For some enthusiasts hellbent on self-improvement, a new year offers the opportunity of new year resolutions. These usually take the form of tasks which can be achieved with a little self-discipline – things like not kicking the cat, eating less cholesterol – reducing items like dairy products, or, horror of horrors in a viticultural area like Martinborough _ laying off the wine.
The first thing your GP asks of locals at the Medical Centre is: – “So how many do you have every day?” to which the answer is “a couple,” to which the next question is, “glasses or bottles?”
There are of course more serious topics to be tackled as a new year gets underway.
Like Trump’s failure to land a post-inaugural peck on his wife’s cheek. Social media’s explanation was that this was Melania’s deliberate decision to keep him at bay by wearing such a wide-brimmed hat.
Enough of such trivia. Many (most?) Kiwis when asked whether they hold any spiritual beliefs say, “I’m not religious.” This is even said sometimes with pride.
There is another way of looking at this question which First Church attendees try to grapple with each Sunday (and for the assiduous, during the week?) Here’s what a thoughtful Frenchman Blaise Pascal had to say about it nearly 400 years ago.
Pascal was no idiot. He was a pioneer of mathematics and scientific method and virtually invented the first computer. He was also an outspoken champion of Christianity.
To the doubters he said: “I can feel nothing but compassion for those who sincerely lament their doubt, who regard it as the ultimate misfortune, and who, sparing no effort to escape from it, make their search their principal and most serious business.
“But as for those who spend their lives without a thought for this final end of life and who, solely because they do not find within themselves the light of conviction, neglect to look elsewhere and to examine thoroughly whether this opinion is one of those which people accept out of credulous simplicity or one of those which, though obscure in themselves none-the-less have a most solid and unshakeable foundation: as for them, I view them very differently!”
Guilty as charged?
Maybe a bit heavy for holiday reading but we might as well start the year right.
And by the way, we’re still looking for a pianist who can keep the First Church massed choir in order. If you know someone we can harass, we’d love to hear from you.
Events:
Saturday 22 Feb 1:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. Books and Bric-a-Brac sales in the Hall.
Services:
Each Sunday 9:45 a.m. Cup of tea/coffee and home baking. The service starts at 10;00 a.m.
