Reflections , livre ebook

Reflections
Wynne Campbell Bowers-Mason
Austin Macauley Publishers
2020-03-31
Reflections About the Author Dedication Copyright Information © Acknowledgment Grace Perceptions Loneliness Honesty vs. Politeness Bruce" On Letting Go Prayer for Unity On a Christian’s Passing
About the Author
Born in 1961, Wynne grew up in Tokoroa, attended school there and then studied language and literature at the University of Waikato in Hamilton. Married to Paul, they have between them (at last count) one parent, six cats, ranging in age from 4 to 26, who still live at home, and five children, ranging in age from 21 to 29, who don’t. Wynne is an ordained Anglican priest.
Dedication
This book is dedicated to Rev Stephen Prebble, of Matamata, who requested me to write my thoughts and began this process, and also to the late Rev Bruce Dale, a voice of sanity amid tumult, who had a gentle presence, a great depth of warmth and acceptance, a heart full of compassion and who inspired the poem ‘Bruce’.
Copyright Information ©
Wynne Campbell Bowers-Mason (2020)
The right of Wynne Campbell Bowers-Mason to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.
Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
Austin Macauley is committed to publishing works of quality and integrity. In this spirit, we are proud to offer this book to our readers; however, the story, the experiences, and the words are the author’s alone. Austin Macaulay Publishers will not be liable for any and all claims or causes of action, known or unknown, arising out of the contents of this book.
A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.
ISBN 9781528906715 (Paperback)
ISBN 9781528958356 (ePub e-book)
www.austinmacauley.com
First Published (2020)
Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd
25 Canada Square
Canary Wharf
London
E14 5LQ
Acknowledgment
Thanks to my mother, Grace, for her teaching and encouragement over the years and for Elaine’s suggestion to publish this, without which it probably would not have occurred to me to do so. Thanks to Stephen for being the catalyst at its inception and to my family for encouraging me, especially my husband Paul who made endless cups of tea and went out of his way to allow me to write when I needed that space.

I am very aware of God’s peace as I travel to work each week. I am grateful to the people I work among who have been so welcoming and positive.
It is not a light thing to invite a stranger into the sanctuary of one’s own home and to share one’s private space with them; but people have been very willing to do so and it is quite humbling.
This afternoon, I walked across town to visit a widowed lady and I was impressed by how strong and loving a relationship she had with her husband and how happy her memories of him still are.
To meet someone who is so content and fulfilled, and for whom the loss of a partner is not the end of their happiness in life, is a blessing and a privilege. I would have liked to have known him.

On the way to visit people today, I was praying about people attending a funeral. Some people carry such a lot of grief. The sense of betrayal by social systems which should care for loved ones at risk, but which sometimes fail, can still cause anger years later, as it would in any of us who have lost someone close. There is no way to know the depth of that sort of pain without personal experience.
Often when people have had some hardships in their lives, they seem able to be philosophical about things.
God seems to give a special measure of grace to such people, and there is often also a creativity which can be intensely healing for them. I feel moved to commit such people into God’s hands asking for healing and comfort for them.

God extends His grace to us through unexpected and unsought-for friendships that we have been heading towards, maybe for a long time, but didn’t know it.
Meeting people who have a love relationship with God really brings it home to me that God is in full control of where I go, what I do and who I meet.
There are no coincidences with God. Obedience to His leading, whether it comes as a request from here or a seemingly random decision there, always ends up with us being where God wants us, when He wants us, there.
I am again humbled by the beauty God shows me in the people I am meeting.
Each one is so different, but each soul so precious to God and important to the body as a whole.
Thank you, God, that you don’t believe in cloning!
When we live in His grace then wherever we are, in whatever circumstances we find ourselves, we are always secure.

I don’t apologise for believing.
Jesus—who He is, what He stands for—is what gives meaning to my life. Why do I get up in the morning? Why do I go out, do things, meet people, interact—why do I do any of these? The fact of God present in my life is the thing above all that sustains me, colours every aspect of what I do and who I am. Even when I get sidetracked, involved in the day-to-day acts of life—shopping, cleaning, cooking, washing—He is still there like an ever-present light in the background of my soul and spirit that just needs me to acknowledge Him for Him to be fully present.
The warmth and affirmation of His loving presence colours even the difficult, dark hours of pain, or grief, or confusion. When all else is chaos, this is the rock to which I cling, which anchors me in the maelstrom of attack or doubt. He is truly the Foundation which is never shaken.

There is an immense privilege in praying for someone; in being trusted to pray aright and to hear from God in that prayer. Relationship is a two-way thing; trust is built on both sides one step at a time. Actually, it is three-way in Christ, because we attempt to relate in Him and if we keep the cross between us, then we won’t relate in a human, carnal way, but in a godly, spiritual way.
Thinking of what the Scots writer, George MacDonald said, we should not think of ourselves