Chronos vs Kairos

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Over the SEITE weekend Brother Patrick Moore caused us to think about time differently. He outlined two sorts of time.

The first of these was chronos, from which we get chronology that divides time into past, present and future. This is how we commonly think of time. It was interesting to hear Brother Patrick outline how with chronos we can be in more than one place at a time – a kind of confused Dr Who style Time Lord. At times during Brother Patrick’s lecture although I was physically present in the room my mind drifted ahead to the future and sometimes back to the past and so it could be argued that I was in all the spheres of chronos in a short space of time.

This is as much a play on words as anything else, but I enjoy thinking in this way.

Interesting and challenging, as well, to realise that because God cannot be constrained or divided that God, as such, cannot exist in chronological time. Chronological time, itself, is too limited to contain God.

Kairos time is exclusively time in the present. For me, personally, Kairos time can occur in front of my computer screen or very easily when sat on a beach gazing out to sea. Kairos stays in the present because we lose track of time, when asked ‘how long you been sat there’, our honest answer is ‘5 mins? 20 mins? … 2 hours? … I dunno!’ Kairos time is a waste of time, but a waste of time with God.

Prayer is wasting time with God.

Kairos time is what Jesus was talking about when he challenged his disciples to not worry about the future or the past, but to live in the present. God is called I am, not I was or I will be – there is a clear emphasis on the present. It’s not easy to forget the past or to be impartial about the future; but I suspect there is more of God to be understood if we can grasp the Kairos thing.

Disturbing Complacency

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I have been thinking this year of using the season of Advent as a time of reflection much like I have done for Lent in the past. There are a few books out there to help, but I have decided to buy Lisa Bodenheim’s Disturbing Complacency which arrived pretty quickly from Wild Goose Publications.

The blurb on the back of the book: ‘Disturbing Complacency does not advocate a ‘cosy’ view of Christmas but rather urges people to use this season to address some of the most important issues of our time. To do so the author makes creative use of quotes from other sources, interspersed with her own perspective on the subjects under consideration’.

Advent is still a couple of weeks away which is why I am thinking about this now. I wonder if there may be others out there considering something similar and so there is an opportunity to reflect together.

Labyrinth

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At the SEITE weekend we were able to use the labyrinth kindly loaned by CMS / Jonny. People’s feedback was that it was a great experience and a powerful way to connect with God.

For me, it was exciting to see so many people from different backgrounds walking the labyrinth and finding it to be a deep, and sometimes, profound experience and to experience the atmosphere of prayer in the room while others were walking; I find it difficult to express the experience in words.

You can ‘walk’ the same labyrinth online here.

The photos can be seen here.

work and rest weekend!

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Another SEITE training weekend looms. The subject is ‘work and rest’. I’ve been away most of this week (as I am most weeks in fairness) so the best way for me to rest would be to stay home!

I really love the people I am going away with. We are coming to the end of our training. We are being told where we are going to be deployed to as curates or whatever and it is an exciting time – but (and that is a big but) I am tired of having to be away at weekend, sharing rooms, attending compulsory sessions, being given more work and then having to return to another full week of my real job. I know when I am there that I will enjoy the company of my friends – but as I write I could really do without this weekend and just stay home. This weekend we are at Herne Bay Court, and will be one of the last groups before it closes.

A plus of the weekend is that I get to work with a group of friends as we set up The Labyrinth as a worship experience for all these trainee priests to walk through. I personally love the concept of labyrinths and am looking forward to seeing how others respond to a different experience where others have skillfully taken an ancient concept and reformed it in a post modern setting. You can get a feel for this at the online labyrinth which is a great use of an hour or so if you are looking for some space to reflect in the presence of God.

Sabbath poem

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I love this poem bu Ruth Haley Barton pointed to by friend Jonny Douglas this week.

For everything there is a season…

Sometimes on the Sabbath
all you can do is
settle into the soft body of yourself
and listen to what it says.
Listen to
the exhaustion that is deeper than tired-ness
the hunger that is for more than food
the thirst that is for more than drink
the longing for comfort that is more than physical.

On the Sabbath
body and soul reach out for time of a different sort
time that is full of space rather than activity.
time to watch the burning bush in your own back yard…
the movement of the wind among bare branches…
the last leaf that clings to the branch before its final letting go.

Letting go is hard,
letting go of that which no longer works
that which no longer brings joy and meaning
that which is no longer full of life.

It seems cruel
That something that used to be so beautiful
should fall to the ground
sinking into the earthy mud along with everything else that is dying,
no longer recognizable for what it used to be.
It seems cruel but it is the way of things.

One generation gives its life for the next.
One season slips away so another can come.
One crop of fruit falls from the tree so that more can be borne.
One wave recedes while another gathers strength to crash upon the shore.

It seems cruel
but it is the rhythm of things
And rhythm has its own beauty.

people!

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A massively long day but I still feel wide awake which is kinda weird!
I left the house at 5.15 this morning and arrived in Halesowen just before 8, which left time for breakfast and a bit of a reflection before going to head office.

It was a good feeling to be involved with the YFC team at head office. Working from home is ok, but I have always missed that team dynamic of all working together under the same roof. I remember after leaving my team of 12 in Gillingham that it was quite odd and incredibly quiet to be working alone at home – but it did also mean that lack of interruption meant I got masses of work done.

On reflection, however, I’d rather get less work done and have more people interruption. I’m a bit of a people person and of there is a choice of paperwork or build relationship with a person … well the person will usually win. I just like being with other people.

Epiphany

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Epiphany over at Wallspace looks interesting.

For Epiphany we have gathered together 15 contemporary, traditional iconographers who live and work in the UK for what we believe is the first exhibition of its kind. While there have been survey exhibitions of icons from other places in the world, there has never been an opportunity to get the work of the very best iconographers in Britain together in one place.

Not all of these iconographers are UK-born, but they all work here. And while all the icons shown are contemporary, they are nonetheless produced in the traditional manner, using authentic ancient designs and methods. The exhibition is timely, given the current revival of interest in icons and their increasing appearance in cathedrals and parish churches across the country.

I am going to try to get to this discussion led by the Bishop of London:

Forum
Modern Mystery
chaired by the Bishop of London Rt Revd Richard Chartres
6 December 7pm-9.30pm

Why are icons experiencing a revival in the West? Is this influencing British churches’ approach to imagery, devotion and liturgy? How does this distinctive visual tradition relate to contemporary art practice?

Many of the iconographers will be present at this discussion.

two great events worth visiting

New Mysticism … facts or experience?

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Ian writes on his blog about new mysticism. He draws out some vital points that I believe are central to continuing, or developing new, Christian community in our culture.

I believe for a long time the church has been in the position of answering the questions that no one has been asking. The church has been trying to answer questions of faith through attempting to prove Christianity against other religions or attempting to show that the resurrection factually happened. I believe for a long time people have not really been bothered about this rational facts.

From conversations I have had on trains, with friends and particularly at Mind Body Spirit fairs it would appear Ian is correct. People want to know, quite bluntly, ‘does it work’? To answer that question we need to shift from our factual sermons, courses and conferences and give space for dialogue, space to question and space to explore.

Thanks Ian for getting me thinking again.

Discard

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ASBO Jesus again.
The simple truth makes me smile.
Who has not felt like this?!

In London again

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I always love my London days.
Today it was good to meet up with Richard from Oxygen – such a creative and deep guy who it is always great to chat with (and not only said because he reads the blog!). It was just excellent to be able to share what we have been reading, ideas on mission, ensuring we keep a ‘vertical and horizontal connection’ (Rich’s quote) in all we do. I love the imagery of the phrase!
I was then able to meet up with good friend Jeremy for lunch where we were able to chat about SEITE and training and all that kind of stuff.
I then zipped across London to have a coffee near London Bridge before meeting up with Lincoln for my tutorial where we looked at what I should be thinking about in the lst few months of my training which seemed to go well.
Ended the day with SEITE lectures and chat on the train home with Justine.
Busy, active but great day.