Clive Addison is a member of the Bro Celynnin Ministry Team who also farms, at Llechwedd in the Carneddau mountains. Today he reflects on one way to cope with ‘Lockdown’ restrictions.
Are you feeling a bit down? If you are, it is no surprise seeing that 2021 seems no different to 2020 so far. At times like this it really helps to keep cheerful and motivated if you have a positive project you can get stuck into. Living on a smallholding as I do, there are projects aplenty. In the first lockdown, I tackled a major job that had been waiting to be done for at least 20 years, renewing the sheep-proof fencing between my fields and the road. More recently it has been building a rockery in our garden – something I have been promising my wife Heather, I would do for about 40 years, honestly!!
Here you can see the first terrace. It is meant to emulate mountain scree, for alpine plants which like that kind of environment. I was so proud of it I sent this picture to my family, only to get back from my son in law, “It looks as though you are trying for the Guinness book of records for the biggest cat litter tray!” Oh well, some people just don’t appreciate gardening!
It really is OK if you can’t see the point of my project either. What’s important is to attempt something new which has meaning for you – however scathing the response might be from those who love you. In fact it reminds me how different and individual we actually are, each unique in our particular gifts and in what gives us a sense of purpose.
When God sent his Son into the world he intended to undertake a deeply personal and beautiful project in every human being, their Salvation. The Good News is that while we so easily leave things unfinished (or perhaps never even get started) Jesus will never give up on us:
“Ac yr wyf yn sicr o hyn, y bydd i’r hwn a ddechreuodd waith da ynoch ei gwblhau erbyn Dydd Crist Iesu.”
Philipiaid /Philippians 1:6
“I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.”
P.S. Speaking of new ‘projects’, many congratulations to Clive and Heather on the birth of their first great-grandchild, Arthur (and to the new parents Charlotte-May and Nicholas).
