From the Manse: A Thought for the Week
Sunday 8th March 2026
Dear Friends,
We are now in the third week of Lent. Lent is often described as a
wilderness journey. And wilderness journeys are not completed in a single
burst of enthusiasm. They require pacing. They require wisdom. They
require rest.
This week, I have taken a couple of days off to travel down to London to
see Mamma Mia as a belated birthday gift from friends. And I want to say,
quite openly, that I really enjoyed it. For the truth is that sometimes we can
feel a little guilty about stepping away — especially during Lent. For isn’t
this supposed to be the serious season? The reflective season? The
season of discipline? Well, the answer to this is yes… and no.
You see Lent is not about grinding ourselves down. It is not about proving
how serious or spiritual we can be. It is about walking honestly with Christ
— and even Jesus, in the midst of His ministry, stepped away. In Mark’s
Gospel, after the disciples returned from a busy and exhausting period of
ministry, Jesus said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a quiet place
and get some rest.” He did not rebuke them for being tired. He did not
demand they push through. He invited them to rest. For the disciples rest
was not weakness. It was obedience.
Today we live in a culture that often glorifies busyness. Productivity is
praised. Full diaries are worn almost like badges of honour. But constant
movement without pause leads to weariness of body and spirit. And when
we are weary, our vision narrows. Our patience thins. Our joy fades. A
rested soul, however, can see further.
There is a rhythm built into creation itself — day and night, work and
Sabbath, sowing and harvest. Even in Lent, there is rhythm. The Sundays
of Lent are sometimes called “little Easters” — reminders that joy is never
completely absent, even in a penitential season, and taking a short break is
not stepping off the Lenten path. Sometimes it is what enables us to
continue walking it faithfully.We often imagine the spiritual journey as one
long, upward climb. But in reality, it is more like a pilgrimage. Pilgrims know
they must stop at wells along the way. They must sit under shade. They
must eat, drink and regain strength. Without those pauses, the journey
itself would be impossible.
Perhaps this third week of Lent is an invitation for you as well. Where might
you need to rest? Rest does not always mean a trip away. It might mean
switching off the news for an evening. It might mean taking a slow walk
instead of rushing. It might mean allowing yourself to read for pleasure
without feeling you “should” be doing something more productive. It might
mean saying no to one more demand. Rest, you see, can be holy.
There is a difference between avoidance and renewal. Avoidance runs
away from responsibility. Renewal steps back in order to return stronger
and clearer. When we take time to breathe, to laugh, to receive joy as a gift
rather than an achievement, we are reminded that God is God — and we
are not. And perhaps that is one of the deepest lessons of Lent. We cannot
save ourselves through effort. We cannot carry every burden. We cannot
sustain endless output. We are dependent creatures, sustained by grace.
Sometimes stepping aside for a short while is an act of trust — trust that
the world continues turning, trust that ministry does not depend solely on
us, trust that God is present in the joy of friendship as much as in the
silence of prayer.
Now that I have returned, I do so somewhat refreshed — ready to continue
the Lenten journey with renewed focus as we draw nearer to Holy Week.
And my prayer for you is the same: that you would find moments of
restoration in these weeks. That you would allow yourself to pause without
guilt. That you would hear Christ’s invitation to come away and rest.
The cross lies ahead. But so too does resurrection. And the journey toward
both is sustained not only by discipline, but by grace.
With every blessing for the week ahead,
Rev Jade.