Rise…

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It is there in me again- that pull towards Spring.

This morning the mountains are suffocated in another heavy fall of snow, and it is cold. Cold.

It will not last- the rain is already starting to mottle it into the hillside, but it sits there at the moment like repressed hope- and as the proverb says, hope deferred makes the heart sick.

So, by way of antidote, here is a song from the soundtrack of one of my favourite films…

Such is the way of the world
You can never know
Just where to put all your faith
And how will it grow
.
Gonna rise up
Burning black holes in dark memories
Gonna rise up
Turning mistakes into gold
.
Such is the passage of time
Too fast to fold
Suddenly swallowed by signs
Low and behold
.
Gonna rise up
Find my direction magnetically
Gonna rise up
Throw down my ace in the hole

Eddie Vedder- ‘Rise’ from the soundtrack of ‘Into the Wild’.

Fake (fake) Christmas…

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I noticed this news article today concerning the conviction of two brothers who ran a spectacularly bad Christmas theme park in the New Forest.

They were convicted of misleading advertising.

Although in the eyes of the media they are guilty of something far worse- the trampling on the dreams of Children, robbing them of their innocence in the run up to Christmas 2008, and in so doing, bespoiling  the true meaning of Christmas in the name of grubby money making commercialism.

I find myself laughing out loud.

No one wants to upset kids at Christmas, and this does seem to have more than a dose of Faulty Towers about it, but does the irony of all this not smack you between the eyes?

The crime here was miss-selling Christmas product.

Or you could say being crap at monetizing Christmas.

They faked a fake Christmas.

Because this side of all the hype and the expense of another  Christmas (or Xmas) then we have to say that meaning,  as ever, was hard to come by for most of us in the mess of it all…

And to be honest- is this really any better at conveying meaning of any kind?

Aoradh meditation- renovation…

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It is already Thursday- and still no mediation this week.

It is my fault.

But by way of explanation, I offer you some thoughts on renovation. You see, the beginning of this week was dominated by work on Paul’s new kitchen. Taking an empty, barren space, and starting to create a place of sustenance, of hospitality and creativity.

Which is, of course, a very spiritual thing. Here are a few things that Paul and I came up with as we were working-

  • Houses are essentially simple things- dig a hole, pile some stones, and frame them with wood. But we make them so complicated, and invest such power in them
  • Of course, it all starts with the foundations
  • Renovation requires destruction of some of the old, and preservation of other bits
  • It also always takes longer than you think- and will test you in ways you did not expect
  • It goes a lot easier if you have others who will work with you- particularly those with skill and experience.

But we are called to live in a way that stands in both celebration and in critique of our culture- and to do this, we have to also understand the Zeitgeist– the spirit of our age.

To understand how we came to idolise property acquisition- and to seek an empty lifestyle whose meaning was found via Ikea. All those makeover programmes which would have us believe that happiness is found in a tin of expensive paint and a new bathroom suite.

 

These things are good. But there is so much more that is better.

 

And in case you ever doubted it- the challenge this week is to take a look at where you live, and to deliberately re-imagine the spaces in which you spend much of your life.

 

There are lots of ways to do this-

  • To consider how they might be used in new ways
  • To be grateful for shelter and comfort again
  • To take an aspect of the space you live in and use it to deliberately turn to God
  • To consider whether it might be time to clear out, and perhaps to bless others
  • To consider whether it might be time to bring people in, to share the space

 

Take one room at a time.

 

Ask God to open it up for a while as a temple.

 

 

 

Happy Birthday to me…

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The blog has been quiet for a few days because I have been busy helping a friend fit a kitchen. But today I am taking a day to do nice things, because-

…today I am 44.

Thanks for your good wishes friends!

Next year things will be changing again- which is no bad thing. Quite how and when is unclear, but change they will.

This time last year I nearly finished the adventure at the age of 43- which brings home the blessing of the road ahead, uncertain as it will surely be…

Aoradh meditations, Psalm 55- Sunday…

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SUNDAY

But as for me, I trust in you.

I made a choice to hope-

Despite all evidence to the contrary

To believe that despite the pain of birth

Life is just so beautiful

That despite our capacity to kill and maim

There is still such tenderness in your touch

And despite my lack of grace

Grace remains

Walk with me

Through the mess of my uncertainty

And whatever this life will lay down

I am no longer afraid

I am for you Lord

Aoradh meditation, Psalm 55- Saturday…

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SATURDAY

20 My companion attacks his friends;
he violates his covenant.
21 His talk is smooth as butter,
yet war is in his heart;
his words are more soothing than oil,
yet they are drawn swords.


Somewhere along the climb up the greasy pole

The creases in his suit

Became sharp enough to cut me to the bone

.

Somehow power became more important than people

Strength was celebrated over weakness

Efficiency overwhelmed humanity

.

He sees no grey

Just black and blue

This man will decide the fate of thousands

.

Because of him buildings will scrape the sky

And on his bidding bombs fall on children

If his ends require it

.

Because each time he squashed a spirit

It became easier

And each time his ends could always justify his means

.

But there was a new covenant made

That has no interest in productivity

And seeks to win no wars

.

Rather it is a covenant for the humble

Of grace, kindness

And love

Aoradh meditation- Psalm 55, Friday…

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FRIDAY

12 If an enemy were insulting me,
I could endure it;
if a foe were rising against me,
I could hide.
13 But it is you, a man like myself,
my companion, my close friend,
14 with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship
at the house of God,
as we walked about
among the worshipers.

.

I tried anger for a while

But in the end

I am just diminished

Empty like a dirty city street

On Sunday morning

.

Because those things that we planted together

Those places where good things grew

They now lie barren

.

And you my friend, became my judge

Sitting high on a bench before your hanging jury

And the verdict was never in doubt

I am convicted by every word I speak

It is as plain as the pain

In my face

.

Blessed are those who dwell together in unity

It is like dew in the desert

Like anointing oil on stormy waters

Like yesterday

Now gone

Aoradh meditations, Psalm 55- Thursday…

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THURSDAY

I see violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they prowl about on its walls;
malice and abuse are within it.
11 Destructive forces are at work in the city;
threats and lies never leave its streets.

.

The windows have locks

The doors have bars

The blinking eye of the PIR

Scrutinises me from the corner

.

This house became my castle

But behind my high ramparts

My flesh is pale and soft

For I am afraid

.

Every pool of light

Serves only to better expose me

To the telephoto cross hairs

Of snipers

.

But what quality of life is this

That would sacrifice humanity

To preserve an illusion

Of security?

That would wall the mess of me

From the mess of you?

.

Because love is dangerous

Start me on this pilgrimage

Called risk

Aoradh meditations, Psalm 55- Wednesday…

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WEDNESDAY

6 I said, “Oh, that I had the wings of a dove!
I would fly away and be at rest.
7 I would flee far away
and stay in the desert;[c]
8 I would hurry to my place of shelter,
far from the tempest and storm.”

.

There are days when I would exchange my world

For a cave

Wrap me up in shadows

For darkness put out

My light

.

Carry me away

Over these monochrome mountains

Why would I stay?

What more could you want from me?