by Tom Davison
Contentment …
I am a fortunate and blessed man. I have really benefitted from the slower pace of life put upon each of us during lockdown. I haven’t been able to give any Maths tutorials since March 23rd – so my calculator and Tables Book have been put away til September. Hopefully, I won’t have forgotten how to do “my sums” by then! But as a self-employed person, I have been eligible for the weekly COVID-payment. Heather has continued to work and so all our needs have been met.
Ben, Emma, and Heather were all working from home until recent weeks, when each of their respective academic years ended. We were blessed to have enough space in our home for each of them to have a workstation and not right on top of each other. Plus, the internet connection behaved itself, most of the time!
It was great to have each other’s company over mealtimes, local walks, and movie nights. Additionally, I was very pleased to look after the home and be the “hunter/gatherer” making the weekly perilous trip around Dunnes! It provided me with the additional social interaction this extrovert needs … a chance to chat (& listen) to “random-ers”!!
The dry, sunny weather has been magnificent. Early mornings have been a particular treat – sitting in our back garden listening to the birdsong, sun on my face, reading my Bible and chatting to God. What a blessing!
By temperament I am always “on the go” ~ whether physically or allowing my mind to be consumed with far too many thoughts and matters to ponder. I’m not very good at resting. So, what a joy it has been for me to be reminded by our Father, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Further He declares in Isaiah 55:8, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.”
So, whilst this period has been exceedingly difficult for many people right across the world, I don’t deny that – yet I have peace in the core of my being that God can be trusted. He knows what He is doing. Therefore, as I go about each day – whether cooking, running, gardening, queueing for groceries, I am content and grateful. God is with me.
He promises us in Jeremiah 29:13,