I expect most of us could produce a list of Heroes. On my list would be a number of well known names but at least one hero would evoke the response ‘Who’s he?’ if the reader didn’t live in Timsbury or the surrounding area. Indeed the person might not have been known to some in Timsbury as I think he was a quiet hero. Who am I talking about? I am talking about our former organist, Albert Bridges, known to most of us as Bert…. even though he didn’t like that short name.
I have chosen him for two reasons. One, for his commitment. He played the organ for well over 50 years. That was his priority on a Sunday and for many years he played at both morning and evening service. Secondly, I have chosen him becasue even when his sight became very limited he was still prepared to play the organ from memory as long as he was nudged in the back during the last verse! What could have prevented him from his Christian service didn’t fully stop him.
Another hero of mine is much better known….. Martin Luther King. Apart from his work in the Civil Rights movement and being prepared to do and say things that put him at risk he was also a great orator. His ‘I have a dream’ speech is possibly one of the best known speeches in history but I also take much from his ‘What is your blueprint’ speech. In it he is trying to impress that we should be the best of what we are…. I quote:
‘If it falls to your lot to be a street sweeper, sweep streets like Michelangelo painted pictures, sweep streets like Beethoven composed music, sweep streets like Shakespeare wrote poetry.
So from thinking about my heroes I would ask us to reflect on our commitment to the Lord especially when life gets more difficult for us…. is there still somethihng we can do? Are we risk takers? Are we being the best of what we are as Christians?
I think these questions are pertinent as once again we have to give serious thought to the future of our Church. If we are to ‘go forward’ we will need more commitment and people being the ‘best of what we are. People who are prepared to take risks for Jesus.
A special meeting will be held on 12th June at 7:15 to discuss this and we hope all members will attend and share their thoughts and ideas.
Meanwhile as the prophet Micah wrote ‘let us do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with our God’.
We must continue to pray and Blessings to you all.
Margaret