Greetings!

It’s another Monday and a week ahead, replete with possibilities for all that is uplifting – physically and spiritually – depending on our [dis]positions.

Back in the 1980’s it seemed that the default mechanism employed by the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS), was Load-Shedding. The consistency, with which power outages were experienced at the time, was unbearable! As a result, many developed close associations with the Home Sweet Home kerosene lamps, with a candle or two at arms-reach, for what had become a way of life, rather than a once in a while emergency.

Now in retrospect, there seems to have been method to the madness we endured. Those Load-Shedding experiences, have given way to our current reality; they provided the springboard from which the JPS was able to launch the move towards a brighter future, the vision of which would not have otherwise, become a reality. Load-shedding can now be appreciated for the integral role it played in the sustainability of our country’s power and energy sources. But there’s another way in which it can be understood…even embraced, and that is as a discipline that lay at the heart of spiritual power and energy.

I would usually know by Sunday evening at least, the theme/topic around which my thoughts would coalesce for this Monday Blog. Up to yesterday however, and into the early hours of this morning there was nothing knocking at the door of either heart or brain…nada! So, with nothing to share, I hoped that you would understand my predicament – that I was cumbered with loads to care about – and would therefore, excuse the temporary lapse. I was resigned to this outcome – bemoaning the muchness and manyness that I needed to do something about, before they end up being the death [literally and figuratively] of me. So with the decision to forego writing this week firmly etched on my mind, I proceeded to my prayer room, to engage my devotional time. There is a particular devotional that I had not looked at in about two weeks, and felt a strong urge to do so. I opened it up on my tablet and there, before my eyes, was today’s topic…Developing a rule and rhythm – purposeful habits. Tell me that God doesn’t have a sense of…human!

The writer, basing her reflections on John 15: 1 – 17 [please read it for yourself], spoke to the fact that flourishing in ministry requires rootedness, pruning and nurturing; affirming from experience rather than mere book knowledge…Lord have mercy…that sometimes we fall into the trap of saying yes to things we should say no to, just because we can do them and want to be helpful. Are you sensing a word here, or is it just me?

Well, to cut a long story short, I knew in an instant, what I wanted to share with you today. I knew, not so much for you, but so that I may exegete, from the text, even now being written on my heart by the divine hand, the message concerning the importance of Load-Shedding, as that necessary requirement without which I [you]will end up being extremely busy; totally absorbed with everything but having nothing…of eternal value!

Some time ago, the Community to which I belong was encouraged regarding the necessary requirement, as we seek deeper anchorage in God, of cutting back, pruning, ridding ourselves of whatever would be a hindrance to such anchorage…the deep spiritual intimacy that God desires to share with us. Dear one, is there a message for you here today?

I really haven’t much more to say, except perhaps to reiterate the point that Load-Shedding is for enhancing the capacity of the power source, by removing any load from the power system that will cause imbalance between availability of and demand for power.

Until next week, keep well and remain in His grip.

Grace+