I was reading from Jeremiah chapter 29 this morning: all through my life (and I was moving about a lot) I was encouraged by these words which begin in verse 4. Jeremiah is writing as the Lord tells him to, to all those people in exile in Babylon.

While I was reading, the word ‘exile’ seemed to jump out at me and It set me wondering – are we in exile? Certainly we are in a strange place. It would seem that for a lot of us none of the normal markers are in place: and it must have been doubly so for the Israelites in Babylon.

Jeremiah writes in ch 29 v 4 ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce’………and from v.11… ‘ for I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord’.

‘Seek me with all your heart declares the Lord – and I will be found by you’. In my own meditation, those words suggest we need to listen to the strength of Jeremiah’s words and to use the time we have been given by ‘staying at home’ ‘staying alert’ during coronavirus: to deliberately make time to sit quietly with God for some time each day. In fact, practice the Presence of God in our hearts and souls. We have such an opportunity to build a new way of ‘doing’ God. When we talk to our friends, let us really listen – not for the gossip – but for the genuine reach out between us. Let’s make a real effort to build bridges: bridges of the sort that were not possible before because we had places to go, people to see - a schedule to follow. No time. Too busy.

It took me a long time to let go of the idea there was a rush for tomorrow: something I had to do – anything to save stopping and being quiet. Listen – ‘settle down’ says the Lord, ‘plant your gardens, [let my words sink in] eat the produce, [benefit by what you hear], clean your house’ [throw out the debris we carry in our hearts, the flotsam] and just talk to God. ‘Settle down’, says the Lord, do whatever you are able and do it as well as you can’.

So where is God in all this, then? Where is He? God is always with us – He is still there in this new world – always available. The Lord, it seems to me, was telling the Israelites he knew where they were and he cared for them still: nothing had changed: just as He is here with us and He loves us. Despite the tragedies we hear of and experience, despite the fear, God will give us the strength to survive and to survive well, if we will trust him.

Picture a journey Lewis and I made a few years ago now. We were driving east and it was getting dark. Suddenly in front of us in the sky there was an enormous harvest moon - just hanging there. We seemed to drive towards this super moon for ages and looking at it I found that on this occasion it was not a steady shape but one that wobbled and kept slightly changing shape. Just like a balloon when it begins to go down. That moon became not so much fixed as malleable. That image has stayed with me over the years and has now come back into my mind during lockdown and I sense that in my heart I see our world looking rather like that malleable balloon – still there, but with different markers. Does our world look like this to you at the moment? A floating orb, beautiful and hanging loose, not fixed? I believe that is where we are at the moment: contained within a changing world: so, in this fragile world, changing shape world, where nature is regaining its strength and beauty, where people are learning to adjust let’s pray:

Creator God, we worship your holy name, and as we bow our heads in the silence of our homes, we thank you for our lives.

We remember those who have died and thank you for the lives they lived; and for the people who are sad; bring them your comfort, Lord, we pray. Let us still our hearts and let us realise in a new way, the silence around us, the beauty around us:

Father God, we open our hearts to you and say thank you: we invite you in. We thank you for our lives this day, whatever happens in it. We pray Lord for peace amongst the nations of the world; your peace in our Government: guidance and stillness for the Members of Parliament. A change of heart for those who work through the media, that they bring hope for the future, not hatred for the present. Give healing and strength in the hearts of those in hospital, and peace, your peace, for those nursing them. Strength for the day to come. Lord God live through us, so that we may bring you to those we touch, by phone, email, letter, a cheery wave, a smile. In this mysterious world, bring us your peace and a new trust in your love Lord, we pray. Amen

Margaret Lintern