We had a ‘last day of the holidays’ day out with our grandchildren at the beginning of September. It is a strange day, the transition from August to September and in my mind, to the best month of the year. Generally, but so far not this time, September delivers lovely weather and while it may mark the end of freedom for holidaying schoolchildren and many others as well, it is full of the promise of the new academic year.
I recall that when I was a little boy, I was deeply worried about the keeping of animals in captivity. It seemed wrong that a space loving creature should be confined. Now I understand more of the vital work done to preserve endangered species, I have a different view of places like Africa Alive (other zoos are available).
When the United Reformed Church published its denominational hymnbook in 1991, Rejoice and Sing, I met and soon learned to love the hymn (108) ‘The love of God is broad like beach and meadow.’ Fred Kaan translated Anders Frostenson’s words which give us a modern and even more expansive view of God than the older, ‘There’s a wideness in God’s mercy.’
For children and young people in education, for endangered species being saved from extinction and for all of us embarking on another season of activities of all sorts the words resonate:
‘We long for freedom where our truest being
Is given hope and courage to unfold’.
Ther are so many things that constrain us and prevent the unfolding of our truest being.
If you like that then here is the final verse:
‘O judge us, Lord, and in your judgement free us,
And set our feet in freedom’s open space;
Take us as far as your compassion wanders
Among the children of the human race.’
A Prayer
Lord, sometimes we feel constrained by the routines and rhythm of life but help us to see beauty and liberation in patterns, habits and routines. May our minds be sparked and stirred by your love and may we come to know that live with you is not captivity but the end of the risk of extinction; we pray for the sake of Jesus who ended the end of death and turned it into freedom’s open space through the power of his resurrection. Amen.