Pause for thought 7th August 2026
I wonder if you have ever faced a crisis. You would not be alone and if you haven't than you could be the exception rather than the rule.
There are times in life when we find ourselves in a place of testing.
Certainly, as a family there have been such times for us.
I don't know whether you know it or not but in the Chinese picture language alphabet, the symbol for crisis is a combination of two characters, one of those characters means danger and the other means opportunity.
Winston Churchill once said these words “the pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”
… And to turn once again to the Chinese culture, there is an old Chinese proverb that says “the gem cannot be polished without friction, nor the person perfected without trials”.
I suppose it all rather depends on our ‘outlook’ and
Pause for thought August the 12th 2026
The weatherman has promised our fourth heat wave of the summer. I don't like it it becomes too hot for me… and yes, much like many others I will probably moan in the winter time… But for now I would prefer a little less sun.
My favourite time of the year is the autumn … we still get some nice days, but it is considerably cooler.
As I write these words later today, there will be a solar eclipse, when, albeit briefly, darkness will fall upon the land as the sun is eclipsed.
Sometimes in life it can feel like there has been an eclipse of the love of God.
Yet, the Bible speaks very clearly about the light of God…
1 John 1:5
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.
When we are faced with a problem that seems to bring darkness to our being which way do we turn… well, as a Christian minister it will be no surprise to you that I believe the best place this to turn to God, to find his light.
The Bible extends this thought by speaking of Jesus as the light of the world…
What light can he bring into your life and into mine. In turn what ‘light’ can we bring to the world.
I love a little poem by a writer Mark Sheilds, he writes:
Taking on challenges,
It will be alright
As we step ahead
Walking in the Light.
Walking in the light … it’s a thought …
Much love – Revd John
- Tickhill Methodist Church
- Northgate
- Tickhill
- South Yorkshire
- DN11 9HY