Letter from Jon, November 2024 

 
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house;
yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
Matt 7:25
 
 
Dear Friends
 
A month ago Fiona and I had a short break in the beautiful city of Valencia, one of our favourite cities with beautiful parks and old streets, a sandy beach, museums and galleries, shops and restaurants, and if you like food well…..!!.  It was warm and sunny and peaceful and wonderful.  A month later and we see devastating reports in the news with heartbreaking scenes that it is difficult to take in.  The flash floods that swept through the region destroying lives and homes and neighbourhoods, picking up cars and debris as they went and leaving behind a trail of mud and devastation, with rescue teams, both professional and volunteers, working hard to clear the mess, to recover bodies and account for the many that are still missing. 
 
If someone had said to us a month ago that this would happen we would have not believed them. Indeed, those caught up in this disaster were equally oblivious until it was too late.  Of course, this is not the only natural disaster we have seen recently and there are so many that go unreported where many more people lose their lives.
 
It brings it home again how fragile life can be and how quickly circumstances can change for us all;  how quickly we can go from calm to crisis. I guess the pandemic showed us all that!  A couple of weeks ago on Sunday morning Iain took us through the parable of the wise and foolish builder and the difference between building our home on rock or on sand.  The solidity of our foundation will be tested when the storms, whether literal or figurative, come upon us.  When Jesus spoke this parable he made it clear that the only solid foundation was found by following him, by choosing his way and his teaching.  He is the only unshakeable foundation.
 
Stan also gave us a very powerful and challenging message that day, that just because we survive the storms of life doesn’t mean that we can judge, or look down on, those who’s foundation was less solid.  If we are to truly follow the teachings of Jesus then, regardless of how foolish we might feel others are, our calling is to welcome then into our home, our place of safety; to help them build a solid foundation upon Jesus Christ.
 
As we pray for those who have lost everything in Valencia, and indeed as we pray for so many around this world who’s lives have been destroyed by ‘storms’, whether they be natural or man-made, may we be a people of hope, built on the solid foundation of Jesus Christ.  We never know what is round the corner for any of us, either good or bad, but we have one who is unchanging, who is always light in the darkness, who is completely solid when all around is shifting. He is always Good News.
 
Much love
 
Jon