Pastoral Letter
Dear Friends,
It is often said that a dog is a man's best friend. Our Golden Retriever Henry is a wonderful friend. He and I enjoy lovely walks together each day, and Henry is especially excited on our day off (yes, he does seem to know when it is our day off!) because of the promise of a long and interesting walk in different surroundings. I often talk to him as we walk along, and he is always a happy, cheerful companion. He loves his walks very much, and his fluffy tail is always sticking up like a sail in the breeze as he lopes along and takes in the sights and smells of the countryside. His natural enthusiasm for life always lifts my mood when we are out together, and his quiet and gentle companionship around the house is always somehow reassuring.
Children naturally respond to Henry, and he very much enjoys their attention. I often take him into school as a live 'visual aid'for the message that I want to share with the children. I have always felt that it is good for children to have a dog because it encourages them to take on a tangible responsibility for a real friend, and at the same time they get real enjoyment from the love and affection that a dog can offer.
I am reminded of the lovely story I have told occasionally in sermons of the newsboy delivering the evening paper to a farmhouse. The boy noted the sign 'Puppies for Sale'and got off his bike and said to the farmer, "How much do you want for the pups, sir?" "Twenty-five pounds, son." Replied the farmer. The boy's face dropped at the size of the sum, and he pleaded. "Well, sir, could I at least see them anyway?" The farmer whistled, and in a moment the mother came bounding around the corner of the house quickly followed by four excited puppies, wagging their tails and yapping excitedly.
The boy looked at the puppies with delight and reached out to stroke and cuddle them. But then another pup came straggling around the house, dragging one hind leg awkwardly along. Immediately the boy stiffened and asked the farmer, "What's the matter with that puppy, sir?" The farmer replied, "Well, son, that puppy is crippled. We took him to the vet and the doctor took an x-ray. He doesn't have a hip joint and that leg will never be right." To the amazement of the farmer, the boy immediately reached into his pocket and took out a 50p coin. "Please, sir," the boy pleaded, "I want to buy that pup. I'll pay you 50p every week until the twenty-five pounds is paid. Honest I will, sir."
The farmer was by then really concerned and gently replied, "but, son, you don't seem to understand. That pup will never, never be able to run or jump. That pup is going to be a cripple forever. Why in the world would you want such a useless pup as that?"
The boy paused for a moment, then reached down and pulled up his trouser leg, exposing an ugly iron brace and leather knee-strap holding a poor twisted leg. The boy answered, "Sir, that pup is going to need someone who really understands him, and who really wants to help him in life!"
For me that story says so much about the way that God relates to us. There are times in all of our lives when we feel a bit like that poor crippled pup, whether it be through illness, depression, bereavement or through major problems or difficulties that have arisen in our lives. God is like that newspaper boy. He has experienced every aspect of human suffering for himself when he came into the world to live in poverty in an ordinary poor human family, through his Son Jesus Christ. And then He experienced the unspeakable suffering and death of the cross. The wonderful message of Jesus Christ is that God has been there and really understands our needs, and really wants to help us in life.
So never be afraid to reach out to God and share your problems with Him in prayer. He always understands, always cares and will always seek to enfold you in His love.
May God bless you all,