FRIDAY

Having expressed a need to learn more about farming activities, get invited out to local farmyard to observe some DIY sheep shearing. After watching happily from behind the gate for a while, I suddenly find myself with the shears in one hand and very reluctant wriggling lamb in the other. I’m not sure which of us is the most nervous! I think I only manage half a shoulder and one leg at the first attempt before handing back to the expert. Second try it’s two legs and a back, but I suspect it might be a while before I’m confident enough to go the whole hog, as it were!

SATURDAY

Husband startled by loud howl of laughter issuing from behind my copy of the Church Times. After my efforts of the previous evening, I discover that the caption completion this week is a photo of a bishop in purple cassock with a pair of shears in one hand and an equally reluctant sheep in the other!

Life is full of surprises!

FRIDAY

Just one week later the announcement comes that foot and mouth has been found on a farm in Surrey. A very unwelcome surprise for everyone in the countryside and particularly all those farmers who are still recovering from the disaster of 2001and the on-going problems of bovine TB.

SATURDAY

Another week of watching and waiting, with bishops and priests praying instead of playing, and there are signs that this time we may have caught the outbreak in time. This time we were more prepared. We were ready to act. It’s not going to be easy over the next few weeks and months, and there are those who are almost at the end of their tether who need our support, but there is hope.

SUNDAY

Gospel reading for the day starts off with the words: “Do not be afraid little flock”, an apt reminder that no matter how bad things may seem, our hope is assured. It goes on to tell us that we must be prepared for whatever comes. We cannot know the time of it’s coming but we can be in a state of readiness rather than complacency or hopelessness. Our God is a God of surprises. How ready we are to respond to those surprises; to walk into the future without being afraid; to let go of our securities; to sit light to our possessions; to grasp the shears . . . is a reflection of the level of our faith and trust in God’s promise that “All shall be well”.

Copyright © 2007 Corynne Cooper.

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