In March, I popped into America for 15 minutes!

The world often feels like a place of uncertainty, hatred, war and intolerance but we also should remember it is also a place of love, beauty, love and joy. Sometimes though it is hard to focus on the positive side of life.

Whilst I was away recently with a girlfriend, she mentioned the song "Colours of the wind" written by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz for the animated film Pocahontas, released in 1995.

One verse seemed to speak to us about the beauty of human beings and that we are all people living together and "more unites us than divides us."

The verse is - "You think the only people who are people / Are the people who look and think like you / But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger / You'll learn things you never knew, you never knew"

How true that is - I have learnt much from people who I don't know including how to do mandala painting with dots at my recent girlfriends' weekend break away!

Jesus showed us how to learn from others and that is part of our Christian life. He emphasised community, humility and wisdom gained from observing experiences. Examples could be Jesus' learning as a boy from the teachers in the temple and in Luke 2 v 40 it says, "and the child grew and became strong, he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him".

Whilst away for my weekend I stepped into America for 15 minutes - I got no jet lag! How did I do this? - well the reason is that there is a John F Kennedy memorial in Runnymede, Surrey (very close to the River Thames) which is dedicated to the assassinated US president. It is a beautiful 7-ton Portland stone slab at the top of 50 irregular steps on a cobble path. Each cobble presenting an individual pilgrim on their journey through life.

How come it is American soil? The late Queen Elizabeth bequeathed the acre of land on which this Portland stone is located to the USA - which means that as I stepped through the gate I passed from British to American soil. At the top are the seats of contemplation (the end of the journey) where you can sit and admire a beautiful view.

We have just gone through the time of Lent which is our personal journey into Easter. We still have steps to take on our personal journey with our Lord, and we take our journey with others in our world. If we can focus on the positiveness of Easter which symbolises victory over death, darkness and despair. Easter promises everlasting life and it provides hope in a time of uncertainty. Easter reassures us that change is possible and that light will overcome darkness.

Easter also acts as a reminder for us to live out this message of hope through acts of love and service, this provides us with an opportunity to "learn things you never knew, you never knew".

As Mahatma Gandhi said "be the change that you wish to see in the world"

Wishing you a very Happy Easter and a wonderful April. God bless, Wendy

Wendy Gorham, Worship Leader