Further reflections following from yesterday:
In the quest sometimes the hero has no desire to return from the place they end up in.
The quest is to find ‘it’ (whatever it may be)
not to return with ‘it’
But … maybe to stay with ‘it’.
Other times, as in Lord of the Rings, the quest is to deliver ‘it’ or return ‘it’
Then you leave ‘it’ there
And return
carrying ‘it’ no longer.
Ally McBeal provides my focus for today’s Lent thought:
The real truth is that I probably don’t want to be too happy or content, ‘ cause then what? I actually like the quest, the search. The more lost you are, the more you have to look forward to.
I might just inwardly smile if someone tells me to ‘get lost’ today.
Because it is Lent, the crosses and icons are currently veiled in the cathedral. I’ve not come across this before and so thought I would ask a few questions – its certainly resulted in a lot of comments on my facebook status.
A number of explanations have been along the lines of covering the cross so that we can focus on the journey to the cross. One explanation that is different to others is that it is to help in making the place look more austere so we are hit by the beauty and colour ib full force when everything is unveiled at Easter.
I’ve reflected on this today and its resulted in a realisation that we will, at Easter, be hit afresh by the beauty and colour of normality. At first that seemed odd, but then not. When we live and work in the world we become blind to the beauty and colour of our surroundings. I have only been in the cathedral 6 months, and already I notice taking the beauty of the building for granted. It’s a talent of humanity, we adapt very quickly and change soon becomes the norm.
Maybe the only way to fully appreciate the beauty of our surroundings again is to mask or veil that beauty for a time period, and in this case for 40 days. In that way we miss what we have, and we start to appreciate its beauty in a new and fresh way.
The veil hides the beauty that we have forgotten how to appreciate.
The veil seeks to bring that beauty back into our lives.
I went to my first ever Ash Wednesday service today and was reflecting on how I felt. The quote below sums it up well:
The imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday is nothing if not bold. … a dark and undeniable slash across your forehead, a bold proclamation of death and resurrection all at once. You forget that it is on your forehead and you walk our of church, out into the world, a living reminder that Christ died for us… The cross on our foreheads is meant to be a dramatic reminder to ourselves – and it is that. When Milind looks at me and says, “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return,” I know what God did for me. He not only created me, he then poured out his grace upon me in the blood of his son. Me, a bunch of dust! But the cross also stimulates other people’s questions. It provides an unmistakable opportunity – even obligation – to witness.
By Lauren Winner via Kingdom Praxis
Today is the start of Lent.
If you want a good concise place to find out about Lent, then Maggi wrote excellently here a few years ago, and it is where I started to focus in on the tradition and season being all about retuning to faithfulness in Christ, rather than giving up stuff like chocolate of alcohol … although they are not necessarily bad things to take the opportunity to have 40 days away from.
Today will also be the first time I attend an Ash Wednesday service. It’s no surprise that this is celebrated at the cathedral – details here for the service at 8.00pm. Why not come along – we could go out for a pint after … that’s if you have not given up alcohol for Lent! The service looks interesting and I like the look of some of the liturgy which is both poetic and rich in imagery. People will be ‘ashed’ with ash produced by burning last years palm crosses which members of the congregation have been returning. The significance of the ash is a sign of penitence and to remind us that we are ‘created from dust and to dust we will return’. I’m quite looking forward to starting this years Lent journey with what will be a new experience for me.
This Lent I am attempting to reflect during this season in a different way. I have cheekily chosen to blatantly plagiarise and adapt for my own style the ‘faith Book‘ idea of Nik’s. I am going to attempt through a variety of ways in this book my thoughts as I journey through Lent. I may share some stuff here, possibly in short one liner thoughts, or it may go quiet here for periods now and again. Actually, I guess it may go quiet for all of Lent … I don’t really know!
However you decide to observe Lent – may you be blessed as you think on God over these next 40 (plus Sundays) days.
This news report made me smile.
I hope I’m this fit when I reach 71!
It’s a shame others are trying to stop him staying fit!
Recently I blogged about someone else’s take on community and the churches role within it. I stated I have difficulty with a view that sees the community as a place where we are called to build relationships simply to see converts to Christianity. That’s what I want to see happen, that’s what I pray will happen, but I build relationships because I am interested in people and genuinely want to get to know others. It’s up to God to do anything else and if he leads things that way I am more than happy to respond. My motivation, though, is centred in being and bringing good news, and by that I think I mean bringing a taste of the Kingdom of God.
Although I disagree with the other way of doing things, I do see a place for it and would have welcomed the chance for dialogue; and by dialogue I do not mean debate. Too often the former has been stated when the latter has been meant … as the only point of the ‘dialogue’ has been to try and convert the other to your own way of thinking. In debate you try to change the opinion, in dialogue you come searching for truth and are open to the possibility that you have more to learn on this issue … or (shock horror!) that I may even be wrong!!!
For some reason dialogue has not been possible in this situation. My comments have been ignored and left unpublished – and I realise I am treading on dangerous ground here as I could be accused of griping over being ignored … I hope I am not. It does concern me, however, that this is an issue with part of the church – the refusal to enter into dialogue with some others who are seen as having a different brand of truth to themselves.
I am saddened that we see this over and over again. Christians refusing to dialogue with people they disagree with only harms us all in that we stay incomplete in our understanding of each other and of God. Through this experience I feel personally saddened at the lost opportunity to learn from my Christian brother of differing views. I think the experience could have informed and enriched both our relationships with God.
The Asbo Jesus cartoon has reminded me of one of the things that I have learned from my three years at SEITE which I hope will stay with me – most often I learned a lot more from those of a differing tradition and viewpoint than my own. It was in those discussions with people seeing things from the opposite end of the spectrum to me that I felt drawn closer to a better understanding of God.
Some people may think they are protecting the faith my staying ‘pure’ and not sharing or talking with others that have a different view on ‘truth’ but essentially I think we all lose out personally, but more importantly the whole body of Christ loses out on a great opportunity to learn, grow and develop. I do wonder if it results in us all worshipping a much poorer image of God as our understanding can only be enlarged if we embrace those of other Christian traditions around us – if we could achieve more of that then THAT would be good news and a bit of an adventure!
The few days off have been excellent and it has been fun being with the family and just doing ‘stuff’.
This week is going to be a pretty normal week for me – a lot of waiting and hanging around, and (I hope) a lot of chatting with people.
As the week has progressed I have had even more time to think and it’s strange how coming away from the coalface, even for a few days, allows you to think afresh about stuff. The week has enabled me to return and look at things differently. I have new thoughts on where I am at with all of this ‘stuff’ and new ideas for how I should spend my time.
There are a few people interested in exploring ‘new Christian community’/’fresh expression’/’emerging church’ or whatever this thing happens to be. I believe God is saying now is the time to start to gather these people and see what happens. At the moment there are some dates ‘out there’ and we shall see what happens. I am quite excited although scared about this. The talk and the theory have been going on for some time – over 3 years of training in fact! Now that this is a reality I am realising how nervous about all this stuff I really am. I don’t know where to go, I am having to rely on the leading of God and I have not really done that in a very long time … if ever!
The waiting in places will continue. I think this is quite central to what I am called to be and do. This is where I connect with people and with God. These are the places that I start, although limitedly, to understand the wider community of central Rochester that I am called to be a presence in. This is also where I see God; God in the lives of others in the streets that I walk along, in the places that I ‘hang out’.
Not just God working in peoples lives, but also God sitting silently and waiting for people to notice their creator. To stop the waiting and be-ing and move to programs would be a wrong thing to do, although a very easy thing to do.
In the last 24 hours I have had 3 requests from people to do things of a ‘churchy’ nature. Thankfully I have a great line manager in Adrian who will work with me and support me- but it’s interesting to see that after a few months in the place that people, seeing I have time, are now wondering how they can make use of my time. I’d quite happily do the three things that have been suggested – that is not the problem. The challenge for me will be to ensure that I do not allow these things to dilute my being present in the places I am called to be present in. In short, I need to develop the skill of saying ‘no’.
So there you have it … as we approach lent, a tie to give up and concentrate on God and prepare for Easter, I am taking up something and challenging God to lead and direct me with it.
maybe a bit naughty but ASBO Jesus has me laughing again!!
Just shows … I’m a pioneer not a pastor!
this has appeared near the cathedral recently – its quite stunning and you can see it in better detail if you click on the picture.
The Shiny Headed Prophet 