A Word of Encouragement

I’ve always loved Winnie the Pooh. I won a book prize when I was in Prep and I chose a Winnie the Pooh book that I still have today. So, I’ve loved the little story doing the rounds on social media recently where Pooh is having a Difficult Day. Have you seen it? For those who haven’t, Pooh declares to his friend Piglet that for him, today is a Difficult Day. Pooh says he doesn’t want to talk about the details, but he does share with honesty about how he’s feeling on that day. Hearing of Pooh’s pain, Piglet comes and sits next to his friend. He doesn’t say much, he certainly doesn’t start plying Pooh with questions or trying to fix the problem for him. Instead, he simply comes alongside Pooh with understanding and a willingness to be present – “I get it,” says Piglet, “I often don’t feel like talking on my difficult days either. But goodness,” he continues, “difficult days are much easier if you know you’ve got someone there for you. And I’ll always be here for you, Pooh.”

As I sit to write this, I’ve just finished watching the announcement from our Premier about our return into stage 3 lockdowns. I suspected it was coming, but even so, my heart has dropped, a sinking feeling and a sudden grief in the pit of my stomach. And as that washes over me, I’m also imagining you’re likely feeling the same. A sudden rush of adrenaline, anxiety and disappointment running through your minds, as the challenges and changes ahead for you this week and this term hit. Surely these six weeks for us all are coming with some Difficult Days ahead.

God tells his people to “rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” A little Bible trivia fact for you: the shortest verse in the whole Bible (John 11:35) simply says, “Jesus wept.” It was the right response, as Jesus stood at the grave of his friend Lazarus and as he shared the grief of Lazarus’ sisters who were weeping alongside him. When the pain and brokenness of our world touch us (as it is for all of us at the moment) it’s the right response to weep and grieve and admit when it’s the cause of our difficult days. 

My word of encouragement for us today is that as we face these difficult days, we’ll have some choices to make. Will we be like Pooh and be real about what we’re feeling? On our better days, will we be like Piglet and sit with our friends in their need? Will we be like Jesus and show empathy, weeping with those who weep? And will we do so watching for when rejoicing will return, remembering that though death came for him, Jesus is not still in his grave? 

Rev Karen Reid

Girton Chaplain