Importance of connections

I AM sure that I am not the only person in Henley who has been having problems with our local broadband provider, although they moved mountains to get me finally
re-connected this week.

However, seven days without the internet has made me realise just how inter-connected everything has become.

No doorbell, no landline, no thermostat, no email. No music, no streaming and limited TV has meant I spent the evenings reading instead. No printers, I still cannot get the photocopier to work. In the church, no live streaming and no money! We went cashless years ago. The list gets longer every year and becomes more challenging when it doesn’t work.

This has led me to reflect on the important connections in my life and how I am going strengthen and support them? For example, many of us treasure the beautiful countryside of South Oxfordshire. But when was the last time we spent time in the forests, in the hills and by the river?

The town or village in which we live can be a vibrant and friendly community, even more so if we were to connect with others by volunteering or supporting local ventures.

Family and friendships are important for all of us. What if these life-giving connections fail? If you have lost your connection with a good friend or a family member, it could be so healing to try and fix this by Christmas.

All of these connections, and many more that are important for us, are strengthened by devoting time and energy to them, challenging as this may be, but we only really understand their value when they are not working.

For me this especially includes my relationship with God. The time and energy I give and receive from God is called prayer. It strengthens me in my service of all I encounter every day.

It deepens my love and compassion for others and makes our church a welcoming place. Strengthening our connection with God means feeling the support of others at our church, synagogue or mosque in a manner which cannot be replicated elsewhere.

If you have lost your connection with your local community, a family member or friend, or with God, do try and connect again. They may well be equally delighted to be reconnected with you again.

Canon Paul Fitzpatrick

Parish priest, Sacred Heart Church, Henley