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If only my challenges lasted just hours.
This week I’ve had one of those challenging hours which has lasted for days.
As many of you know there have been a few FFF hiccups this week and the early morning emails with the daily reflections have not been sent, and the same with the Lectio Divina, and Homily Studio.
A number of you have turned directly to the www.foodforfaith.org.nz website and discovered that all the daily reflections are there – and can (always) be accessed without waiting for the email. The daily reflections appear with an image on the home page of the website a little further down the same page there is the “podcast” tab where all the Lecto Divina and Homily Studio podcasts are found.
Many others readers have sent emails in which you very generously blame yourselves thinking that you have inadvertently unsubscribed from the emails.
But the problem was technical – and while I hoped it would be nothing more than a one or two hour hiccup it turned into days.
Now that we’re up and running again (thanks to the Screenweave Team sorting the problem) I can’t help but reflect on my bad reaction to these circumstances which were beyond my control.
And there I’ve named my problem.
I struggle with things which, while affecting me, are outside of my control.
If the unexpected situation was something I could do something to resolve, then I could occupy myself with sorting the problem.
But if I can’t do anything about a situation, then I can’t do anything about that situation.
And that’s the fact.
So, where is my power?
We often fall into the trap of thinking that since a problem is outside of our control then we are powerless. But this is not true.
I may be right in thinking that I cannot change a situation, but I always have power over how I am going to let the situation affect me, or how I am going to react or respond.
So yesterday morning, when my frustration (note the euphemism) was at it’s peak…
… I breathed deeply
…claimed the power I had
…and realised that if FFF went on the blink for an hour or a day or three, life would go on,
So, yesterday morning, realising that the stress within me was growing, I relaxed,
I took a few very deep breaths…
…and sat under my verandah noticing the clouds bring gentle rain
…and noticed that every breath I received is a gift from the God who loves me.
And in that moment, with that awareness, all stress evaporated.
And about half an hour later I received a text to let me know that the tech hiccup had been resolved, and FFF was back to normal.
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Upcoming Cafe Gatherings:
Send a name, date, place and time and I’ll share your invitation. Just initiate a gathering, send me the info, and turn up to meet with anyone else who wants to take an hour to chat about their experience of God.
Thursday 5 March 2026 10.30am
The Cafe at Harrison’s Pekapeka Rd Waikanae
Catherine
Fr John,
I thought you had become very unwell and unable to write these very helpful reflections. I was praying for you.
It never occurred to me to go to the website. I’m delighted it was just a tech glitch.
I appreciate this reflection on control or rather the awareness of what I cannot control.
Thank you John. Great Reflection today, as always, and just what I needed to hear right now. Blessings.
Like Faith, I too thought something had happened to you not a technical glitch! Glad you’re ok and that the glitch gave you a thought for today!!
I thought it was a tech problem. Ah, how sensible FINALLY sitting on the verandah watching the beautiful clouds. They do wonders for the soul. Letting go is hard to do.
St Francis de Sales has a morning prayer: “Since without you I can do nothing, I humbly ask you to accomplish the good I desire….I ask you to bless me to achieve what you want for me…”
Go gently Father John
Holding you in prayer
Thankyou
Oh a wonderful reflection. I take heart from your words.
Thank you so much for your daily reflections and readings. This is how I start each day.
So sorry to hear you were so upset. I will continue to pray for this amazing ministry.
Brenda
What a fabulous example of our responses to stressful situations.
I, at first thought it may have been something I had done, so resubscribed, only to find I was already subscribed. I then went to your website to find the Daily readings.
Delighted this morning to find FFF back in my Inbox and your explanation and reflection on Control.
True life still went on, but we did miss FFF in our Inboxes.
Glad you’re ok and thank you once again for your reflections
I am so glad the problem has been solved for your readers and for you. Thank you for your response and for today’s reflection….letting go and letting God is so right!! I’m very glad you are back!!
Welcome back and thank you for the lovely reflection today. I especially loved your meditation – every breath being a gift from God, as it is, but so often we forget that. Thank you for the reminder and for doing these beautiful refelections through Lent, they are so appreciated.
Thank you so much for reminding us that we are all human and that life happens in ways we don’t always expect, presenting challenges and hurdles that we can’t always leap. We need each other to give the support that will restore whatever normality will improve our equilibrium. We are so blessed to have God in our lives, so that we don’t have to try to be gods of everything ourselves. In gratitude for all you share through Food for Faith. Chris
Thank you John. It was lovely to open my email this morning and find you are back. I also so enjoyed today’s FFF as I am not good at remembering to just breathe and let God work in His way.
That’s a very powerful reflection Fr John. Thank you.
Wonderful reflection, can apply this to so many different aspects of daily life.
God bless you Fr. John and keep you safe from stress and unnecessary worry and anxiety. We all do this occasionally if we are honest. We think the world can not manage without us. Wonderful reflection came out of this.
Thank you.
Anne
So pleased it was just a technical glitch and was not you being unwell as I thought. Your reflections were really missed. God bless you and your wonderful ministry.
Thanks for your insight, Father John.
As I read through to the final few sentences, I realised that most of us are in the ‘same boat’ as you found yourself on many occasions.
And, yes, that moment when you can absorb God’s beauty, and know that He is in ultimate control, but I expect God also knows that all we need to do is talk to God, and thank him, and spend time with him.
The only issue lays within us, and our self-reliance!
Thanks again for the reflection…. timely as always.
Ron