DEPLETION

We were asked to give an update at church today of our narrowboat journey so after a resume of happenings to date I handed the microphone over to R, without prior knowledge of what he would say. It had crossed my mind that we should have discussed the content of our brief presentation beforehand but by the time this thought came to me the service had already started. Left to me, I would have chosen our recent breakdown. As it turned out the same thought had crossed R’s mind!

He told of our first day out on the cut, at the end of March, when we forgot to open the diesel pipe and gradually lost more and more power until the engine spluttered to a total standstill. Not only did the boat stop but without the diesel to power up the engine there is no charge reaching the boat batteries so everything grinds to a halt. The pumps stop working, the lights fail, the fridge warms up and the food goes mouldy. It really is a bit of a disaster and not to be recommended. R then likened this to our spiritual engine. If we forget to pay attention to it and forget to nurture it, our spiritual energy will dry up. We become depleted, like a flattened battery. Our energy levels sap and it can be increasingly difficult to motivate ourselves and find joy in living. Those we love, who we may feel a responsibility towards, no longer receive our best attention and completing everyday tasks become harder to accomplish. Life is a bit like wading through treacle!

For some, finding joy in nature gives the necessary battery recharge. For others it may be drawing strength from the relationships they have with friends and family. Or it may be on the sports field or found through creativity. Others just need to sit quietly, stilling their minds and listening to the silence. To me, all these things have an element of communing with our creator and R reminded us that for those who have faith in a loving God, our spiritual engine can be fed by prayer. Actively communicating with God on a regular basis can help to keep us topped up and in turn recharge our batteries. Life is so short. Time so precious. Battery top-up is so vital to life and yet without the fuel getting to the engine in the first place we can do nothing.

As Easter approaches and we think about death and resurrection perhaps we should take a spiritual engine check and ask ourselves: Are we switched off, running an empty tank, no longer alive to the best of who we can be? If so, perhaps it’s time to reignite our spiritual side. To be kind to ourselves and take time to do things that perhaps we have a passion for, like sewing, dancing or painting. To ring and speak to an old friend. To go for a walk and enjoy the bursting forth of spring. In making time for the things that enrich our lives we may find our internal batteries are recharged and we may find we can cope better with the everyday stresses of life.