The United Reformed Church Chesham

Dear Friends

I sometimes catch part of Desert Island Discs, if I get up slowly on a Friday morning. It is fascinating to hear the reasons people give for choosing the 8 records to take with them to the Island. Usually the music gives them links to people, events or places they have been associated with. I wonder if this is the best way to choose only 8 pieces of music to take with you. Sentiment and remembering can be important, but on a deserted island on your own, would you not need something uplifting as well? I recall one choice was from Monty Python – I’m so worried. These are some of the words:

I'm so worried about what's happening today, In the Middle East, you know. And I'm so worried about the baggage retrieval System they've got at Heathrow. … And I'm so worried about the shows on TV That sometimes they want to repeat…. I'm so worried about my hair falling out, And the state of the world today. And I'm so worried about being so full of doubt About everything anyway. I'm so worried about modern technology, … I'm so worried about it, worried about it, Worried, worried, worried. I'm so worried about everything that can go wrong.

Ironic humour, which is as relevant for today's news as when the song was written. It may bring a smile, but the people who have been worried by Heathrow terminal 5 baggage retrieval and more recently by the collapse of large financial institutions may have genuine concerns to deal with. We were told by some commentators that the Hadron Collider experiment would cause a disaster for the world. This gave many people great concern, but fortunately the majority of scientists, especially working in a large team, are very responsible and aware of safety issues. We can let ourselves feel surrounded and overwhelmed by these various worries. Can God help us?

Jesus said, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. ... If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, … So do not worry, … But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.(Matthew 6: 25f)

Reassuring words that if we place ourselves in God's hands and trust today, we will find he will look after us. The problems may not go away, but the worry will be eased and when tomorrow becomes today, with trust in God we will be enabled to cope. Don't hang on to your worries or take them to the desert island as your companion, let go and let God take control.

With love, Bridget

As the Autumn leaves fall, may my worries fall from me, Lord. Help me to trust that you will provide for me today and every day and support me to cope with what the day will bring. So may I rest in your peace as each day ends. Amen