Two of my canine friends, Harris and Willow, have the ability to be utterly and totally focused on the one thing that matters the most to them. In both their cases, a ball. Give them a ball and they see nothing else. Come rain or sunshine, there are no distractions that takes away their focus from this one, all important, spheric toy. They are joyous and completely immersed in the present.
At times I wish I had the same unwavering determined concentration. The ability to be totally focused on what is essential and what brings satisfaction and indeed a meaning to life. For Christians, Christ is to us what a ball is to my canine friends.
Christ is the one who brings us joy and makes us utterly present here and now. Let us take the Biblical advice to heart: ‘let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.’ (Hebrews 12:2)
The Old Rectory at St Mark’s, Dundela, is one of the few remaining buildings with a direct link to world-renowned Christian author Clive Staples (Jack) Lewis. St Mark’s was his home parish, his grandfather was the first Rector, and it was here that Lewis was baptised and claimed for Christ. He returned here many times later in life, not least to mark his journey back to faith and memorialise his parents in the stained-glass Lewis window in the church.
We are here to support you and to listen. And we would love to hear from you; please share your ideas and words of encouragement so that we can pass them on to other parishioners. Thank you.
