The Sunday before last I was due to lead worship at Framlingham, some 27 miles from where I live. It was forecast to be a pleasant sunny day, so I decided the night before to cycle. I calculated that I needed to leave a couple of hours, so set off at 8.30am, leaving plenty of time for wrong turns and any other cycle associated mishaps!
The other decision I had to make, was what to wear! I was brought up as a good church going Methodist, always to wear my Sunday best for church. This could have left me with a dilemma, as carrying extra weight doesn’t help my aerodynamics!
All was not lost as Anna, one of our new Local Preachers on note, was going to take the Service. So I donned my cycle jersey with pockets for mobile phone and essential energy supplies, a pair of removable arm warmers as the air was still cool first thing, the padded cycle gloves, and of course the padded cycle shorts – absolutely essential! Lastly, I clipped on my cycle helmet and my cycle shoes.
Just under two hours later I arrived at Framlingham Church, (before anyone else!) a little sweaty and dishevelled.
Did that matter? No of course not.
God welcomes us just as we are, we worship him with our hearts not our clothes.
I then thought about my cycling gear and how it compares to the essentials of following a Christian way of living.
A jacket with pockets for enough space only for essentials. In our faith we are told to only carry the bare essentials. Arm warmers, mine are florescent yellow. We are to be easily seen, to shine and reflect our faith. Cycle gloves help to prevent hands getting sore from gripping the handlebars. In our faith, prayer and study of the scriptures help us when life gets sore. My helmet helps to protect me if I fall off. My faith helps to protect me when I slip and when life is tough. Padded shorts – when we follow Jesus we are in it for the long haul!
Prayer: Almighty God, thank you that you welcome us just as we are. Thank you that you sent your Son to save us, and your Holy Spirit to strengthen and protect us. Help us to make the right decisions along the way, and wear the “clothes” you give us. AMEN