Nameplates

One of the pleasures of being 'European' is that we are able to easily move between so many wonderful cultures. In fact, it can cost us less to hop on the train or Ferry to France, than it does to take the train up to London. One morning we took the train to Lille France. It's a fast trip from Kent -just twenty minutes under the English Channel and a fast zip through the French countryside and you arrive at Lille. From the station it's just a few seconds walk into the centre of town.

As we walked through the quiet sun dappled older part of the historic French village, we paused to look at the wonderfully aged oak front doors of some houses. Inevitably there were the customary beautiful flowerpots and window boxes filled with geraniums and the like, certainly set there for the benefit of no tourist. And on each door, nameplates: 'Monsieur' et 'Madame' et 'Mme'... whoever.

But one in particular stood out. I paused a while to ponder who these people were who lived behind that door, whose nameplate read not only Mr. and Mrs. but added so tellingly the words 'et nos enfants.' (and our children). Were those children still there or had the years taken them away to other places? I just don't know.

But I like to think that whether small or grown up, living in that village or far away, for those children, this house with that nameplate would be forever home. And that those who wrote those loving words 'and our children' would never be forgotten by them.


Almighty God, on all our journeys, through all our days, keep us mindful we pray, for those who at each stage of the journey have held us and loved us. Amen

The Book in The Attic

Have I told You lately That I Love You?

Perhaps All We Need is a Little Faith in DOG!

Keeping Fit

Here we are, a month into the New Year. By this time many of us probably have a heightened awareness of our need to get physically fit as we struggle to shed those holiday kilos we put on. The papers abound with adverts for courses that will teach people to become personal trainers, and it all sounds very attractive on one level:

Apparently it could take me as little as twelve weeks to train, the learning could be done at home and I’d gain the benefit of developing a more muscular and toned body whilst acquiring the skills to help others to become fitter too. That is except for the fact I have several decades worth of Pepsi’s, butter-infused mashed potatoes, and banana cream pies to sort through first.

But there are always downsides to such dreams: The tuition isn’t cheap, there’s no certainty that the qualifications will lead to paid work and there often doesn’t seem to be much of a selection process.

It seems a little strange to me that while we often pay lots of attention to our physical appearance we sometimes completely ignore our emotional and spiritual well-being. Perhaps what we need most is a strong network of relationships with others who affirm and challenge us in a variety of ways.

Friendships can give such support and another source is the constant prompting and guidance that God gives to us throughout the day. We can tune-in to listen to that help when we make space for reflection and silence amongst the other activities of our lives. Words from the Bible remind us that even better than a personal trainer, God always accompanies us, ‘Be filled with the Spirit... Be Guided by the Spirit... Walk by the Spirit.’

The comforting thing about God’s help is that it is always there, all we have to do is to recognise it.

Gracious Lord, help us to first see within ourselves before we criticise or judge others. Guide us, help us to grow within ourselves and within You! May You always dwell within us! Amen

Fruitcakes and Other Nutty Concoctions

Perhaps You Need a Little DOG in your life!

If It's On The Internet It Must Be True!

Were it not for the miracles of modern technology and most certainly God’s divine intervention, none of us in this group would have likely found one another. What a truly inspirational testimony this is as to how God’s touch leads us, even through technology.

You may have found this site through the new verb of ‘googling,’ or you may have come upon the blog through the act of ‘surfing.’ But for those of us who are ‘middle-aged’ or above, our natural inclination might have been to first turn towards the written word in the form of a reference book, rather than using a computer.

The comforting thing about a book is that before it comes into being it goes through a process of revision, assessment, and validation, which generally means that by the time it is published, it has almost a seal of understood authority. However, with computer-generated material, there is no such process; anyone can produce professional looking material in his or her own home.

Yet I have found myself, almost frighteningly, accepting the premise that if I read it on the internet, it must be accurate. And when I ask my children to do research for homework, they immediately rely upon the internet, rather than using the written word in our library.

This raises important issues for us. As religious people, we may maintain that appearance is comparatively unimportant-it is substance that matters. The problem is that nowadays a professional looking document or Web page carries a kind of spurious authority, which demands from us constant caution to establish its relative value.

When you invest in reading the Bible, you’ll find that it has a fascinating technology of its own. It encourages us to read further, to ‘click’ on expanding ideas and perspectives, drawing us towards a greater understanding of its core. By doing so, it draws us all closer towards a greater understanding of God’s message.

I’m sure all of us have witnessed sad and often appalling scenarios, where individuals have taken one line of the Bible and manipulated it to serve as a validation of their own often fractured and misguided views. I see those people as being afraid to open themselves to the miracles of spiritual growth that the Bible affords us. Sadly, it’s that unwillingness to expand their knowledge that has a negative and sometimes tragic upon others.

However you occasion it, whether it be through the technology of the internet, or with the embracing comfort of The Book in your hands, reading your Bible and exploring its depths will give you a lifetime of pleasure and growth.

If you’re looking to learn more about yourself, there is nothing better!


Creator God, You call us to rejoice in the discovery of new knowledge and to be fearless in the pursuit of truth and understanding wherever we may find it. May we not be distracted by outwards forms and be ever watchful for the pitfalls which can befall the unwary. Our strength and growth comes from Your word. Amen

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Perseverance

We've Just Won the Lottery!

Sweet Talkers

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Feast of Epiphany

If you follow the Christian Liturgical calendar you will already know that tomorrow is the Feast of The Epiphany. A child I know once told me he calls it the ‘Ep Ip Hany Day,’ said in such a way to make it sound like ‘Hip Hip Hurray.’ I marvel at how children are able to mind-map things. It was also how he associated the story of the three wise men. And to be truthful, a story it is indeed.

Most people have already put away their plaster manger scenes and have cleared their homes of the secular markings of Christmas past. But just as we celebrated Epiphany Sunday yesterday, the Church celebrates the arrival of these star travellers on January 6.

We can only speculate from where they came. Truthfully, we have no idea. Avid and possibly somewhat obsessed astronomers have spent many cumulative years trying to determine whether there really was a star. Our determination to create impactive imagery always leaves the quintessential wise men arriving on camels. After all, they’re in the Middle East and everyone travelled by camel back then, didn’t they?

And for some reason there are always three wise men. I find this fascinating because Matthew’s Gospel makes no mention of how many there were. But it is accepted that the gifts were a symbolic gesture.

For the Church the entire story is symbolic. The visitors represent nations from the farthest points on the earth. The gifts, combined with their devotion, demonstrate that all nations can join in celebrating the birth of a baby destined to be Messiah, the suffering king.

The Epiphany is the presentation of Christ to the world. The travellers and the story of their visit to Bethlehem are a classic myth - a story told to encapsulate for those who understand a greater truth. In this case, it’s the symbolism. That the baby born in Bethlehem is not just for one place and time, but for everywhere, always, and all ways.
 

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Falling in Love at Clapham Junction

Please remember Me

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