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I’ve got a new bell on my bike! Why? Because I wore the old one out. The railway path to Whitchurch is an enjoyable ride in winter when there’s no-one around but less so when spring arrives. Then it becomes a bit like the road to life that Jesus speaks about in Matthew 7:14 – hard to get on and just a bit crowded with ramblers, dog walkers, runners as well as cyclists. Because of that I’ve had to become something of an amateur audiologist assessing the ability of people to hear me approaching from behind. Young people need just one ring on the bell (and from a good way off at that) for them to prick up their ears; middle-aged people need two or three rings but from a much closer proximity; and older people (my age and above) well, they wouldn’t hear me coming if Big Ben was clipped to the handlebars or they were given a twenty-one gun salute! For such people I have to slow right down so as not to frighten them as I go by. But there is another category of person which is more difficult to assess. These are the ones who see and hear me coming but stand defiantly in the middle of the path deliberately obstructing the way often with “king pooch” pulling at the lead. Such people, and their equally obstructive friends, wouldn’t move for anyone. Why, I don’t know maybe they want the path all to themselves.
But when you think about it the cycle-path is but a microcosm of the everyday encounters we all have. We all meet people like this; some who are considerate, friendly and obliging and others who are difficult, obstinate and (yes) obstructive. And (dare I say it) we can all be a bit like this sometimes given the right (or wrong) set of circumstances. But let’s not be too hard on ourselves. We all have many strands to our personality whether we realise it or not. Jung called them “archetypes” which pull and push us in different directions making us say and do things we would rather not but do anyway! So maybe the first step to inner-peace is through self-acceptance. So instead of berating ourselves for not measuring up, or criticising ourselves for our poor performance (poor in our own eyes that is!!), perhaps we should show ourselves a little warmth, love, kindness and compassion. It’s much better for our own well-being if we give thanks for the person we are and embrace these various strands to our character after all we’re all we’ve got!! The New Testament makes many references to the compassionate nature of Jesus from which we can learn much not least to love ourselves as well as God and our neighbour.
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Easter gives each of us the opportunity to hear God “ringing” at the door of our hearts. But how loud must that ring be before we prick up our ears and take notice? In raising Jesus from the dead a warm, kind and compassionate God has reached out to give us new life and, just as importantly, a new approach to life. The resurrection means that life is not a meaningless accident but a work of creativity by a God who loves, values and accepts us just as we are. This same God who raised Jesus from the dead actually believes in us, accepts us and offers us the peace that so many crave for yet never attain. That being so the least we can do is to accept ourselves. I wonder how we will receive Jesus on the path that we are walking! Gladly I hope with a response of welcome, joy and thanksgiving! To coin a phrase: he who has ears to hear let him hear and then make way for Jesus! Ding! Ding! Happy Easter.
In Jesus’ name
Derek Marsh
April 2010
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