The morning at the Tate Modern worked well, and it was exciting to hear reports back from people after quite a short time of wandering around galleries with the task of seeing of we could hear God through the displays.

My YFC friends returned quite enthused and surprised. One particular piece a number spoke of was ‘Towards the Corner‘ a sculpture by Juan Menoz. People were struck by the infectious laughter on the faces and how it totally disguised the greyness of the characters. I particularly wondered why Menoz had chosen 7 men. Out of all the numbers he could have chosen, why the Biblically perfect number 7? Others thought God was saying though this quite simply that we needed to have fun more; that we needed to take ourselves less seriously, stop getting so stressed by work and actually enjoying being in God’s presence.

This struck a particular cord as we asked ‘when did we last actually just enjoy God’s presence for no other reason than just that enjoyment? Why do we alsways feel we have to be doing something, achieving something?

I was also struck by Some Roses and their Phantoms by Dorothea Tanning. A work suggesting that behind the normal everyday life we lead there are indescribable forces at work and that the membrane between those forces and us is exceedingly thin. That kind of fits with my belief of God in the community, thinly, if at all, veiled.

We all felt God was speaking through different pieces. One particular quote by a Matisse piece challenged me:

‘I have attained a form filtered to it’s essentials’

Reflecting on my life, that is a challenge. I would like to attain such a form,I like the simplicity of life that it hints at; but I enjoy my possessions, the games I play, the un-essential stuff that I have a lot of fun being part of. It is still something to think on though.

This is an excellent view.

Today we saw loads of people walking across the bridge, away from St. Paul’s and towards the Tate. It was like sitting in a modern day cathedral and watching the people respond to some call. A prophetic statement maybe? If so, bridges are 2 way and people to cross back and forward with regularity.

I was left with an odd feeling of sadness, though, of realising that people could walk into the Tate for free, and yet they need to pay £8 to set foot inside St. Paul’s.