What do you like to do on holiday? Are you a laze on the beach type, party all night, tramp the hills, or sightseer? Maybe you like to visit ancient buildings and churches? I went to the Lake District at the beginning of July, (not a beach or party type, then …) and popped into a little church for a few moments of peace and quiet. As I looked round, my eye fell on a lovely window, depicting St Margaret of Antioch, with the words “out of weakness made strong” above her. That set me thinking.
Life is a series of ups and downs. We have our periods of peace when life is good and we feel strong. Then there are the difficult times – family troubles, personal problems, bereavement, sickness, and life is a struggle, and it’s often then we feel like giving up. Those are times when we feel we need to be stronger, and when God promises to give us his strength to get through. And, somehow, we come out the other side having become stronger people because of the difficulty we faced. As Oprah Winfrey said: “Where there is no struggle, there is no strength”.
St Margaret (though the details of her story are a bit dubious!) was one of those faithful people who have been through persecution over the centuries, and still today. They have known the strength of God to transform “weakness” (I’d prefer the word “vulnerability”) in the face of violent persecutors into strength of spirit. May we all know that strength, whatever ups and downs of life we’re in at the moment, and come out stronger for it.
And if you do like visiting ancient buildings … St Andrew’s is always open and ready to welcome you – pop in and have a look, sit in peace and quiet, think, pray – it’s YOUR church!
Blessings,
Janet
The Revd Janet Tebby
01664 474096