I Chose to Say Yes

We returned home from our holiday yesterday to appreciate more fully the fire just twenty-two miles away on Dunwich Heath… burning since Wednesday evening…. the size of the fire… the devastated habitats of rare birds and reptiles… the nature reserve that could take up to twenty-five years to recover…

I’m continuing to be impressed by Katie Davis. Part of her diary reads:

‘But I am just a plain girl from Tennessee. Broken in many ways, sinful and inadequate. Common and simple with nothing special about me. Nothing special except I chose to say “yes”. “Yes” to the things God asks of me and “yes” to the people He places in front of me.’

This morning reading Jeremiah… God calls Jeremiah to be a prophet; he makes excuses: ‘O Sovereign Lord… I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!’ Jeremiah had to be persuaded to say yes.

The Bible narrative includes many young people who chose to say ‘Yes’ – David in front of the giant Goliath… a servant girl with her master Naaman… the young Mary the mother of Jesus… a small boy with loaves and fishes… Jeremiah – eventually!  

Katie follows that pattern.

Because of the Dunwich Heath fire folks had to be evacuated from their homes and local campsites on Wednesday night to the village of Westleton three miles away. The village hall was made available.

As it happened no-one had to sleep in the hall. Westleton villagers provided accommodation for forty-seven people in their homes. Elderly people living alone provided food and accommodation for families and dogs. People of all ages rallied round, choosing to say ‘Yes’.

There have been times when like Jeremiah I’ve avoid saying ‘Yes’, using excuses – money, family, time, inconvenience… Today it’s more likely to be age or an awareness of what I can’t do. I remember eighty-year-old Moses leading Israel out of Egypt… making excuses, eventually saying ‘yes’.

My prayer today is that like Katie, Jeremiah, Moses and Westleton villagers I will be more willing to say ‘Yes’.