It’s the start of another week and I’ve had a few days off which were greatly appreciated. Culturally we have had an interesting couple of days.

There has been talk of freedom day coming which will signal the coming to an end of COVID restrictions. Of course, along with these reports are the opposite arguments talking about how irresponsible a move like this would be (thats not a political statement, it would have happened the other way too!) We are also in the 12th weekend here in Northern Ireland which is a time that carries lots of different emotions for many. To top it all off the England football team played in their first final for 55 years, which they unfortunately lost. Watching people’s reactions, the abuse the players got etc. combined with everything else this weekend made me think;

What on Earth would I do without Jesus?

I have a vested interest in what happens with COVID, the 12th weekend affects me as I live and grew up here and I am a huge lover of football. It’s a lie to say I am unaffected by these things but all of them are passions built upon an identity and a deep love for Jesus. That means that regardless of what emotions I may feel from any experience in my life, those experiences sit on top of my relationship with Jesus and His goodness.

I’m just not sure what shape I would be in if that relationship didn’t exist. I think I would be up and down constantly, living from experience to experience, trying to grasp the next high to help me avoid the potential lows. It’s not that these things, and much more beside, don’t compete for my affection. In fact, they give it a red hot go, but I know that they are things that promise much, but can deliver little.

I don’t want to trade what is eternal for something temporary. God created so much for us to enjoy and we should but let’s not let enjoyment become worship, let’s not allow passion to become a substitute for His presence and let’s not allow fun to become our foundation.

Thank you Jesus