Text of the week

'Anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you'll have it for ever, real and eternal.' (John 12:25)
By The Newsroom
Published 27th Nov 2016, 09:00 BST
Rev. Dr J Mary HendersonRev. Dr J Mary Henderson
Rev. Dr J Mary Henderson

This year has seen a spectacular display of autumn colours in the trees, the beautiful reds and browns, golds and yellows both lifting our hearts and reminding us of the passing of time and the changing seasons of our lives.

Most of us remember, when we were young, being told by an older person how time seems to accelerate the older you become, but it’s not until you suddenly find yourself ticking the last box in the list of ages on a form, or visiting a museum and seeing the everyday items of your childhood on display that you realise how right they were.

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It is - as far as we know - the unique pain and privilege of being human that we live only for a short time and have the capacity to reflect on our mortality.

It is one of the profound insights of Christian faith - shared with other religions of the world - that the way to make the most of our life in this world is to sit lightly to it; not to try to cling on, but to let go as the leaves do at this time of year.

Rev. Dr J Mary Henderson,

Minister of Laurieston linked with Redding and Westquarter Church of Scotland