A message from the Rev’d Amanda Collinson

Posted by Admin on 26 April 2017, 4:10 pm

Amanda Collinson

Priest-in-Charge

St John the Baptist Church

Northwood.

Tel: 01983 294913

Hello there!

I am sitting at my desk trying to think about what I should write about this month, what is key about this month, what we need to reflect on and after a while of pondering I have come to realise that I really like May – it is normally sunny, it always has two bank holidays in it, it always has a connection with Star Wars (May the fourth/force be with you: Hence the photo on the front – I have not gone mad, well any more than I was already!), there is always a half term in it, distant memories of Maypole dancing are remembered fondly…..and then there’s the actual word itself: it’s a lovely name coming from Maia, the Roman fertility goddess and it is one of the gentlest and most polite verbs in the dictionary! If I had to pick a month, I think it would be in my top three – which, thinking about it, is rather strange: I don’t celebrate my birthday in it, no major things, apart from the birth of my first child, has ever happened in May, it’s the month when exams are sat….why I like it so much, I really don’t know.
.
But then why we like or dislike things never really have a logic to them do they? Why do children from the same family have different interests, favourite food? Why can good and firm friends always argue over which is the best song? Why can a number of us look at the same picture and have a multitude of opinions over it? Well probably because we are all unique… I write that with a smile on my face as I remember the scene from Monty Python’s Life of Brian when the whole crowd says ‘we are all individuals’…a brilliant film, despite the swearing!!!
.
However to a greater or lesser degree, it seems we all try to remove our uniqueness and become the same – we endeavour to get rid of any differences we may have as youngsters to ensure we do not stand out in any way and conform with the cool kids and not much changes when we become adults – the majority of us keep silent when we don’t agree with someone’s opinions, we keep our heads down at work, especially if we are struggling, to ensure management are not watching us, we strive to look as good as those role models we have – be they on TV, in magazines or on social media. Only a small percentage of people happily and confidently make themselves stand out – they have the confidence to do it, and I doff my caps to them….and wish I was as brave as them!
.
And talking of bravery, there is the Whistleblowers – people who can no longer stand whatever injustice is happening around them and risk everything to try and change it. They try and remain ‘in the system’ yet report to organisations or authorities to try and rectify the wrong. So very brave and so desperately needed in the world we live in.
.
We are still in the Easter season and so in church we continue to celebrate the Risen Jesus Christ, giving thanks for him and his uniqueness, his willingness to go against authority, against society norms and not just putting his head above the parapet but paying the ultimate sacrifice for us by dying on the cross which ultimately opened the gates of heaven to all who believe. He wasn’t afraid to stand out in the crowd, had the confidence to say or do what others were not brave enough to do….and he did it all for the love of mankind.
.
As you enjoy this month, think about whether you are trying to be like the RIGHT role model – are you following the wrong type of person? Are you letting injustice continue? Are you ignoring the loner, the weak, indeed anyone struggling simply because they do not fit in to society’s ‘norm’? Be brave, be strong, be a bit more confident than you normally are and stand up to what is right and proper and just……it may be unnerving, but it will be so rewarding in the long run!
.
Wishing you a brave and successful month!

.
.
Rev’d Amanda.

See the Church section