A Word of Encouragement

Apparently, when hunters are trying to humanely catch and relocate monkeys, they use monkey traps. A monkey trap is usually made with a coconut. The coconut is fixed to the ground, with a hole cut into the side that is just big enough for the monkey to get their hand into. Then, they put some nuts or a piece of fruit in the coconut and the trap is set. The monkey comes along, puts their hand inside, grabs hold of the treat, and is trapped. Freedom could be theirs – they got their hand in, they could get it out – but whilst they stay holding onto this thing, they are trapped. Apparently, monkeys are routinely caught like this because they refuse to let go and so cannot get free. 

Last week at the senior school religious assembly we started thinking about how we can be caught like a monkey in a monkey trap when we refuse to let go of our offences. When we hold onto the hurt, the sting of the offence, it traps us and steals from us: it steals our time, our thoughts, our joy, our energy, our rest, and even our character when we start hurting others from our place of hurt.

But offences are bound to come – even Jesus knew that. Sometimes we see it coming, but other times it blindsides us, like when people say, “I don’t mean to offend you but ….” and then say something really, really offensive! Sometimes offence is intentionally done; other times we are offended and the other person wouldn’t even know it. Offence is complicated and tricky.

Letting go of our offences isn’t easy. Jesus’ friends knew that: when Jesus first taught them about this, they didn’t say “yep, excellent, I can do that!” No, instead they said, “give us more faith!” That is, “help us! Help us to trust you that this is possible and help us to do it!” 

Being back together at school is a wonderful blessing. But where there are people, there will also be offence. So, when it happens for you this term, will you hold onto it or ask Jesus for more faith and with his help, let it go?

Rev Karen Reid

Chaplain