One of the most beautiful and yet hardest things about life right now is watching my incredible mum grow older, it’s hard to watch her not being so agile and being unsteady on her feet, don’t get me wrong for her age she does brilliantly, but it’s still tough to watch. One of the scariest moments is when we phone her and she doesn’t answer straight away, I don’t need to tell you what my brain does in those moments!! It’s in those moments I realise how fragile she is, but also how fragile I am!
At the end of the month, we will be talking about the fragility of a baby, and we know that a baby relies on its parents for everything, there are of course people who are reading this that know far more about that than I ever will. But it is a joy to watch even in the last few weeks, friends who are in the process of experiencing the joy and fragility of new life.
There are other areas though where we may use this term, we sometimes talk about it in relation to mental health, and right now the realities of this are all too obvious, particularly after the pandemic and frankly just life! We also talk about it when we discuss the environment. The term fragile is also used in relation to antiques, and parcels.
I am also reminded through our text about the occasion when we gather before lent, Ash Wednesday when we remember these words – “Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” As we make our advent journey let us remember the fragility of life and the various scenes when you might use this phrase. It might also be a reminder to us that others are also experiencing areas of life that are fragile for them, so be generous in the way we live and the way we encounter others.
Photo Challenge: Take a picture of something inspired by the word fragile. Use the hashtag #woryem
Fragile
Fragile are all things
Fragile creating care
Fragile
There is time to be fragile in this season of advent
Stop for a moment
What is it you see?
We are a community of faith.
Strandlopers on a journey.
We have reflected on this season of advent
By God’s grace we go.
Amen
Photo by Stephane YAICH on Unsplash
Rob Wylie is the founder of BeachcomberFX and guides its leadership team. He has worked in the North East for over 20 years and has vast experience from various roles he has held. He has a passion for Fresh Expressions of Church and Pioneer Ministry as well as beer, beaches and Miniature Schnauzers.
