Bad Days and Good Ones
By Andrew Fox of Clay Cross, Derbyshire, England
…envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. -Galatians 5:21-23 NRSV
It was the Monday of Easter week, and I was in my office at the back of the church preparing the Good Friday worship service. Suddenly there was a loud knock on the outside door. On answering, I was confronted by a neighbour of the church who was apparently upset about some things for which he thought I was in part to blame. He shouted and swore at me and was not willing to engage in any kind of conversation before driving away in his car.
Back in the office I started to prepare the service but couldn’t get the recent events out of my mind. Then I looked up at the noticeboard over my desk and saw a “Happy Easter” card from five-year-old Jodi, made for me the previous day at Messy Church. Things started to fall into perspective. Maybe the neighbour was having a bad day. It was far more important that a special little girl wanted to wish me a happy Easter.
Sometimes it’s tough being a disciple. The disciples who first responded to the call to “Follow me” had no idea what they were letting themselves in for. Just like my experience on that Monday, they would go through all sorts of emotions. They would experience good days and bad days. And as bad days go, they don’t come much worse than Good Friday.
But after bad days often come good ones, and for the disciples this was definitely the case. The joy of Easter and the experience of the Risen Christ were only a few days away.
Prayer Phrase
Spirit now live in me.
Spiritual Practice
Breathe deeply and enter a few minutes of silence. Be attentive to where you sense new life emerging in you. Search your memories of the previous day. When did you notice the sacredness of life in surprising places or forms in the world around you?
Today’s Prayer for Peace
Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.
