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Viewpoint from Rev Ashley Hines 04/08/2023
 Rev Ashley Hines
Team Vicar, Great Yarmouth Team Ministry
We are British and one thing the British like to do is talk about the weather. It is too hot, too wet, too cold, and when is it ever going to stop raining. All valid points and questions with no right answer. We are all individuals and we all like different forms of weather
When my children were younger they loved it when it rained and they could put on their wellingtons and splash in all the puddles, getting soaked in the process. They also loved the winter with the opportunity to build snow people and make snow angels by lying in the snow and moving their arms up and down to make the wings. We very rarely get enough snow to do this. People would say that I am looking back to a world that never existed, but in the midlands where I come from we certainly had lots of snow, maybe you used to here in Great Yarmouth
 At the moment it feels very muggy and close and I think a good thunderstorm is needed to clear the air. I love a good storm. The rain pouring down, the flashes of light, lighting up the night sky and the roar of thunder. I can remember as a child being told that I shouldn’t be scared of thunder because it was only angels playing skittles in the heavens. The roar of the thunder was the ball going down the alley and the lightning was a strike, a perfect ten. Of course as I grew up I began to learn about weather patterns and the reason for storms, but I still like the idea of angels playing skittles in the sky
One of the best holidays we had when the children were smaller was in Mablethorpe. We were camping and a storm had threatened all day. That night the heavens opened, the thunder roared and the night sky was lit up as the waves swelled and crashed onto the beach. We watched until we became too cold to stay any longer and then we went back to snuggle down in our sleeping bags with hot chocolate and marshmallows
Working with homeless people and those on low incomes I asked how they cope with the weather extremes. They usually just shrug and say we do what we have to do to protect ourselves. I cannot imagine what it must be like to have no home to call my home, nowhere to wash or get dry after getting wet. Matthew 25: 35 reminds us that we should give food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty and welcome the stranger. The people of Great Yarmouth do all these things in abundance, you have great hearts and generosity and you walk in the light of Christ even if you don’t recognise it
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