I am going to be honest with you, I hate February! Winter seems to be dragging its feet; the occasional signs of spring get drowned or frozen when the warmer weather decides it will stay away for a little longer.
But February is a good time for thinking and for dreaming. Snuggling under a blanket with a warm drink, perhaps a warm and sunny holiday might drift into mind. Or maybe it is time to think back to childhood memories of summers playing in the garden; of growing flowers and vegetables or chasing butterflies. In the dullness of February, the possibilities of our dreams can lift our spirits.
I wonder how many of us were Brownies or Girl Guides as children and remember Thinking Day. Thinking Day happened on February 22nd, which happened to be the birthdays of both the founders, Lord and Lady Baden-Powell. On this day Brownies and Guides were allowed to wear their uniforms to school and were encouraged to think about people in other countries and our impact on them.
Jesus commanded us to love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. I wonder, are we better at involving our emotions and physicality in serving Jesus, than we are in engaging our minds. Do we think enough for Jesus and about his church? Are we guilty of assuming others know best, so keep our thoughts to ourselves?
God gave each one of us a brain and if we want Christianity to have an impact on our communities and wider society we need to engage them. Your views are important and should be shared. You probably know a lot more about the issues facing your community than the ministry team.
We are all part of the body of Christ. We each have a role. Without you and your thoughts the church of Christ is diminished. This February, do the church a favour and indulge in dreaming and thinking for God.