Christ Church Huntingdon Blog

As I write this, it is Tuesday 23rd March 2021. Exactly one year on since the first lockdown was announced last Spring. I don’t think I’ll ever forget those shocking words spoken to the nation by Prime Minister Boris Johnson “From this evening I must give the British people a very simple instruction - you must stay at home” 1 . It was a bewildering and scary time, and though the weather was warm for months, schools shut, markets tumbled, sickness and mortality sky rocketed and since that time around 120,000 people have died in the UK alone.  Although we give thanks for the vaccines, and the remarkable work of the NHS, we are not out of the woods yet, as neighbouring countries face a 3rd wave. Today, Tuesday, has been called a day of reflection, and by the time you hear this message on Wednesday morning you may well have taken part in a minute’s silence at midday, and you may well have stood on your doorsteps at 8pm to mark the occasion with your neighbours. Where do we turn when gr...

 Last month I gave a thought for the day on the topic of Hope and this morning I’d like to talk to you about a related topic, and that’s waiting. I think they’re linked because when you’re waiting for something, it shows that you think it will come, or at least, you’re hoping so. The Bible verse I read last time says “If we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” Hope leads to waiting, and patience.  This weekend I went for a cycle ride with my fiancée, we decided to meet halfway between our houses, and I got there first, primarily because I had the wind behind me and she was cycling headfirst into powerful gusts that almost knocked her off her bike. But when I got there, I waited. I was hoping she would come and so I waited. And even though it took longer than I expected for her to get there, I stayed there, waiting. She did come eventually, you’ll be pleased to hear, and it was worth the wait to see her.  What are you waiting for? I know so...

Emma and I have just started watching a series on Amazon Prime video called “ the World’s Toughest Race ”. You may have seen it. It’s well worth watching if you get the chance. It features Bear Grylls motivating small teams from around the world to race 400 miles across the mountains, jungles, seas and islands of Fiji in a race against each other and against the clock. The show is worth watching just for the sheer endurance of the teams. Featuring Mountain biking, canoeing, white-water rafting, and trekking through the jungle day and night with next to no sleep. I don’t know how the teams keep going. The human angle is fascinating too, seeing these teams bonding together, sometimes a father with his daughters, a bunch of over 60s or Team Onyx, one of the few teams in Adventure Racing comprised of men and women of colour. Perhaps the most moving part for me was seeing Travis Macy lead Team Endure which includes his father Mark Macy who has the early stages of Alzheimer’s. It’s mov...