Blest

At a friend's service of Induction to her new ministry tonight, I was reminded of what a blessed space ministry is. We accompany folk through so many sacred moments - in joy and in sorrow and are privileged to be allowed access to incredible intimacy and grace filled moments. And it's always good to be reminded of how blessed is that call to journey with God and with God's people.
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Carrying the word around

On a few occasions so far this year, I have reprinted the gospel reading and cut it into pieces for folk to take away - so that we all meditate on a different piece of the gospel.
It has been interesting to carry a piece around, reflecting on it at odd moments, working out what that particular slice has to say in my life today.
And it's good to know that there are others meditating on different portions. Together we enable and empower each other to reflect on - and practice - the living word.
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Reflected

Even in the city
can be found a quiet corner
where signs of a byegone era
and a slower pace
is reflected
alongside the high rise
teeming with life
Contrasts
that mirror
the everyday
juxtapositions
that we navigate
sometimes unconsciously
with scant regard
to the wonder
and the marvel
with which each day
is crammed
full to overflowing.
Captured
in the buzz of the city
Appreciated in the quiet
of a moment for reflection

Cheerful persistence

These crocus today remained bright and cheerful and open while disputes and scandal in the church and in the government brought darkness and gloom and a closing of ranks.
Meanwhile, the hungry are not fed, the poor remain in their poverty and the oppressed continue to be trodden underfoot.
And God weeps...
And we, in our journey through Lent contemplate the things in which we invest our time and energy and how we can match those priorities to God's.
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Out of focus

The edges blurred
all out of focus
leaves swirling around
as though in a vortex
no sharp edges
but fuzzy curves
that merge
and fuse
A mistake
too beautiful
to be deleted
and assigned to the trash bin
Retained as an example
of something gone wrong
but useful in its own way
A symbol
of redemption
and reclamation
of seeing the good
in all things
of finding God
in the mixed up
crazy world we inhabit
and honouring the God
who surprises us
in the confusion
of our lives.


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Performance

Involved in role play this weekend in a training situation has raised again, for me, how much of a role we play every day in ministry. And particularly in worship.
Given the stresses and strains and demands of a week in the parish how does one, first of all, faithfully carve out and ring fence time to prepare worship? And then, how does one lay aside the weariness and exhaustion of the week, to "perform" in worship.
At the risk of being accused of incongruity or of shallowness, I feel the need to explore these pressures on worship that simply come with the territory.
I am aware that one can only be oneself and that that is whom God calls into worship. But do our congregations really want to see the worn down, bedraggled worship leader at the main weekly diet of worship? While God might be happy to welcome the person beneath the cassock, isn't it true that our congregations expect and demand the shiny, polished up version? And so,though our pastoral encounters invariably influence our preaching and our energy levels affect our preparation and performance, we put on our best act for our Sunday congregations.
And while we encourage other worshipers to "come as they are" to an all-embracing God, we daren't allow ourselves that luxury.
It's not a case of feeling the need to cheer folk up in worship or even lift their spirits. We're happy to affirm that there is room for everyone, happy, sad, faithful or struggling but do they really want or need to see how we feel on every occasion, especially those times that find us grappling with life ? Do we want our congregations to be more concerned about us than about the love of God that is encountered in worship?
There are times to share our vulnerability but perhaps not in worship.
So what does that say about our authenticity?
Is it OK, in the interests of helping others worship, indeed, is it necessary to put on a front and "do our stuff"? Is God honoured by such leadership? And aren't there moments in our "performance" when God surprises us and somehow authenticates the show of strength that we put on? Our efforts, offered sincerely and often at a cost are offerings of love for God and for our congregation. And no act of love is ever wasted. This I believe - enough to continue to carry on performing.
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Now you see it...

Frost flower
Created momentarily
Just when conditions are right
When the cold
forces the sap
to breakthrough
creating fleeting beauty
Beauty that is fragile
and short lived
A feast for the eyes
A passing phenomenon
to be simply enjoyed
as a wonder of creation.

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