One of Aesop's fables is about a dog that lost the bone it was carrying because the dog mistook its own reflection in a pond for another dog, carrying a larger bone.

When I read the story to one of my grandchildren, we sat and talked about the meaning behind the story. It wasn't difficult to discuss with her that this story refers to the known human fallacy of wanting more of everything, and bigger, and better. It is time we ask ourselves:

• Why is it that we live in houses that have more rooms than we need or could possibly use, when the largest percentage of the world's population lives in shelters no bigger than a North American bedroom?
• Why is it that our closets are full of newer clothes, when last year's clothes still fit and are in perfect condition?
• Why is it that our food habits cause our bodies to balloon and harbour illnesses directly related to overeating?
• Why is it that we knock our lifestyle when people of other lands would give their eye teeth to come to be in our place?
• Why is it that our bank balances go higher and our church donations remain the same or diminish?
• Why is it that we continue to study for higher degrees when the education we have is all we need to do the job we have, and more is just "chasing after the wind"?
• Why is it that our children are raised by strangers in daycare centres, in nursery schools, and by television at home?
• When will we have enough education, food, clothing, recreation?
• When will we learn that larger, higher, or more isn't necessarily better?
• When will we learn that it is in relationships that we find joy and peace?
• When will we see that this is "greed" and a desire to feed the ego?
• When will we develop relationships with Jesus, our families, and our friends?
• When will we again provide a home for our children, filled with love rather than "things"?

After almost twelve years of service in India and Nepal, I have come away knowing that is it better to live in peace and quiet with basic and bare necessities, than to be forever running, acquiring things that sit idly on the shelves and need to be dusted. But most importantly, I have learned that there is nothing that can take the place of love in a home and that children can live better lives surrounded by love than with more "toys" than they can possibly play with.

Prayer: Loving God, from whom we have received all that we have and are, satisfy the inner need of each of us as we strive to find that for which our souls yearn. Arrest us from chasing after the wind and lead us to find ourselves, rooted in You. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.

While camping one day, I watched my husband as he was standing in rather shallow water at the end of the dock, coaching one of the grandchildren into the water. Jake stood there, arms outstretched, calling to Nicole to trust him and jump in, assuring her that he would catch her.

She hesitated, and, with a concerned look on her face, glanced at her mom and dad, and back at her grandpa. She wasn't being told by her parents not to jump, but neither did they encourage her. The choice would be hers and hers alone. After what seemed forever, trust overcame doubt, and finally she jumped, arms outstretched, into the arms of her waiting grandpa. That moment, when she was suspended between the solid ground and her grandpa's arms, was the picture that depicts "faith" and "trust". She knew what she hoped for and was certain of that which was yet to be.

I thought to myself, that's what it's like to give yourself to Jesus, to believe His promises, to accept His claims, and to reach "safety".

Repeatedly in our faith journey, God calls us to trust and obey when we discern a call to action. Today we should be hearing that call many times in view of the injustice that prevails all around us, and around the world. May we, like Nicole, overcome our fears and apprehension and "jump", trusting God to "catch" us and lead us in His way.

Many times we just "know" that we should act in a situation, but we back off. The excuse often given is "I am not qualified". May I offer a thought for your consideration? God does not necessarily call the qualified, but God does qualify the called! Claim the promises of Jesus; He is with us always and goes before us, leading in the way in which we should go. God will provide for us the words to speak when we are tongue-tied.

Prayer: Gracious and loving Lord, give us the faith to trust and the courage to "walk the walk", claiming Your promise that You go before us, even to the ends of the earth. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Recently I completed an Alpha course where participants were given the opportunity to examine issues of faith in a safe and loving environment and in community with others. It was a wonderful experience, and what struck me most was that even the most learned participants grew in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, even to their own amazement. Often we think that because we have been raised in Christian homes, and/or have become ministers within the church, we have what it takes.

Today's Scripture is clear on that point: we search and study, but unless we have a personal encounter with the loving and living Lord Jesus Christ, until we come to Him, we have only head knowledge. The Alpha course gives the opportunity for that knowledge to drop down to the heart level, revealing the relevance of faith in today's world, which is hostile to that faith.

The Scriptures testify to Jesus, and Alpha gives the opportunity to learn that, in 10 short weeks. Jesus said, "I am the way." Scripture is the road map, not the way itself.

When confronted with doubt, or when facing difficult times in our lives, we need a Lord who lives and loves unconditionally. Sometimes we need to put down our Bibles and come to Jesus, share His love with the unloved, and take up the life to which God calls us.

Our text today is clear: the knowledge of Scripture can in no way be a substitute for a daily walk with Jesus. Lest we become like the students of Scripture whom Jesus scolded, we must come to Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life.

Prayer: God of light, open the eyes of our hearts that we may truly see the way leading to life. Help us to see Jesus. Amen.

In my work in India and Nepal, I visit many weaving centres, operated for training purposes by many of the church and para-church organizations.

Although a weaver myself, I never realized that there are so many different styles of looms. They run from small table-top looms, to crude, horizontal looms close to the floor, to huge, vertical carpet and linen looms, to sophisticated, electrically-operated ones. The result of the weaving process depends on the loom and the raw materials used. This can be yak wool, cotton, or fine silk. But most of all, the result depends on the skill and commitment of the weaver.

Weaving is both a creative and a demanding experience, and, especially in development work, it gives encouragement and hope. It gives encouragement to be creatively involved and to gain or regain dignity. And it gives hope that the result will be as seen in the mind's eye of the weaver, appreciated by others, and of long term benefit to both.

As Christians we are all "weavers". Our work area, "looms", and the people we work with, "material", may be varied. Our skills may differ, but weaving, with a commitment to a common purpose, is what we are called to.

To creatively weave together faith and society, in what has become a multi-cultural arena, is one challenge that faces us as Christians today. Another is that too long we have compartmentalized our lives into Religion, Family, and Community. It is time that we weave them together, in and for the love of Christ, acknowledging that they are one.

Prayer: Master Weaver, you alone know what plans you have for us, but we know that they for good and not for evil. Grant us wisdom to discern where you lead, and to acknowledge you in every aspect of our life. Give us the courage to take you into the workplace and community, as much as you are in our homes and church activities, thereby weaving together a life that brings honour and glory to you alone. Amen.

The night was dark, as nights are in rural India after 6 p.m., and my husband and I, as guests of a bishop of the Church of North India, were travelling by car, with the bishop and his wife, back to the bishop's house. This was election time in the State of Bihar, one of the poorest in India, and the most violent, especially during election time.

Suddenly a group of masked and armed hoodlums jumped out onto the road and stopped the car. The window was rolled down, and the leader of the gang addressed the bishop, who was seated in the front. They wanted to know who these foreigners were, from which country, what we were doing there, and whether we had any money.

This was a mob of terrorists, and, sensing that a dangerous situation could develop, the bishop made a decision. He stepped out of the car, pushed the lock down, and closed the car door. He spoke to those men, much as Lot did in his day, and addressed them as his neighbours, convincing them that we posed no threat to them, and that we didn't have any gold or jewels.

Meanwhile, the bishop's wife, my husband, and I prayed for deliverance. Never before have I been so aware of God's presence. It was like the peace of the Lord enveloped us.

Looking back, I can't say how long it took for them to agree to let us go. They could have taken us for ransom, but God protected us, and we were allowed to go on our way.

That night we realized again that safety is not the absence of danger, but rather the presence of God.

Prayer: Loving and ever-present God, we thank you that, although we find ourselves in danger, we can turn to you in prayer. We know that you alone keep us safe and bring us peace. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

While recently caring for Mary, the six-year-old daughter of an ill friend, I found myself reading to her from her favourite book, The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll.

We had come to the part in the story where Alice arrives at a fork in the road she is travelling, uncertain which way to go. Conveniently, in a tree at the roadside, is a Cheshire cat, ready to give advice.

Alice asks the cat which way she should go, and the cat replies that it depends on where she is going. Alice answers that she doesn't much care, and so the cat says, "Well, then, it doesn't really matter which road you take."

At this point, Mary looked at me, with innocent, big, blue peepers, and said, "Auntie Margaret, nobody is so dumb as to go on the road if they don't know or care where they are going. Right?" Good question, Mary.

In our walk through this life, we have a choice to make as to which road we follow: the wide road, which leads to destruction but offers so many pleasures along the way, or the narrow road, which leads to eternal life but requires a sacrificial walk. At the junction of these two roads there is also One, ready to guide. But we need to make the decision, first of all, as to where we desire to go. Our God would answer the same as did the Cheshire cat: the road you take depends on where you wish to go.

Mary understood when I explained this, and it was refreshing to see how, in her innocence, she found it incredible to believe that there would be people who would consciously decide to take the broad road. She was equally concerned about those who have never heard that there are two roads through life.

As Mary and I followed Alice in her adventurous journey, the thought kept coming back to me that we have such a tremendous responsibility, not only in regard to our own lives and the decisions that affect us, but also our responsibility in regard to children. We need to touch those within our own families and our church families, and also those outside the doors of the church, for God loves them all.

Prayer: Loving God, we thank you for Jesus who is the way, the truth, and the life. We pray for strength of faith to make right choices for ourselves, becoming guideposts for others, always pointing them to the more excellent way, the way of love. Amen.

During my work period in India, I frequently visited the capital city, New Delhi, one of the busiest cities in the world. Traffic is atrocious and long delays are "par for the course".

One thing I noticed very quickly was the difference in traffic lights. No, they are not unusual colours, but each time we stop at a red light, a message flashes before us: "Relax". The letters are permanently printed on the lights themselves, to be revealed only when they turn red.

In India, it is easy for a foreigner to relax at the lights, because there is so much to see that we would otherwise miss. But what about here, at home in our own country? What do we do with our time on all those occasions when we are unavoidably delayed for a moment or two? Often we grumble and fret, muttering under our breath against the other drivers or the circumstances around the delay. It need not be so.

What a great time to spend a minute doing things we otherwise would not get around to, like saying a prayer, or saying something uplifting and constructive to our passengers, if we have any.

Too often, in the busy-ness of life, we fancy ourselves inconvenienced when we need to stop for traffic, but these minutes can become precious times in our day.

Next time we are "held up" at a red light, let's remember to relax and give thanks.

Prayer: Lord, grant us Your inner peace, so that the frets and cares of the world may not defeat us. Help us to cast all our burdens on You, to find our rest. Amen.