12/11/2019

Good morning, It has occurred a couple times recently ... The warning was given ... repeated ... and suddenly, in the middle of doing something ... the computer screen went blank! The battery was dead. I really shouldn’t ignore the warning signs. It is the same with the fuel gauge. So far, in recent years at least, I’ve managed to fill up before that awkward moment when you must confess to someone that you’ve made a very basic mistake. The warning signs are there for a purpose ... and we ignore them at our peril. The prophet Elijah had a very stressful time over several years. He predicted, and endured, a three-year period of famine. At the end of that time Elijah had a major confrontation with the prophets of Ba’al. So it was no surprise that Elijah was exhausted. In addition, he was also under threat from Queen Jezebel who had declared that it was her intention to kill him. He ran away. His battery was empty. His reserves gone. It can happen to any of us. We have kept going without a break for a long time. And suddenly energy has gone. Clergy, teachers, parents, carers, voluntary workers ... everybody is susceptible. To help Elijah recover, God provided sleep and good food. God also gave the prophet permission to speak what was on his mind. Then God spoke to Elijah and recommissioned him to continue with his vocation. We must look out for the low battery warnings or the empty fuel gauge. To restore our energy we could take a few moments to do as Jesus said, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Lord, help us to be still and know that you are God. Amen