Thought for the Week - 8th May 2022

 

Dear Friends,

Did you know that May 8th is World Donkey Day? The idea of a scientist called Raziq Ark and began in 2018, World Donkey Day is about celebrating the stoic spirit and individual charm of these animals, who, Ark says, are a ‘precious genetic resource and a great gift of nature’. As a child I can remember visiting the U.S.A. with my parents on a family holiday and being fascinated by various US TV comedies including Mr Ed, the story of a talking horse. I was I was amazed that a horse could talk and even more amazed that in the credits at the end of the show it simply read that ‘Mr Ed’ was played by ‘Himself’. In the Bible we have the curious incident of Balaam’s Donkey in Numbers 22. Ballam was a sorcerer and prophet who, though not one of God’s chosen people, was willing to acknowledge that the Lord was indeed a powerful God. But he did not believe the Lord as the only true God, and had mixed motives in obeying the Lord’s command but only as long as he could profit from doing so. The story in Numbers 22 tells us of the angel of the Lord, sword drawn, blocking the pathway of Balaam three times as he rode his donkey. The donkey saved Balaam’s life and it may be attributed to the keen sight that donkeys possess. Indeed there are some donkeys who act as ‘guard’ donkeys because they use sight and sound to spot predators. Now whilst none of us can claim to have met with any talking animals, this story tells us something about the heart of Balaam, and the danger of loving money and possessions and wealth over our commitment to follow God’s leading in our lives. Balaam’s donkey isn’t the only donkey in the Bible and having recently celebrated Palm Sunday wea re reminded of another donkey who takes centre stage carrying a very important person into Jerusalem. G K Chesterton, the writer and lay theologian, penned this poem entitled, ‘The Donkey’.

 

     1 When fishes flew and forests walked,                 2 With monstrous head and sickening cry

        And figs grew upon thorn,                                         And ears like errant wings,

        Some moment when the moon was blood             The devil’s walking parody

        Then surely I was born.                                             On all four-footed things

 

     3 The tattered outlaw of the earth                           4 Fools! For I also had my hour;

        Of ancient crooked will;                                             One far fierce hour and sweet:

        Starve, scourge, deride me: I am dumb.                 There was a shout about my ears,

        I keep my secret still.                                                 And palms before my feet.                 

Grace and Peace,

Neil  

     

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