Friday 31 August 2012

Strengths and Weaknesses


With the jet-lag gradually fading perhaps I can manage to put some words in the correct order and make an attempt at a coherent blog.

It was great to be at Coffee Morning today and meet up with folks – many told me they were concerned about our homeward journey from The USA and its unfortunate coincidence with Hurricane Isaac.  Well the plane was half empty because folks simply couldn’t get to Miami airport for departure.  Fortunately, even though our flight from Tampa was delayed by over an hour, we made the connection at Miami with ten minutes to spare and took off on time.  Florida, as our taxi-driver to the airport said, has once again ‘dodged another bullet’, New Orleans suffered more but, I think, our prayers go out most of all to Haiti – a country still in the process of rebuilding which didn’t cope well with all that Isaac threw at it last weekend.

Like many I sat up and watched the opening ceremony of the Paralympics on Wednesday evening.  In the lead up programme on Channel Four I was so impressed by a survivor of the London 7th July bombings – a lady who had lost her legs – who was now part of the GB team for sitting down volleyball.  Her story, amongst thousands of others, was an inspiration.

During that rather long procession of athletes the Canadian commentator – a former paralympian himself – said something like: It’s our strengths and our WEAKNESSES that make us truly human.  I thought that was a worthy statement for such an occasion – indeed for any occasion.  Who couldn’t have failed to be moved by the touch-bearer serviceman, who had lost his legs on active duty, as he ‘flew’ into the stadium from the Orbit Tower showing such dignity, courage and resilience. 

The bible has a similar adage – it says God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness.  So often in biblical narratives it wasn't the obvious gifts of people that God used but their faltering steps and uncertain actions. 

I sometimes use a prayer in worship that asks God to take the ‘strengths and weaknesses of our church’ and use them for his glory.  Praise God He does – and pray God He will continue to do so in the future.

With best wishes,


Ian

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