The strong winds and torrential rain in the past few days have stripped the banks along this lane and even caused a mini landslide. Unfortunately this morning is the calm before the storm, as there’s another severe weather warning for tonight and tomorrow morning: more heavy rain and high winds.

Just a few miles away there’s quite major flooding in towns and villages along the River Medway and there are still several thousand homes in Kent without power, including some in Platt, the village next to ours. It will certainly be a Christmas to remember!

It has been interesting to see the way people speak about this situation. There is an arrogance about man that is so completely out of place when God reminds us that we are not the all-powerful masters that we think we are. We are puny really. But that hurts our pride, so it is a thought that is generally suppressed and denied.

It is heart-breaking to see the distress and devastation caused by the floods, but it is also an opportunity to show love and support. A time to reach out and share, to reject selfishness and to open hearts and homes to those in need.

And a time to reflect on the significant truth that God is God and we are not.