Recently I attended my niece’s wedding at the Gold Coast with my family. As usual I thought I was very organised in getting things ready, planning and packing and, as usual, I wasn’t.

On the Sunday of the wedding, about the time we were supposed to leave, I realised that the shirt I had planned on packing in my suitcase was back home in my wardrobe. I went to the concierge and asked where there might be a men’s clothing store nearby. It wasn’t like in the movies where the concierge knows everything about the local area and can give you tickets to the Opera or the State of Origin but she gave me an idea of where I might find such a shop. However, her information was incorrect. When I got to the shops and found no men’s clothing stores, I asked a retail worker and they directed me to the next Shopping Centre. I went there as well and had the same problem. Unless you want to buy a wetsuit or some women’s clothing, Surfer’s Paradise is not a great place to go shopping and don’t expect to find menswear at all. Finally out in the street, and with the help of Google, I found a shop, bought a shirt which turned out to be a bit big and started running back to the apartment - by now we were very late. And there I am, running along the streets of the Gold Coast with a shirt on a coat hanger in my arms. I am fairly certain that I did not look as good as Hugh Grant in Four Weddings and Funeral and I am also certain that the locals were thinking - “there goes another New South Welshman”.

But we did get there in time and everything worked out, in spite of a lack of GPS in the hire car. As for me: sweaty, embarrassed and the proud owner of a “John Lennon" shirt that’s about one size too big, for the mere sum of $150. Most importantly, the wedding was beautiful and we had a great night and caught up with family members that we haven’t seen for years, including my sister and her husband who live in Saudi Arabia. 

How many times are we anxious about life and events and it kind of works out OK in the end? As Juilian of Norwich said: “All will be well”. And another famous philosopher, Ed Sheeran said: “It will all be OK in the end and if it’s not OK, it’s not the end”

What did Jesus say, more to the point? In Matthew Chapter 6 Jesus says:

 ‘And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you – you of little faith?  So do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?”  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Prayer:

Lord, may we follow in the footsteps of Jesus and build our faith in God’s mission and purpose for our lives. May we place our hope and trust in God, even in the darkest hour. May we be missionaries of life and joy and peace every day of our lives. 

Mary Magdalene

Pray for us

Amen