Miss Phoebe walks by and the house is wafted with the aroma of damp cat. She has taken up residence in the back of Andrew’s wardrobe, nestled comfortably on his gardening clothes. She is missing being outdoors because it has been so wet, and I suspect she misses the smell of the outdoors, and the earth beneath her paws.
The upside of it being wet is that I can guilt free indulge in a bit more reading, and have now finished both books that I had ‘going’ in tandem. “The Way Under our Feet”, and the “Salt Path”, two books that would make a very good compare and contrast exercise. “The Way Under our Feet” is very firmly established within the Christian tradition, and it exudes love and compassion and the invitation for us to walk alongside Jesus as He accompanies us as we endeavour along the ‘Way’. Whereas “The Salt Path” is written from the experience of homelessness and it’s personal impact upon a couple, the encounters and meetings along the way, within a secular setting. Equally it exudes love and compassion and a respect for the environment and our response to situations that are quite alien to our perceived 'normal' lives, whatever 'normal' is for us. Both books from very different viewpoints but perhaps not so different in some other aspects. I am not going to give my opinion, apart from if you feel so inclined please do read them both, they will make you think! However I can’t help but comment on Rev Ushers book “The Way Under our Feet” because I kept saying ‘YES’ I get it! “Yes I think that too”! Yes, yes, yes that’s a really good point. With the realisation that some books just do that, they challenge you to agree or disagree and make you start to think, including ‘The Salt Path’ and absolutely the Bible.
So much of Jesus’ ministry is done on foot. I’ve mentioned that before. His ministry is freely given to all, no matter if we have homes or are homeless. Rich or poor, leading or being led. Relationship and communications are often the 'triggers' that breakdown; that shift us from feeling at home, belonging or ultimately (perhaps?) to becoming homeless, not physically but spiritually. I am not in the position to talk about homelessness as in being without a roof over my head, and in that, I am very, very fortunate. But these two books have made me think about being at home with God. Or are we wandering with no focus or place to lay our head when we are weary?
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28
The invitation when we are lost is unmistakable. Jesus welcomes us with loving arms from no matter where we come from, whatever our viewpoint. None of us are exempted from this invitation and that is a very powerful thought. We are invited to turn to Christ (as in Baptism and renewal of promises and for healing). But do we do it? It could be very tempting to think if we are nice and snug at home, or curled up on someones gardening clothes that we don’t have burdens to bring to Jesus. But we do, and they may feel very small in comparison with wondering where our next roof will be. Anxiety can build, we are fearful of going out now lockdown has eased for many of us, perhaps we feel that our woes are not worthy or important enough when so much social injustice is surrounding us and then we feel guilty and a whole cycle of worries and cares fret away at us and the next thing we know we are in a full blown round of angst……we feel guilt or perhaps worse, nothing.
Communication; that’s between us and God and each other and that means relationship, talking and listening, and really, really listing, to the unsaid as well as the said. Prayer is relationship; God to us, us to God. We need to keep those lines of communication open and when this poem prayer popped up for today...
I am not here to pass judgement
or point the finger at anyone.
My name was written in the sand
as one who is forgiven.
Strengthened with hope, impervious to shame,
I will walk freely like the freshness
of the dry lands after rain.
Let light spill out of heaven
through my life,
dispelling mediocrity and silent blame.
Too many people, guilt-stricken, wounded,
walk in regret,
feeling bad about failing,
apologise even for breathing.
Raw belief, a passion for others
grows in me,
encircling each moment
with instinctive prayer.
I will carry the freshness
of the dry lands after rain.
Compassion lives in me again.
Andy Raine
...Thursday, from the Northumbrian Community it captured my mood and my observations this week, it also echoed that reading that kicked into me from last week Micah 8:6!
Lockdown has highlighted so many social injustice issues, it makes one want to weep. In my comfortable home, with my snuggled up cat, I cannot imagine what it is like to not have my perceived security and place of safety. I have friends who walk and cycle long distances because they are able to do this alongside freelancing jobs. We have also seen how walking can help us connect and engage with the beautiful gift of the open countryside God has bestowed to us for safe keeping. This is by choice. We are free to choose to walk and come home to a hot bath (generally, because I know this is not always possible for some of you), however generally this is a choice (and I am careful here because it may not be), we have that gift of choice. What if we didn’t?
This week I heard on the news that charities are bracing themselves for the onslaught of ‘the homeless’ being ‘released’ (BBC News this week, really!) after being in safe accommodation, B&B’s and safe spaces post Corvid-19 lockdown. "You could have knocked me down with a feather" is my polite response to this. Released! It makes 'them' the homeless, (it could be you or me here), feel as though they have done something wrong. "Them" are they not perhaps Jesus walking in the face of the stranger? 'They' are the displaced, the poor of spirit, the very people Jesus is blessing, and for that matter us too. Seriously we as society can only relate to 'them' not ours? Social injustice. Total and utter injustice. But we are not used to dealing with the stranger as fear creeps from our angst and we are at quandary on how to respond, but we must respond. To start we need to accept Jesus' invitation and ask how we are to pray into how this social injustice, one of many, can be discussed and acted upon. Praying is a vital step into knowing we can't do these things alone, but in Jesus, miracles can and do happen. Perhaps you will meet Jesus in the face of the stranger, pray that you do.
I have just been reminded of a quote from Bonhoeffer...
"...“In total reality, he comes in the form of the beggar, of the dissolute human child in ragged clothes, asking for help. He confronts you in every person that you meet. As long as there are people, Christ will walk the earth as your neighbour, as the one through whom God calls you, speaks to you, makes demands on you.”
―Dietrich Bonhoeffer,God Is In the Manger
Please include in your prayers the work of this local organisation, doing incredible things in our city. I look forward to meeting you virtually at 9.00 tomorrow morning for our 'usual' Friday morning Celtic Morning Prayers service.
https://youtu.be/K-vgGu5Sye0 "Servant Song"
and another one because it's also so beautiful too...
https://youtu.be/mTcUQzAtIPU "Tantum Ergo"
Peace be with you friends, and until we meet again may God hold us firmly in the palm of His hands.
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