Reflections from a Barstool.

Reflections From A  Stool

It was many years ago,

but that night I can recall.

A lonely evening as I sat alone on a tall bar stool;

The room was large and dark, and many mingled near.

Mumbling voices filled my head,

a deafening crescendo of sound

in which no meaning could be found.

laughing, whispering, the chatter filled my mind

creating an emptiness of dread.

Lost in thought,

of what, or where?

I cannot tell.

My bowing head the litter-strewn floor I saw.

A face appeared amidst the many throwaways.

A seeming insignificant portrayal,

yet on I could not cast aside.

Features blurred in a mindless daze.

Love shone to me from out the haze.

Futile it seemed and yet a lesson taught.

That though in life we seem alone, and no one seems to care.

In every moment black or light.

His presence we can feel, then know again his caring hand,

and be assured he is there.

Christ, the world might throw away, will ever be along your way.

Reaching deep to man's despair,

envelope in the arms of care.

Thinking of Self We Pass Him By.

They also will answer, "Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger, needing clothes sick or in prison, and did not help you?" He will reply, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of these, you did not do for me."

Matt 25: 44-45.

In a quiet moment sit and consider your actions.

We are all guilty from time to time, are we not of thinking only of ourselves? We can suffer from a dose of the poor me's. Hear ourselves saying, "Why does this happen to me?" The more we question ourselves the more strident becomes that inner voice, and the more it does the worse we feel.

From this state, it is a very short step to thinking that the whole world has turned against us. Whispered words we can convince yourself were about ourselves. We begin to feel that we are alone and not a single person understands us. They do not seem to even want to try to understand.

Once we have allowed ourselves to reach such depths we can be tempted to find succour in many ways. We can dry to drown our sorrows or eat our way out of despair.

It is now that we need to learn that even here Jesus stands beside us. No matter where you have tried to turn and hide he has entered with you not stayed standing at the door.

It is very simple to believe that the only place we can meet Jesus the helper and Saviour is in a church. The reality is that he is there wherever we are if we but turn and find him. it may be in the kind words of another person or that gentle touch of encouragement.

How often he is missed not because he is not there but because we have failed to see him. he is there also shining back through the eyes of the person reached out to and offered help. The more we stretch out the hand of kindness the more we will experience love in our own lives.

He stands at the door and knocks but somebody has to open it to let him in.