The Rectors Ramblings
Monday. A quick poll of my colleagues at work reveals the following: 90% are worrying about Christmas; the remaining 10% are men. 50% of those questioned have already bought Christmas cards, written them and put stamps on them...70% have begun buying prezzies. 10% are wondering if they dare ask their secretaries to buy their presents for them... Clearly, if something is "worth it" then some of us put in a lot of effort.
Tuesday. I am aware that a "friend" has bought me a ticket to enter a half-marathon in the Lake District next spring. It's the kind of hostile act one comes to expect from accountants, but it's worth making the effort so as to (1) regain my six-pack -last seen in 1976, and (2) prove that I have definitely entered into the age of my midlife crisis. So at 10pm tonight and lit up like a Christmas tree, I am racing around the mean rural lanes of Brindle. Reports on late-night Radio Lancashire of "significant earth tremors felt in Whittle" are purely coincidental.
Thursday. I am concentrating on fitness levels by trying to break my personal best for cycling into Preston, and, not altogether unrelated, trying to cycle very fast so as not to be late for work, when at a speed in excess of 7 mph I am driven into the verge of Hillhouse Lane by a yummy mummy in a small yellow car. The urge for fitness is possibly not worth ending up in bath full of slurry. Time to put the brakes on. It doesn't stop the office from asking, "what the smell is?" so it must have been more frightening than I first thought.
Sunday. Getting ready for church. Hair, sermon, and notices all present and correct, time to go. I have to be there, so my appearance bears no virtue at all. But in comes the congregation, smiling and happy, and they fill many pews. They have all chosen to be there, and each has made an effort because it's worth it ...worth it to secure a school place...worth it : to, meet friends and neighbours, and worth it, ultimately, to worship God. The root of "worship" is the word "worth- ship", acknowledging that God is truly worth an effort to praise Him, love Him, and serve Him. I put effort into many things, but know that I can always do more to put extra effort into worship and service, because, of all things, God is most definitely worth it.
Mark Cannon