Listening skills

A few times this week, my daughter asked me how you give your mum away. Assuming that, as usual, I'd done something to upset her, I thought she was just being cheeky and brushed off her question.
However, last night, I took the time to sit down and ask her what she meant. It turns out that one of her school friends was at his mum's wedding at the weekend - and the youngster "gave his mum away". My poor girl was upset because she thought that her wee friend didn't have his mum any more. I was able to reassure her that that wasn't the case. If I'd stopped to listen properly sooner, I could have offered that explanation earlier!
I wonder what else I've missed this week as I've rushed from one thing to the next?

It is enough

I've been musing today on how, during what might be considered the waiting times in the Christian year, the seasons of Advent and Lent, preachers end up busier than ever. The discipline of creating space becomes more difficult, not less. Today, a beautiful spring like day, I rediscovered a park that is just a few streets away. It is clothed in a carpet of crocuses. That brief encounter provided real balm for the soul.
Finding space does not always involve having to find lots of time too.

sometimes all it takes

is a brief glimpse

a smile

a look of understanding

and then everything appears different

for then we have been assured

that God has it covered

and God's loving gaze

is focussed on us.

And that's enough

to sustain us 

on the journey.

Stop! In the name of love...

As I was explaining Lent to a group of primary school children this week, I talked of how Jesus, before he was famous, before he started teaching or healing or making miracles, went into the desert for 40 days. A lone voice piped up: "Why? "
Good question!
I explained that, sometimes, before we start out on something new, it's good to take time to think about it. Before we begin something important, it's good to work out how. Peace and quiet and space help us move forward.
We may not choose the desert or the wilderness as our space. We may prefer the beach or the forest - or even our own room, but we all need a Space that leaves the world behind and allows us to get things straight in our heads.

The call to repentance comes to us today 

to be embraced not as a once for all 

but as a discipline to be repeated 

time and again. 

In high seasons and in low 

in business and in quiet 

Finding wilderness spaces 

allows us to turn again 

to the God whom we lost  

in all the distractions that life presents -  

the God who looks into our eyes, 

tells us we are beloved children 

and then reveals a work that only we can do. 

God calls us to trek through the wilderness 

in preparation 

for striding through life focused on God's mission. 

Liz Crumlish Lent 2012

Valuing space

There are lots of discussions around the institutional church just now about the cost of ministry. Sadly, not the cost in terms of selfless giving, but the actual monetary cost of employing well educated, professional, comprehensively trained staff. The perception, fueled by insensitive comment and crass marketing is that cheaper alternatives are where it's at. Many colleagues are feeling undervalued, a burden the church can ill afford. Some of these effects are, of course, part of the natural processes of change and the church like any institution today is in a state of flux, though that might be hard to discern in many areas.
Change, as they say, is the only constant. But, in every time of change, careful discernment is required and, it would seem, it's that willingness to discern direction that has been overlooked as the institutional church plunges into its latest crisis. While opportunities are seized on, the more steady, careful discernment necessary to navigate a way through the turbulence is being compromised in the interests of a possible quick fix.
In this season of Lent, as we sojourn with Jesus in the wilderness, may we repent of our willingness to jump on the latest band wagon and, instead, squat in the dust of reality, prepared to wait it out until the grey becomes less blurred and the shadows come into focus.

Wondering about Lent

Our Chrismon tree that graced the sanctuary as we waited during Advent and then celebrated Christmas has been transformed into a cross that will accompany us through the wondering of Lent.
With all ages together, we explored Lent in worship this morning.
We removed the Alleluias from the church - everyone has taken one home and, hopefully, will bring them back on Easter Sunday!
And we baptised two little cousins.
A busy, fun service that got our worshipping community's journey with Jesus through the wilderness off to a good start.

Grace enough

As I watched the penguins being fed, I was struck by the joy of the gulls, swooping down to scoop up any stray fish.
The penguins didn't seem at all perturbed about sharing their food, probably because they know that there is plenty to go around.
Often God gives us more than enough to share but, still, we are reluctant to give as freely as we receive.
Even when material gifts are in short supply, God's grace is always enough.
Thanks be to God.

Mirrors on the soul

I've been working with some of the Spill the Beans team again today. We're slogging through the chronicles of David from 2 Samuel, which feature in the Lectionary for the season after Pentecost. They are difficult, blood thirsty, shocking readings. A few times, we almost abandoned them to find something a bit more palatable but, being Scottish Presbyterians, we have that awkward work ethic and decided that we needed to stick with them. They are there for a reason and might teach us something - even if it is only to avoid adultery and rape and brutal slaying!!!
However, one theme that emerged is that of windows, mirrors and reflections. Each of the passages might lead us to looking deep within ourselves, to holding a mirror to our own lives to examine what lies within. And so, preaching through the summer will not be comfortable. But it will be revealing. God speaks, in so many ways, even using media we'd rather avoid. Thanks be to God.