to offer companionship and prayer.

God bless us all and hold us in healing love,

Your friend,

Sue

Contact Sue for more information:

' 07710 432076 or familyworker@salisburymethodist.org.uk