Blue and Brew

Available for 27 days

Good morning! Less than a month since Christmas week was promising us merriness and brightness, and the 31st of December was holding out hope of a New Year, New You, we have reached what has become known in some circles as Blue Monday. This is the day that is said to be the most depressing of the whole year, combining factors such as poor weather conditions, high debt levels, and the disheartening effect of broken resolutions and hopes. It's debatable how wise it is to label one particular day as being depressive, especially given how much of a struggle life can be for so many of us throughout the year. In a counter to the idea of ‘Blue Monday’, the Samaritans have pioneered what they call ‘Brew Monday’, this very day in January to intentionally reach out to others, put the kettle on and have good conversations. I don’t know about you, but ‘Brew Monday’ sounds like the better option to me, helping us to find agency for ourselves and empathy for others when the going is tough. The book of Lamentations is one of the darkest spots in the whole Bible, with a distraught prophet pouring his heart out about the hardship he and his contemporaries have faced. In the middle of this bluesy book, there is an affirmation that there is mercy available from God every morning, even when things are bleak. Jeremiah’s boast is that God’s faithfulness is great and steadfast, and therefore he can hope, even when his heart is broken. That’s a promise to cling to even on our darkest of days. God of compassion and grace, we bless you for your new mercies that are available to us each day. Thank you that you love us when we feel at our best and when we are at our lowest. This morning, we pray for your strength to carry on and to help carry the burdens of others. May this be a day of mutual hope and shared burdens, a day when we know new and sweet mercy from you and from each other. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.