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Index - Posting 22 June 05 Vol:2-0

"…my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield…my salvation…my stronghold, my refuge and my saviour…"

 2 Samuel 22:3 (NIV)

Summer has finally arrived! The weather here is absolutely gorgeous and as I live two minutes from the beach, I have been recharging my "solar batteries" and as a consequence I feel totally refreshed. It is so important that we do not exist on "low bat"– our mobile phones may be able to handle it - short term, but we are human. We need constant recharging, in order to live contented lives. So fully charge your batteries and be energised!

I have just experienced a wonderful weekend of celebrations. Firstly, on the friday, my father in Jamaica and my uncle in England celebrated their eightieth and seventieth birthdays, respectively. My Dad tells me, that he prayed to God for a brother (he has five sisters) and ten years later, his mother gave birth to a second son on the same day as his own birthday. So there were parties on both sides of the Atlantic. Secondly, on the Saturday I was very proud to be associated with the blessing of two dear friends as they established a partnership in the eyes of God. They are a committed same sex couple and I salute their affirmation of love, in the sight of their families, their communities and our society, so heavily mired in exclusive heterosexual lifestyles. Well done!

Sunday was completely different, I led a bible study on Genesis 21:8-21 - "Hagar and Ishmael Sent Away"– the story of an enslaved black woman, who became the first surrogate mother and her struggle to raise her disinherited son, in the desert. The setting of the scene included a realistic appraisal of the key characters in the story. We read of Sarah’s lack of faith, her brutal treatment of Hagar and her disregard for the welfare of others. We see Abraham, the patriarch, afraid for his life and lying to Pharaoh, prepared for his wife to be used by another, weak willed and dominated by her. Yet prosperous and blessed by God. In contrast we have Hagar, defenceless, abused and then discarded, as property. She was destitute yet blessed by God.

Some biblical scholars, in their understanding of this story, focus on the need for Hagar to learn survival skills to enable her to live in the wilderness – the desert. God is not seen as a liberator, but as an enabler, providing the resources to permit Hagar and Ishmael, to acquire the abilities to lead independent and meaningful lives in a hostile environment. During the bible study and despite my cheerfulness from prior celebrations, I reflected back to my time in the wilderness, my desert where I felt caste out, discarded, alone. I had found myself in an environment that had held so much promise, that had changed almost overnight into one of confusion and uncertainty. A perplexing time when I could not understand what God was doing or indeed where God was in my painful time of rejection. Truly a "valley" experience, with all the hallmarks of the desert! My only hope was in the belief that ‘all things work together for good’ and how we must keep our faith in God regardless of the circumstances. Sometimes we just have to trust blindly that God knows what God is doing, even when we do not understand. It was only through the process of traveling through my valley, my desert that I was able to come to the "mountain to". And sometimes the only immediate relief is knowing one is moving further along the valley and that passing obstacles are just that – passing, and fading into the distance.

There is "a balm in Gilead"– if you need one, please ask the Holy Spirit for it, so you can be supported and encouraged as you journey into the fullness of God’s love for you.

 "I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. God will not let your foot slip— God who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, the God who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm—God will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." - Psalm 121 NIV (inclusified)

Travel in hope, with the Holy Spirit of God.

And be blessed.

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