Testimonies

David Atkin

What does Jesus mean to me ?

Many years ago when I was at school we used to begin our chemistry lesson with a prayer. I'm not sure whether this was because the Chemistry master was very religious, or whether he was covering himself against any explosions that might follow !  The last line of the short prayer said :

"If we are busy today and we forget you, do not forget us."

People tend to turn to Jesus for support in times of need whether it is illness, family problems, inherrent danger, or all manner of different concerns. Jesus does not want to be shut out from our problems, but is, I believe, there willing to be part of our daily lives.  He is there in times of joy, at Christenings, at weddings, and in all the other happy occasions in our lives.  He is there in fact all the time, if only we have eyes to see.

When I was working at British Steel we experienced the national steel strike of 1979/80.  I am sure Jesus did not differentiate between the various factions at that time, but was there for all if they were prepared to listen.  In fact I like to think that the spirit of Christmas lasted well into the following year, as the strike began in the Christmas holidays, and ended at Easter when the Christmas trees and decorations were finally taken down.

'Do not forget us Lord'.  A few years ago our family took what we though was a comfortable day's trekking in the outback of Northern Australia.  We were well equipped, and had plenty of provisions and water, or so we thought.  It was a perfect day, clear blue sky, no wind, and the first two hours went fine - magnificent views, ravines to be entered, rivers to be crossed.  However, slowly the heat began to take its toll, we became disorientated, the map seemed no longer to make sense, and our timings became irrelevant.  Should we split up and seek help - but from where, and in what direction should we go ?  In the end we stayed together.  We prayed particularly hard that day, we sung 'Cum Rhonda' and 'Thine be the Glory' with gusto as we struggled onwards, following faint marks on tree stumps, which were often concealed in the undergrowth, to reach safety, hours later.  Not a venture to undertake again without an experienced guide, although on the day perhaps we were in the company of the best guide of all.

We look at the newspapers and television, and could become rapidly depressed with all the bad new that abounds.  And yet Jesus is with us all, through as the hymn says "all the changing scenes of life", through good times and bad.

So Lent is a time for us to examine the balance sheet of our lives.  To look at where we have reached - the pluses and minuses.  To see that in all the defining moments Jesus has walked with us.  He never changes - he is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.  So in the busy days of life and yours, if we forget thee Lord, do not forget us.  I'm sure he has not intention of forgetting us, only waiting for us to allow him to come increasingly into our hearts and minds.

Amen.

8.3.06