I​T IS nice to be safe back on English soil after experiencing an earthquake of the magnitude of 5.9 on the Richter scale, while abroad on holiday. 

Although the quake lasted only 30 seconds it was nonetheless quite a frightening experience. Thinking it through, the fear probably came after the initial confusion as to what exactly was happening.

On quite an ordinary morning and with no apparent warning suddenly the earth began to grind and the equipment in the kitchen, in which I was loading a dishwasher, began to shake violently. Outside, the apartment block opposite ours visibly swayed.

Fortunately there was no real damage that we could see in our vicinity, although later on we saw on the local news that several cars had been damaged in accidents in an area where the intensity of the quake had increased to 6.1. We were comforted by the news that building regulations were strict where we were staying and any building has to be able to withstand that sort of quake, the building has to be what is known as “life safe”. 

This happened just one week after the Haiti earthquake, which measured 7.1 on the Richter scale. More than 200,000 people had not been so fortunate. The television had been full of reports of the injured, the tragedy of children left orphaned or parents unable to find their families, and the urgent rescue missions being put in hand. It made me realise even more graphically that although we see these reports sitting in the relative comfort of our homes, we really have no idea what actually experiencing such a large quake and its terrible effects is like.

For days after our own smaller quake we were wondering if there would be further earth movement, could it be even worse.  

One thing we were agreed on – the experience made us realise just how fragile life actually is and that it is so important to make the best of what we have been given.

We go about our everyday business and something unexpected and sudden happens,

something over which there is no controll; it might be an earthquake, or an accident or perhaps a stroke, as happened to a friend of mine just last week.  Whatever it is, we find the course of our life has been changed forever, or indeed our life as we know it could even end.

The Bible tells us that none of us knows when our time on earth will end.  Whatever anyone tries to predict, we are told there may be two workers in a field, one will be taken and the other left.  Life is that unpredictable and that fragile. 

I think it is therefore so important that we remember what is really important in life; we must put ourselves right spiritually and a good start is to remember to love our neighbour and that may mean forgiving them, even though we might find it hard to make the first move or feel that they should be the ones to do that.

Nothing in this life is worth twisting our lives into that downward spiral of resentment or hatred caused by an unforgiving nature.  If you want freedom to be who you are really meant to be and to enjoy this life today,  take a tip from me and free yourselves by forgiving your neighbour, put behind you all that has stopped you from coming closer to each other and created a barrier between you and God.  Love one another.

Next week, we shall all enjoy pancakes on Tuesday. The next day begins the Christian observance of Lent.  Wednesday 17 we call Ash Wednesday is the start of  a time of thoughtful preparation; a time for fasting, or at least cutting back on those things we really enjoy and finding time each day in the following six weeks leading up to Easter

Sunday to really think through what happened when Jesus gave up his life for us.  Life in this world is indeed fragile, but because of all that Jesus did for us, life in the world to come is eternal and that is a cause for celebration.

May God bless you all.