No person is free who is not master of himself

Epictetus

I'm getting a bit overweight, I know I try to deny it but the waistband is getting a bit tight these days and bits of me are starting to migrate south; so far south in fact that I'm in danger of becoming elliptical, tapering from a large equator to a much smaller diameter at either pole.

So I thought perhaps with Lent approaching I might try and do something about it; but 40 days? It's easy enough to give up biscuits (my particular weakness) for a day or two: you hardly notice at all. But to do it for 40 whole days is a real challenge. Your body notices the deprivation and makes its feelings known in no uncertain fashion. But who is the gaffer, me or my body?

I'm told that after a time you get used to it, your body doesn't miss the biscuit fix any more and something will have changed. And 40 days is probably long enough to kick most habits – that is if I'm really in charge.

Mind you that's not the reason Lent lasts all that time. There are other reasons. Principally it's to call to mind Jesus' time in the desert and to try and share it in some way. And the six weeks of Lent are long enough to experience a bit of deprivation and remember how long it took to pass. Six weeks can seem like an eternity, like those interminable Friday afternoons in school, when time seemed to drag so much.

If we observe Lent at all we often tend to do it in purely negative terms, in terms of giving up things. And the things we try to give up are usually the ones that we know perfectly well deep down are bad for us. Of course I can find all sorts of reasons for not doing it but the underlying problem is simply one of mastery. Am I in charge or not? In other words am I free?

Maybe I have to go into the desert to find out. We can't all vanish into the silence and solitude of the wilderness for 40 days however much we'd like to, but maybe we can find a little quiet time during these six weeks to master ourselves and be really free.

If it works for me I could find myself with an improved waistline and possibly feeling pretty good about it too. And that could be a real bonus.

Best of luck with your Lent too.

Mac

Epictetus (AD55-135) was brought to Rome as a slave when he was only a boy, so he knew a bit about freedom (or lack of it). We don't know his original name but epiktētos is the Greek word meaning “acquired”. He was a Stoic who taught in the early second century some four hundred years after the Stoic school was established in Athens.

St Peter’s Annual Vestry Meeting

will be held on Sunday 10^th April after the 9.30am morning service. The vestry meeting is where the Parish elects the Churchwardens for the coming year.

The present incumbents are Lynn Darby & Stephen Nightingale. This meeting is followed by the

Annual Church Meeting

at which we will hear reports about proceedings over the last 12 months and elect Church Council members. Additionally this year we will elect Deanery representatives for the next 3 years. Do come along and hear what's going on and add your voice. It is your Church after all!

New telephone poles in Chestnut Sq.

Lions honour Roy Darkin (see p4).