Escape to the Country

I wonder if you’ve seen the TV programme, “Escape to the Country”. It’s a reality TV programme that features a prospective buyer, normally from the city, looking at 3 or 4 houses in the countryside. 

So you get John and Patty from London, who have always loved the Lake District. They’ve lived in the big smoke all their life, and now having just retired, they want buy a tumble-down cottage out in Cumbria. 

With the help of the presenter, they visit 3 properties that match their wish list- remote, enough space for the dogs, and ideally with Lakeside views. They are shown some delightful picture postcard cottages, including one “mystery property” and then they get to decide whether they will buy one.

Well it’s great TV, even if sadly, many of the buyers never actually buy any of the properties.

I think we’d all like to “escape to the country”. 

First, you can feel closer to nature in the countryside, (perhaps one reason why people live near Huntingdon with its birdlife and countryside). 

Second, we all long to step off the treadmill of work and routine, to escape the hustle and bustle of the busyness of life. Third, getting away to the country sometimes gives you a sense of perspective- what’s important and what’s not. Time to figure life out. Perhaps some of you like us have had the chance to get away to the countryside over the summer months.

Did you know that Jesus Christ “escaped to the country” quite regularly? During his ministry he took time out to be with his Father in prayer. The gospel writers speak of how “Jesus went off to a solitary place to pray”.

Well even if you don’t get the chance to escape to a different part of the country this summer, why not take time out in the next few days to pause and perhaps go for a walk, and maybe talk to God in prayer like Jesus did. God loves to hear our problems and worries, and he loves to welcome us through Jesus. Escape to the Country.

Charlie Newcombe, 24/08/2022