by Greg Noller
Grove Evangelical Church

If from the title of this you are expecting an appreciation of the Steve McQueen film all I can say is sorry. Maybe next time. Neither is it a report on Wigan F C’s miraculous survival in the premiership recently, which I allude to for the sake of our church secretary who is the only Wigan supporter I know associated with the fine village of Occold.

As I write on what must be the coldest, wettest bank holiday Monday since the one at the beginning of May, thoughts of escape are not far away. Science Fiction thoughts no less. I’ve been a Dr Who fan for as long as I can remember. Star Trek may have its Trekkies and Star Wars its similar devotees, but I am a die hard Whovian. The Radio Times has described the programme as possessing a “Martini format” ie “anytime, anyplace, anywhere” (remember the advert?) . The Doctor has that freedom to go where he wants anytime, anyplace, anywhere. He is not confined as we are to the boundaries of time and space. He can escape whenever he wants to.

It seems to me though that travelling with the Doctor, whilst exciting, does seem a little exhausting. I go back in my viewing to John Pertwee (just!) and I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything resembling a chair or a bed anywhere on the TARDIS. (Come to think of it there’s nothing like a safety harness or seatbelt either; the health and safety executive would have a field day). The Doctor’s always on his feet, always on the go. There is little time for reflection or relaxation as he hurtles from one adventure  to the next.

We can relate to this. Our lives seem almost to be on a never-ending rollercoaster of ups and downs. Whether at work or at home it can feel like we are spinning around, rushing from one place to the next. At best it can be described as organised chaos, at worst sheer panic.

When Jesus was in a boat one evening with His disciples, He fell asleep in the stern.  A violent storm arose, but amazingly Jesus remained asleep. To use a popular modern phrase, “everything was kicking off”. The disciples, some of whom were experienced fishermen, were beside themselves. Jesus however, just kept on sleeping. A picture of perfect peace and trust in His heavenly Father in the midst of a raging storm.

In the Old Testament book of Psalms we read, “Be still and know that I am God”, simple words which seem strange and alien in our time and culture. We all need to stop, pause and reflect – perhaps that’s what rainy bank holidays are for. We need to remind ourselves we are not machines which in our machine driven world is not easy. The TARDIS of course is the ultimate machine. Its appeal is its unlimited resourcefulness .

So if we’re longing to get away from it all then 45 minutes in the company of the Doctor may be just what he ordered, but it’s a bumpy ride. You only have to look at the opening credits to see that.

Travelling in the TARDIS reminds me of the title of a stage musical called “Stop the world, I want to get off”. If, in the throes of life’s rollercoaster ride you feel like that, then Jesus’ invitation is to you:

“Come to Me, all of you who are weary and over-burdened and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28)

Now that really is a great escape.