Dear Friends
Addressing a letter to friends is always a privilege, and every week as I write to you, it is very special to be able to call everyone who will receive this letter, whether here in St Andrews or halfway across the world, a friend. But what is the nature of friendship? There is a wonderful description of friendship in A.A.Milne’s ‘Winnie the Pooh’.
One day Pooh bear is about to go for a walk in the Hundred Acre Wood. It is about 11-30 in the morning. It is a fine time to go calling – just before lunch. So Pooh sets out across the stream, stepping on the stones. And when he reaches the middle of the stream he sits down on a warm stone and thinks about just where he would like to make a call. He says to himself ‘I think I’ll go and see Tigger’. But he dismisses that idea in favour of Owl. Then he decides against that because Owl uses big and hard to understand words. At last he brightens up. ‘I think I’ll go and see Rabbit. Rabbit uses encouraging words like “How about lunch?” and “Help yourself, Pooh”’.
Friendship is such an important part of life, and true friends are encouragers who have the art of knowing what to say and what not to say, as well as when to speak and when to be silent. But friendships need to be nurtured and should not be neglected. This applies to both human friendships, and most importantly of all, our friendship with Jesus Christ. It is so important to understand that when we are spending time with him, if we do all the talking there will be no time to listen to his words of encouragement for us. Jesus wants to be involved in our lives, to talk as well as to listen.
Next week I shall be heading South to take the funeral of a very dear and thoughtful friend, one who has been a source of wisdom and comfort for more than forty years. Her passing was not unexpected, and although I have not seen her for a long time I shall miss the long telephone conversations we have enjoyed for so long. This means that there will be no letter with the service next Sunday. I shall be away from Wednesday to Friday and during that time any urgent pastoral needs should be addressed to Rev David Scott. Please contact him through your elder .
With love and blessings,
Marion
Categories: Minister's Blog