Earlsdon Methodist Church

Roger's Reflections

This is a reflection on a confusing world written by Roger Price. While he is a Worship Leader at Earlsdon Methodist Church with a ministry in writing, the views and comments contained in this reflection are his own and do not necessarily reflect any position held by Earlsdon Methodist Church.

More details of Roger’s writings can be found at: www.rogoofsham.co.uk
(Please note Earlsdon Methodist Church is not responsible for the content of any external site.)

Love Rules

I was sitting in the bath the other day, contemplating the infinite. Before you ask it wasn’t the ever increasing size of my belly. Nor was it – for regular readers – the long delay in posting to this site, although that does have something to do with it. I have written about that delay but I’m not sure if it will ever see the light of day – only time will tell.

No. The infinite I was considering was the omnipresent, ever power, God.

Later the same day the thoughts bubbled back up to the surface. I was at my sister’s waiting while she got ready for me to take her shopping. That takes her a little longer these days so once more I was simply looking. This time I had something more interesting than the bath room tiles and my belly to observe.

In the field at the bottom of my sister’s garden is a willow tree. At this time of year the sap is yet to rise and the new spring growth is yet to burst into fresh green leaf life. So every twig, branch and limb were clearly silhouetted against the grey, late winter, sky. And on one of the branches sat a wood pigeon.

He was sitting remarkably still despite the branch being blown this way and that, up and down, in the wind. All the time I waited for my sister and watched him through the window he clung to his perch with fierce determination. Although he was rooted to the spot, his head was constantly on the move.

He looked this way and that, back and forth, left and right. It wasn’t long before I wondered what he was looking for. Was he simply scanning the fields and floor before him in case a fresh piece food had been blown closer by the wind? Was the wind swung branch the equivalent of the corner lamppost where would be lovers linger to see if a certain little hen bird was going to pass by? Had he chosen to place himself on this particularly tree because it gave the best vantage point to keep an eye open for approaching predators? Given the coldness of the day and the strength of the blustery wind, why had he chosen the exposed perch in the willow tree instead of the shelter of the conifer just a few wing beats away?

I began to wonder just what was going through that bird’s head. I guessed that it was able to sense pleasure. I know that in a purely biological and neurological way it would react to pain – adrenalin driven fight or flight. So it wasn’t being disturbed by the elements and hopefully had its eyes set on some higher pleasure.

And that took me back to the bath and my contemplations on God.

Early in the cooling water I had realised that I mattered no more to my God than the birds who came to my bird feeder or the ants that crawled on the ground or the slugs that you found under turned over stones. I went on to recall that God cares for even two sparrows that are sold for one penny, so the degree of God’s concern for me was quite significant. In fact, he was desperate to hold onto to me with the same determination that my ever looking pigeon clung to his windswept willow branch. I went on to reflect on that and realised that it laid a great responsibility onto me. Once more the often remembered words echoed home:

“Love God with all your heart and strength, and your neighbour as yourself.” Love. The simple answer. The simple instruction. That which we as humankind seem to find impossible to do. Philosophers, prophets and intellectuals constantly argue over the definition of this four letter word while forget to simply do what we are instructed. Instead of love we come up with rules and instructions that must be followed in order to carry out the Father’s wishes. Whether it is the standard of dress that must be worn in the meeting, the manner of public exhibition of commitment to service or the tolerance and acceptance of children there seems to be rules for everything. That seems to be today’s church.

I’ve heard all that before. Way, way, back many centuries ago a man went up a mountain and came down with a set of rules – twice. He had to go a second time because those who acknowledged him as their leader hadn’t got the patience to wait to see what was going to descend from the hallowed clouds. Very soon after that a whole book or two of rules had been written to explain the ten original ones literally carved in stone. My favourite of these extensions are still the ones to do with mildew - try carrying them out in the 21st. Century! Recently another one I’d overlooked was pointed out to me with very pleasant consequences!!

But – and it’s a big but – time showed that the Law didn’t work for the Jewish nation to which it had been divinely given. The Prophets time and time again were inspired to tell their people they were going wrong – and still they, and we, fail to come up the standard those original 10 rules set for us. In the end God gave us one last chance by sending his son. He’s the one who cut the rules from 10 to 2 or even 1 – love.

So next time you’re lying in your bath contemplating the infinite perhaps you’ll remember this. The infinite is contemplating you. His only motive is love and he has told you that you must do the same thing.

So, throw away the rule books and embrace the doctrine of love and he whose life, death and resurrection provides us with the perfect blueprint of how to go about it.

Roger
9th. March 2010

An archive of these reflections can be found on Roger’s Blog which can be accessed via his website as above.