The Parish Magazine February 2026

The Parish Magazine — February 2026 5
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The vicar's letter
DEAR FRIENDS,
St Paul had one goal in mind — and he was straining with all his might
to attain that goal — and that was to know Jesus Christ. No wonder
St Paul had such a lasting impact on the world because it makes a
real difference when you know what your goal in life is and then give
yourself unreservedly to that goal. We don’t always fulfil our dreams,
but having a compelling goal is surely a vital ingredient in an effective
and successful life.
In my experience, some Christians don’t have a clear understanding
of what God expects from them. Biblical scholar William Barclay told
of a dog he had once owned called Rusty, a bull terrier, who would
accompany him on walks through a meadow and beside a stream.
When they reached the stream Rusty had a passion for plunging into
the water, locating a rock on the bottom, getting it in his mouth, and
bringing it to the bank.
He would carefully deposit the stone some distance from the water’s
edge, and then go for another one. Time and again he would fetch his
treasured rock, repeating the process for hours, if so allowed.
Barclay asked this question: 'What is the point of retrieving rocks from
the bottom of a stream for this dog?' So far as he could determine, there
was none and the exercise served no discernible purpose at all. Barclay
then observed that this is the way many Christians are. They seem to
be going through the same monotonous routine every day, but without
a purpose; with no projected goal. They appear not to know what their
reason for existing actually is.
It was the Swiss psychologist, Carl Jung, who wrote, 'Most of the people
I see suffer not from physical illness, but from spiritual aimlessness. They have
lost their aim. They have lost sight of who they really are and what is really
valuable'
ATTAINING THE PRIZE
If we recall St Paul’s Damascus Road experience, he was on a journey
to persecute Christians and as he neared Damascus, suddenly a light from
heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to
him, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?'
From that day forward, Paul was determined to do and to be what he
believed Christ had called him to do and to be. There was no turning back
once he had this vision of Christ.
Sir Thomas Lipton, founder of Lipton Tea was an accomplished racer of
yachts. He won many boating trophies, except the one he really wanted:
The America’s Cup. One day he was showing some friends all his trophies
in his home, and said, 'I’d give them all away to get the one I didn’t get!'
I don’t believe that St Paul fell short of his goal. I believe he came to
know Christ in both his death and resurrection. In fact, I believe that
everyone who seeks to know Christ will one day attain that prize; and it
will be the prize above all prize.
'I want to know Christ,' wrote St Paul, 'Yes, to know the power of his
resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.'
Warm wishes,
Jamie