DIFFICULT times ahead. That seems to be the message every time I watch the TV news: industrial strikes without resolution, economic hardship for many, possible escalation of the conflict in Ukraine and the expectation of more extreme weather conditions due to climate change. Not a list to cheer your heart on a cold February evening!

Even though we live in the midst of great cultural, technological and climate change, most of us tend to live as if our personal lives will continue largely unaffected. Often it is the experience of personal crises that painfully reminds us of the transient and uncertain qualities of life. We are not as self-sufficient as we would like to be and we are not as in control of our world as we would like to think we are.

Two thousand years ago, Jesus told a story about two men who both experienced dramatic changes in their circumstances. The first, with no thought for future eventualities, built a house on poor foundations and lost everything in a horrific storm. The other built wisely on good foundations and was able to withstand the unpredictable and dreadful events that occurred.

A simple metaphor, I know, yet one that seems powerfully relevant in these times of great uncertainty. The difference, said Jesus, between these two types of people is that those who conduct their lives on the basis of his teaching have a secure foundation from which to withstand the storms and crises of life. Maybe its time for all of us to dig below the superficial structures of our lives and see whether serious reconstruction is required. I gather there’s a carpenter from Nazareth who might be able to help.