Chaplain's Message

Many years ago, I lived with my family in Papua New Guinea at Bomana Police College outside Port Moresby. It had lovely big playing fields which were ideal to fly the magnificent colorful dragon kite we collected in Hong Kong. Its tail was metres long and covered in brightly coloured lolly-paper plastic which simply glowed in the sunshine. We would all take a turn in running as fast as we could, seeing how high it would fly, desperately trying never to let it crash to the ground for fear of breaking its strong but fragile beauty.

It had the illusion of “freedom” as it was whipped from side to side by the wind currents – almost pulling the children along behind it but the string which held it firm was obedient to the “tug”.

A gentle pull with the right amount of force would send our beauty in a different direction but still subject to the currents. It was a masterpiece of the sky and brought such delight on Sunday afternoons to children and adults alike. I actually do not remember what happened to it over the years, but I do know that the paper began to fail long before the string!

And so, it is with God’s love - the love which binds us to him in spite of the wind currents which buffet us across our crazy world. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you, he will never leave you nor forsake you" Deut. 31.8

We are given the gift of free will and so have this sense of freedom, but his love is bound into our hearts as surely as the string is tied to the kite. And if we listen, we will feel the gentle tug that seeks to reassure, guide and direct us, both in the good times and the bad times.

He sent his Son to die for us. He was not just going to talk about how much he loves us, but he showed us – love unimaginable.

~ Pastor Sarah Pollitt

College Chaplain