Daily Worship

Life around me

September 07, 2015 0 0

Mark 4: 1-3

The Parable of the Sower

4 Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. 2 He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: 3 “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed.

The setting is the open air, a boat, a crowd on the shore, Jesus teaching, his voice carrying across the water.   He has left the synagogue behind and there are all sorts of people here. As he speaks,Jesus observes a man sowing seed.   It’s an everyday image that inspires a valuable lesson.  What can you see right now that could be a parable, something everyday that could be a spiritual metaphor?    I am watching a man painting some metal railings.  He is chipping and scraping off the old paint, the dirt and the rust.  Some of it is hard to remove.  The railings look bare and ugly. There is a sheet on the ground.   He cleans then applies a new coat of paint, taking care to cover every surface, round the back and underneath. Some of it is hard to reach.  There is a sign that says “Wet Paint".  The paint is specially chosen for metal, outdoors and it does what it says on the tin.  It took a while but the railings now look brand new -the Parable of the Painted Railings.

Look around you right now.   What do you see or better still what can you see? 

PRAYER

Lord, be with those who have walked away from church or organised religion, from institutions and unwelcoming certainties.  Help me to remember your gift for engaging with all.   Help me to see your life and power in the world around us.   Help me to stop, look and listen to a life that speaks of you.   Give me the eyes to see the poetry in life around me, something of your life and purpose for my life.