Joy mixed with frustration
The weather has been glorious, which while in many ways is joyous it is something I am finding deeply frustrating. From the park at the end of our street we get a fantastic view over much of the city. The prominent profile of Drumgoyne on the western end of the Campsie fells draws your eye to Ben Lomond and the Craininlarich and Tyndrum hills that lie beyond. My frustration is that I wish I was walking up those hills in this perfect weather rather than ambling through my local park. Given the many serious challenges so many people are facing, my frustration of being able to see the hills I love but not get up them is rather trivial. But it serves as an illustration for what we will be thinking about on Sunday.
Hidden paths
There are still small patches of snow on some for the hills, remnants form the snow we had late February and early March. I particularly like hillwalking in the snow because it hides all the paths so you need to use a map, and your eyes, experience and wits to navigate your way to the summit rather than follow the well worn path.
In winter
We are in a kind of winter at the moment, where that which is normal and familiar – the well worn paths – have become hidden by the strangeness of staying home and staying physically distant. So, what does mission look like when the well-worn paths are not available to us, when we can’t do things the way we normally would? Looking at Matthew 28:16-20 we are going to think about this. I must confess I don’t have all the answers, so it would be great if you share some of the ways you are finding to be faithful to the ‘great commission’ during this season of lock-down.