The New Room is sharing a Friday reflection each week. We hope that these short reflections will act as a point of spiritual focus, enabling a moment of quiet thought and prayer.

This week’s reflection is from Adam Biddlestone who is the Communication and Engagement Officer for the Bristol and South Gloucestershire Methodist Circuit and a Local Preacher.

Genesis 12 verses 1 – 7

There are times in my life when I feel a real connection with stories and people in the Bible. In July 2014 I took all my possessions, set out from Darlaston for the village of Easter Compton and arrived there. I love the story of Abram, the way he responded to God’s call, set out on a journey, putting his faith and trust in God. For Abram, the final destination of his journey was known by God but hidden from him and those he journeyed with. In each of the places they passed through, Abram paused, built an altar and spent time talking and listening to God.

I moved to Easter Compton, to a known address for a new job. The journey has been much more than moving location, it has enabled me to change career, learn and develop new skills, meet new people, develop new friendships and explore new places. Of course, for me as for all of us, the current stage of our journey is only part of the bigger journey. I wonder what God has planned for the next stage on our journeys? I wonder if to embark on that stage we will need to take all our possessions and set off for a new place?

Mervyn and Joy Dine’ hymn begins, ‘God who sets us on a journey, to discover, dream and grow, lead us as you led your people in the desert long ago.’ Journeys are not just about moving from one place to another, they are also about discovering more about ourselves as people.

I am writing this reflection as part of The New Room’s response to COVID 19 and the current restrictions on our lives. The past weeks and months have been a journey for everyone, new opportunities and experiences, challenges and joys, friendships and relationships will have changed. Hopefully, all of us feel able to put our faith and trust in the God who called Abram, blessed him and made him a blessing to others.

Prayer

Calling God, we thank you for journeying with us throughout our lives,

for interrupting our comfortable and secure routines,

for leading us to new places, people and experiences.

Lord, as we journey, you journey with us, leading and guiding us.

So, bless us on our journeys and make us a blessing to others.

Bless those we encounter on our journeys and make them a blessing to us.

Amen.