Harnessing dreams

Slaying giants—

the stuff of dreams

made real when God gets involved.

Stories of old coming to life

when told to a new generation.

God’s word is not safe,

it is dangerous.

It’s not benign,

it is powerful.

It encourages action and dissent

and sounds an alarm for us

to take up its challenge

and fight the monsters of today.

For God does not dwell in the past,

and stories do not remain on the page.

The Good News is a living word

that speaks in every age,

that calls on God’s people

to rise to new challenges,

to seek new ways,

to love and to serve

all God’s people.

A reflection on the story of David and Goliath written for Spill the Beans.

The longest day

The Summer Solstice finds me reflecting on the light and the darkness that is ministry for me just now.

• The light of sharing with young folks as they celebrate the end of school term and their readiness to move on, their buoyancy and resilience shot through with hope. 
• The affirming of vocation in folks struggling to discern the will of God. 
• The commitment and support and enthusiasm of willing volunteers prepared to share their wisdom and learn new things.
• The darkness of a couple who have grown old together and who now face debilitating illness, also together. 
• The light that they share as they consider themselves fortunate to have had the opportunity to talk about death and face it together.
• The light of creativity recognised and encouraged. 
• The darkness of those who feel threatened by such creativity.
• The darkness of those holding on tight to systems and traditions that no longer work.
• The light of those willing to step out and embrace the new.
• The darkness of knowing I am not enough.
• The light of the assurance that the love of God is enough.

On this day of reflections, I am thankful that there is more light than darkness and, when most days are simply not long enough to do all that ministry requires, remind myself that God has it covered.

Feeding the soul

I've been fiddling around a lot lately. I'm a promiscuous fiddler - I'll play any genre - with any outfit that will accommodate me (or is desperate enough!) This weekend I had the privilege of playing with New Scottish Arts, supporting Keith and Kristyn Getty and Stuart Townend on their Celtic Islands tour. Although the accompaniments demanded lots of focus and energy, I found myself overcome with the passion of the music and with the poignancy of the lyrics being shared as these amazingly talented hymn writers and artists performed. These hymns get right to the heart of contemporary faith. What a generous and effective ministry. I wondered if, back in their day, Moody and Sankey had a similar effect on their contemporaries. There is such power in sharing the gospel through music.

Enlivening Spirit

I LOVE Pentecost. At this morning's service I was beside myself with joy, celebrating God's gift of the Holy Spirit. We had lots of fun, hearing God's word in different ways, listening to God's word read in different languages - Spanish, Dutch, American Scots and even a Pentecost rap! It felt like what we did this morning - the babble and the buzz - must have echoed that first Pentecost when the Spirit blew through festival goers, ready to party.
I don't subscribe to the notion of Pentecost as the birthday of the church, so I do my best to avoid the cake and the candles but I'm always ready to celebrate the gift of the Spirit that radically and irrevocably changed the church - and the world - forever. Pentecost - not a birthday - but a wake up call.

Paws for thought

Meet Ruca, our nine week old border collie pup. It seems to be the season for ministry colleagues adding puppies to their families. I suggested, tongue in cheek, that we feel the need to have a cute fluffy bundle in our manse to secure our tenures. The Ministries Council certainly isn't doing much to affirm full time ministers of word and sacrament at present. When I broached this I was told that I was just insecure. That may well be true but it was hardly a very pastoral response. Yesterday's report to the General Assembly seemed to focus on asking yet more of parish ministers already stretched by shrinking resources. Just one reason it's good to come home to the enthusiastic welcome of a four legged friend.

Heart and Soul

During worship at Heart and Soul (The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland's celebration in Princes Street Gardens) today, I couldn't find a seat in the arena, so sat on the periphery under some trees. That only added to the awesomeness of the worship experience. Because there were folk wandering through these public gardens who hadn't intended to worship but who found themselves drawn in, surrounded by folk singing God's praises.

I was particularly enthralled by the Jambo's fans who, after parading their victorious team and their colours down the Royal Mile, wandered through the gardens and found themselves bang in the middle of a worship fest. Lost in a little reverie about this, I then realised that the Moderator was speaking about how Jesus always welcomed those on the periphery. The Church of Scotland - mirroring Christ today. Thanks be to God.

A new look

We love to spend time in the grounds of Culzean Castle. Despite spending many hours there, still there are new paths to be discovered, new areas to be explored. It is always interesting to take visiting friends there. To see some of the more familiar features through another's eyes always brings surprises. I hadn't appreciated how many crosses there are featured in the windows and on the roof tops of Culzean.

I had also failed to notice this strange looking fellow before - supporting a sun dial on his head.
It is always good to be able to see things from another's perspective. Seeing things with fresh eyes can bring a refreshing depth and reveal facets previously hidden.
In every day there are surprises lying in wait for us to uncover.
Surprises bringing joy and sorrow and intrigue - the spice of life.
Lord give us new eyes for seeing.