Vicars letter

June 2019

Click for the Vicars letter from May 2019

A resolution in June!

Oh my, how quickly is this year racing by? We’re now at the beginning of June; in another few weeks we will be at the longest day and, at the end of the month, we’ll have lived through half of 2019. Time really does seem to go by faster the older you get.

One reason for that could be to do with what I wrote about last month: “Thou knowest how busy I must be this day.” We all seem to try and cram so much into every day; always doing; always another appointment or meeting; always the next thing to prepare for or go to. We look at the clock and the last hour seems to have disappeared in only 30 minutes. I suggested we try and step back from the busyness for a short while.

Looking back to this time last year, I wrote a letter about appreciating what we have; taking stock of the good things we have in life; taking time to embrace family and friends. Well, life certainly doesn’t seem to have slowed down at all since last year, so maybe I’m not doing enough to appreciate what I have. Perhaps we all need to work at that.

One thing that my work as a priest shows me, again and again and again, is just how fragile and precious life really is. My work also shows me how wonderful life can be, and how painful it can be - I see this all the time in celebrating the birth of a child at baptism, in weddings and marriage preparation with couples, in helping families when a loved one is ill or has died - and that most of us, most of the time (when things are going smoothly) take life so much for granted.

The beginning of June might seem a strange time to be making a resolution, but I can’t wait until the first day of January! I want to find time, every month, to consciously appreciate what I have. Just setting aside a few hours in all the busyness to see the beauty around me; to appreciate the family and friends that I have; to realise how fortunate I am; and to value life, now.

So here is a small gift for you in all your busyness: grab a few minutes to appreciate your life. (Make the time to do it now.)

Revd. David Commander
Rector

Benefice of Benenden and Sandhurst

T: 01580 240658 E: david@dc-uk.co.uk