So sang Bob Geldof with the Boomtown Rats in ‘79. Many would share that sentiment with the early start after the weekend’s relaxation and a whole week until the next chance to properly let your hair down. Many say that January’s Mondays are the worst with their dark starts, post-Christmas anticlimax, and New Year’s resolution abandonment. In fact one Monday is calculated to be Blue Monday, the lowest of the lot, there’s even a pseudo-scientific equation to prove it!
Blue Monday has come in for a lot of bad press since it became a concept that hit the front pages. They say it belittles the crippling power and reality of true depression by equating it to feeling a bit flat. Also by making a thing of it and pointing it out only drags people down who otherwise felt fine.
Following the news recently doesn’t help, from tension with Iran to the out of control fires in Australia, there’s a lot of bad news out there, a lot of anxiety and a lot of conflict. The irony is that despite the fact that there is a lot of bad news out there, in many ways we’ve never had it so good. It’s just good news doesn’t make the news – and that’s not just the media’s fault for not reporting it, they don’t report it because we’re not interested. In reality we live longer, we’re better educated and experience less crime and more peace than our predecessors.
Perhaps it’s time to do something about this – actually, that was always the point of Blue Monday. But what can we do? Paul writes some excellent advice in Philippians 4:4-9,
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! [5] Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. [6] Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. [7] And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. [8] Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. [9] Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Don’t dwell on bad news or tension and make it the be all and end all, but take it to God in prayer and seek his intervention and wisdom. Take care with your mental diet as well as your physical diet – if you’re filling yourself with EastEnders and tabloid headlines, I fear you are likely to find yourself angry, down or anxious. Keep a balanced menu – be honest about what’s going on but filter it and supplement it with a diet of prayer and scripture, and search out for good things and give thanks. This will leave you a whole lot more positive, as God gives you discernment, hope, peace and positive actions to make a difference.
Suddenly Monday’s won’t look so bad as through prayer and guidance they become an opportunity to work for good, to be fruitful and discover what God has in store for you – yes even on Monday!
From Church Newsletter, 11.01.20
Posts labelled ‘From the Pastor’s Pen’ reflect our ministers’ views and not necessarily those of Wormley Free Church/The Countess of Huntingdon’s Connexion
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