St Mary’s Church
Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland
Rev Jim Cowie

Writing this letter in early February, I heard on the radio that today (Feb 6th) is the day when most people are absent from work due to illness. This follows the day in January when people felt at their lowest. It’s all put down to short winter days, long nights and summer holidays seeming so far away. Our grandparents might have laughed at the thought that our whole lives could be affected by such annual occurrences which are simply part of the natural cycle they knew so well.

With so much emphasis today put on living every moment to the full, there’s little time to accept a rhythm to life – work and rest, activity and stillness. In Britain we work the longest hours of any workers in Europe. We have the highest rate of binge drinkers (mostly young people at weekend). There is sadly a long list of unattractive and destructive things where we top the international poll such as violence, teenage pregnancy and heart disease. It’s as if we have made a giant treadmill for ourselves from which we can’t escape. We have to keep going, even though it exhausts us and doesn’t seem to get us anywhere.

“What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his very soul?” asked Jesus 2000 years ago. In the endless quest for money, status, party going, living life to the full and to excess, we can legitimately ask the question today – “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his very soul?”

The greatest lesson we can learn and the greatest truth we can hand on to our children and generations to come, is that individuals are happier; families are stronger; society is more equitable when we pay as much attention to our “souls” as we do to our bodily needs.

Jesus also said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and all these other things will be yours as well” and “Seek the things that do not rust and cannot be taken from you”.It takes precious time. Sometimes it is hard work. But it’s worth it! Building the foundation of peace and contentment in our hearts that enables us to weather the storms of life. It’s about establishing and building up a relationship with God through Jesus that gives life true meaning and hope.