And above all .... rejoice!

And above all…..rejoice

For many people the lifting of the lockdown restrictions meant a return to a more normal way of life.  Opportunities to reunite with family and friends and for many a return to work were welcome and all helped to regain more stability in our daily lives. Reopening and reassembling in our churches was also a happy and progressive step.

In the first few lines of this testimony there are several words with the prefix of ‘re’. Re is defined as ‘once more, anew, with a return to a previous state’ and over the past few weeks I have been considering the many words I found in the dictionary starting with these two letters.

Personally, this post lockdown period has meant a time to reassess, reexamine and reconsider many aspects of my life – almost a rebirth!  I am finding there are opportunities to simplify and review, reconsider and most of all rejoice!  

In her book, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy the founder of Christian Science writes:

Let us feel the divine energy of Spirit, bringing us into newness of life and recognizing no mortal nor material power as able to destroy. Let us rejoice that we are subject to the divine “powers that be.”
p. 249:6–9

For me, this ‘newness of life’ has meant greater simplicity, an appreciation of what is important and what is not and opportunities to be more receptive to new ideas and ways of doing things.

Many businesses and other organisations, including churches have faced significant challenges readjusting to this post lockdown period. Reviewing, reconsidering and refreshing have all been processes necessary and at times the way might seem unclear and difficult.  In a poem written by Mrs Eddy that is also a familiar hymn (304), the first verse reads:

Shepherd, show me how to go
O’er the hillside steep,
How to gather, how to sow; 
How to feed Thy sheep;
I will listen for Thy voice,
Lest my footstep stray;
I will follow and rejoice 
All the rugged way.
For me, listening for God’s voice and then following His directing, not with trepidation and any sense fear, as well as rejoicing that I am subject to the divine “powers that be”, is sometimes challenging but I am learning to remain confident that God’s law is in operation and his love for us is ever present, a complete and safe refuge and this short reminder of ‘re’ words is helping to keep me mentally alert and focussed!

Respond to reality
Reject error’s claims,
React to the positive 
Resist the negative,
Remove all fear to
Rely on God’s direction,
Recognise the good
Restore the harmony
And above all, rejoice!


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