Green is Good
At times I feel guilty that, in the midst of a drought, my home is surrounded by green lawns that are watered each night by automatic sprinklers (we use bore water). I recently shared that feeling of guilt with someone and their response was interesting. They said, “We all need some green in our lives.” I didn’t think anything of that at the time, but not long afterwards I had to drive to Berry, on the coast. As I descended from the Southern Highlands into Kangaroo Valley I was surrounded by green, and it felt good.
It’s true. We do need some green in our lives. We need it all the more in a time of drought. Green is an uplifting and refreshing colour. Green gives hope. it reminds us that, despite the brown dryness that surrounds us, there is life beyond drought, a better life still to come. Patches of green give us a small taste of that future in the present.
That led me to thinking about Church. I believe that Churches can contribute to our community in the same way. In a time of spiritual drought, they can be like a green oasis that we feel better for seeing. They remind us that there is something good still to come in life and they give us a little taste of it now.
The reason they do that is because they give us a glimpse of Jesus. He said… “To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life… Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life” (Revelation 21:6, 22:17). As we enter the Christmas season, let’s not forget that we are celebrating the birth of the one who entered this world to bring hope.
Neil Percival
It’s true. We do need some green in our lives. We need it all the more in a time of drought. Green is an uplifting and refreshing colour. Green gives hope. it reminds us that, despite the brown dryness that surrounds us, there is life beyond drought, a better life still to come. Patches of green give us a small taste of that future in the present.
That led me to thinking about Church. I believe that Churches can contribute to our community in the same way. In a time of spiritual drought, they can be like a green oasis that we feel better for seeing. They remind us that there is something good still to come in life and they give us a little taste of it now.
The reason they do that is because they give us a glimpse of Jesus. He said… “To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life… Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life” (Revelation 21:6, 22:17). As we enter the Christmas season, let’s not forget that we are celebrating the birth of the one who entered this world to bring hope.
Neil Percival