Dear Family of St John’s

Do you remember this children’s nursery rhyme?

“Rock a bye baby, on the tree top, when the wind blows the cradle will rock. When the bough breaks the cradle will fall, and down will come baby, cradle and all.”

I remember not liking this nursery rhyme as a child, I thought it was very sad and wanted to know if the baby was okay after the fall!

I thought of this rhyme as I was on top of the roof this last weekend. We certainly had wind blowing. Fortunately, no boughs broke… and nobody fell!

The tablecloths were tied down with red and black ribbon crisscrossing the table. It may have looked decorative, but it was purely practical. My tent had metres and metres of rope typing it down. We also placed the very heavy bag containing the unopened gazebo inside the tent to hold it down.

The carpets were held down at various points with bricks, groundsheets were also tied down or pinned down with bricks.

And so, I thought we had everything anchored securely in time for the first dinner guests. But, the wind had other ideas!

We quickly realised that we should have served ‘heavy’ salad. Lettuce leaves and basil garnish are no match for 50km/hr winds. And, I was sitting downwind… I saw basil leaves fly past me and ended up with a lap of grated parmesan.

We also realised that long stemmed wine glasses need to be full to the brim to withstand the wind. One sip less than that, and they are at risk of blowing over… into the salad bowl! Fortunately, it was white wine – a better salad dressing than a Cab Sav!

And, my guests laughed through every gust of wind… even when a jacket blew off the roof and had to be fetched by one of our waiters from down below!

All of this has made me think about how well-anchored we are, particularly as we enter our Lenten journey.

Lent has always been a time of additional testing for me. It’s a busy period, which isn’t unusual, but I find myself struggling with that extra load just a little bit more than normal. I seem to pick up bugs, have increased headaches, feel unreasonably irritable. And, if something can go wrong, it often does. Maybe you’ve experienced that too. It has been helpful to identify these extra tests and challenges during this season, and attribute them to part of my Lenten experience.

And so, I try to prepare for it as much as I can. I try to be more intentional about ‘filling my tank’ – taking care to be particularly disciplined in my Quiet Time, spending time in prayer, looking after myself.

As we continue our journey through Lent, it’s crucial to remember that, just like the tablecloths, tents, and carpets were anchored down, we too need to be securely rooted in Christ to withstand the winds that will inevitably blow. In times of trial, it’s easy to feel shaken or unsteady, but it is our relationship with God that keeps us grounded. His Word and presence are the ropes that hold us firm when life’s challenges try to knock us over.

In Colossians 2:6-7, Paul reminds us, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

This verse invites us to remain steadfast, reminding us that, by staying rooted in Christ, we will not only endure life’s storms but grow stronger through them.

May this season of Lent be an opportunity to deepen our relationship with God, nurturing our spiritual roots through prayer, reflection, and time in His Word. By focusing on Him, we’ll find the strength and peace to navigate even the most challenging winds, knowing that He is our foundation and our anchor.

As we walk through this season together, let us encourage one another to remain steadfast in our faith, and trust that, with God’s help, we will emerge stronger, more grounded, and more aligned with His will.

With love
Your friend and rector,
Claire