Thoughts on Abigail and Barney

I was slightly amused (and bemused) to discover that a decision has been taken to give names to significant storms which appear from time to time in the UK.  Apparently the names have been chosen following a public vote; the intention is to help raise awareness of severe weather when storms are due, and to encourage people to act to protect themselves.  The storms will be named in alphabetical order as they arrive; personally, I am anticipating 'Steve'! 

Though the first two named storms, 'Abigail' and 'Barney', have hardly compared in scale and ferocity with the hurricanes and storms which have been experienced in some parts of the world, they have nevertheless caused damage and disruption, and significant numbers of householders found themselves temporarily without power.  My daughter and son-in-law woke this morning to discover that their greenhouse was in next door's garden, thanks to Barney!

This has put me in mind of the hymn "Rock of Ages", written in 1763 by the wonderfully named Augustus Montague Toplady.  Tradition has it that the hymn was inspired by an incident in the gorge of Burrington Combe in the Mendip Hills.  The story goes that Toplady was travelling along the gorge when he was caught in an (unnamed!) violent storm.  He found shelter in a gap in the gorge, and thus came the first words of the hymn: "Rock of ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee" (referring to security found in God).

The events of the past week, with horrific and deathly terrorist attacks in both Beirut and Paris, have reminded us (if such was needed) of the violent and uncertain times in which we live.  Many have called for an immediate and strong response, though I really do wonder whether responding with yet more bombs etc. will only add further to the ongoing cycle of violence and bloodshed, in which so many innocent people get caught.

For many people, life is filled with fear, uncertainty and anxiety.  It appears as though we are caught in a vicious storm, and we wonder where we can run to safety.  It seems to me that Augustus Toplady's hymn, though written over 250 years ago and in somewhat antiquated language, nevertheless has a message of real hope.  True and lasting security can be found in God alone.  Toplady died at the relatively young age of 38.  By all accounts his last hours, as he lay on his deathbed, were filled with an amazing assurance of God's presence, and faith that he (Toplady) was safe eternally in God's hands.

As St Paul wrote in his letter to Christians in Rome, who were experiencing times of great persecution, 'There is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord.'  That's what I call real security!