The View from the Vicarage - April 2010

A touch of Easter shopping?

As I was walking down life's highway
many years ago
I came upon a sign that read
Heavens Grocery Store.

When I got a little closer
The doors swung open wide
And when I came to myself
I was standing inside.

I saw a host of Angels.
They were standing everywhere
One handed me a basket
And said 'My child shop with care.'

Everything a human needed
Was in that grocery store
And what you could not carry
You could come back for more

First I got some patience.
Love was in that same row.
Further down was understanding,
You need that everywhere you go.

I got a box or two of Wisdom
And Faith a bag or two.
And Charity of course
I would need some of that too.

I couldn't miss the Holy Ghost
It was all over the place.
And then some strength and Courage
to help me run this race.
My basket was getting full
But I remembered I needed Grace.

And then I chose Salvation for
Salvation was for free
I tried to get enough of that
to do for you and me.

Then I started to the counter
To pay my grocery bill.
For I thought I had everything
To do the Masters will.
As I went up the aisle I saw
Prayer and put that in,
For I knew when I stepped outside
I would run into Sin.

Peace and Joy were plentiful,
The last things on the shelf.
Song and Praise were hanging near
So I just helped myself.

Then I said to the angel
'Now how much do I owe?'
He smiled and said:
'Just take them everywhere you go.'

Again I asked: 'Really now,
How much do I owe?'
'My child' he said, 'God paid your bill
A long long time ago.'

At Easter we remember that Jesus died on a cross to pay our ‘bill’ for going our own way and not God’s. He did this so that if and when we turn back to God, there is no barrier of an unpaid debt and we are accepted just as we are, warts and all!
But the good news doesn’t stop there!
God raised Jesus from the dead and made sure there were many witnesses. But that’s still not the really good news.
The really good news is that God promises that anyone who follows the way of Jesus will follow Jesus through the door of death to a fresh new life just like he did - a life where we can play for eternity in the playground of a renewed earth and a universe suddenly full of life.
I can’t wait – and the good news is I don’t have to. If I follow the way of Jesus now I can enjoy a taste of heaven on earth, I can be to others a taste of heaven on earth, because Jesus will be walking with me!
Shalom

Revd Derek Witchell
01296 682320