Wood for the trees - Pastor's pen for 6th July 2025

Centennial Park in winter light, June 2025

I run bush loops through Centennial Park, multiple loops because it's not big enough with just one. I think I did one too many the other evening. It's slow going with all the pine roots and winter slippery-ness and not much in the way of a view. So to mix it up I find it good to pop out of the bush on a track that leads up to a nice view by one of the greens on the Pupuke Golf Course. I don't know, it provides a kind of re-set rather than just dodging puddles and not being able to 'see the wood for the trees' (an English saying/proverb dating from the 16th century). It's like a domestic version of when you are in the wilderness after slogging up a track for hours and suddenly you round a corner and see an amazing vista that makes the hiking worthwhile. Also you can re-orientate yourself and figure out which way you are facing.

I feel like I've been slogging through difficult terrain reading about the authorship and date of The Gospel according to John. The scholars through the ages propose a bewildering number of options which the preacher has to consider in private rather than subjecting the Sunday congregation to an extended lecture on the topic. You're welcome. How glad I was to return to the excellent commentary I purchased during my university study on John by the late Leon Morris, an Australian New Testament scholar. His work gave me some clarity, when I couldn't see 'the wood for the trees.' It's important when you preach through a book to settle on an approach, and not be blown around all over the place by different ideas, bringing confusion to others.

May you find a clear path and direction in your own challenges, by God's grace. Shalom