You Spoke God

You Spoke God?

The Lord's Prayer is probably the best known of all prayers, and even those with little or no connection to a church or even a faith. It appears time after time in many films and dramas. How often though is it little more than a repetition of words with little thought behind it? I remember once a terrible moment during an act of worship when I had a memory block. I had led the congregation in the prayer which ended by the congregation joining with me to say the Lords Prayer. All of a sudden almost halfway through I forgot the next line. I stopped speaking and there was a deathly hush as they waited for me to remember the next line, not one voice rose to help me out. I went back to the first line and the whole congregation joined me. I have often wondered if we had really been praying would this have happened?

Another thing I frequently noticed was that left to their own devices the speed of the prayer would increase. I often had to raise my voice to slow them down. it seemed that little if any, thought lay behind the words.

So let me share again the words of the prayer and then a dialogue follows.

The Lord's Prayer

Our father who is in heaven.

Honoured be your name.

Your Kingdon come.

Your' will be done on earth

as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our sins,

as we forgive those who have sinned against us.

Lead us not into temptation.

But deliver us from evil.

For yours is the glory forever.

Amen.

Our Father who is in heaven.

Yes, what can I do?

Do not interrupt me please I am praying.

Yes, I know you are praying. I am answering.

Please...... I am praying. Our father who is in heaven

You are at it again, calling me, well here I am.

But I do not mean anything by that. I was just, you know what I mean, saying my prayers. I say that same prayer every day. I feel better having said it. It always seems like a good way to start the day. Say the prayer get it out the way and get on with the day.

Then please continue.

Honoured be your name.

Hold on just a second. What do you mean by that?

By what?

Honoured be your name.

I mean...... I mean. What exactly do I mean? I am not so sure now that you put me on the spot and ask me. To be really honest I have never given that much thought before. It is just there the second line of the prayer What does it mean anyway?

It means that you will respect and give a special place to my name in your daily life and dealing.

Yes, that makes some sense. I can see that now that you explain it to me. it is a strange way to speak about another so it does not come easily.

Honoured be your name. Your Kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

HOLD IT!  Do you really mean all of that?

Of course, why would I not?

Then please tell me what it is you are doing to make that happen?

DOING? DOING? I am doing nothing. I just thought it would be nice if we now and again had a bit of heaven down here now and again. if maybe you took a bit more control once in a while.

Do I have any control over your life?

Well, I attend church almost every Sunday.

Ah but that was not what I asked you. I look at your life and I see that I have not really got much of an influence in the things that you say and do. Most of what you earn you spend on yourself. You seem to have a fair number of habits that do not seem to fit with my having much control over your actions.

Hold on a second, please. You seem to be picking on me. What about all those other hypocrites that I see in the church every Sunday?

Excuse me. I thought this was your prayer. I thought this was about your life. I thought this was about my will being done in your daily life? If that is to happen then it has to begin with you and your relationship with me, never mind the others, that is between them and me.

Yes, I suppose you are correct. I have some bad habits that is certainly true. Things I would be much better without. Some things spring easily to mind and I am sure if I stopped and thought I would be able to come up with a few others that I would be all the better for being rid of. I am sure you have spotted even more.

YES, I have.

I had not really given it much thought if I am being completely honest. There are some things in my life that I continue to do often in spite of promising that I would not do so again. Some things I just keep on doing, and I would be much better if I did not.

That sounds better, now we seem to be getting somewhere. Together we might just manage to make some changes. This sounds positive.

Look, God, I have loads to do today, do you think we could get this prayer over with? Can I please continue? Give us our daily bread.

Now, while we are on that subject. Do you not think that maybe a bit less in the way of eating might do you a bit of good? There might also be a bit more for those who could really do with it.

Please, just a minute. What is this? Is this criticise me day? Here I was doing my religious duty for the day and what happens I find I am being questioned about my actions and my lifestyle. 

Praying is a dangerous business you should know that. If you pray and mean it some things might in fact change. You might actually find demands are being made of you. You ask me things. I listen. Then I answer. That can be dangerous. Let us continue.

I am getting a bit wary of continuing.

Wary of what? What are you afraid of?

The next line, that is what I am wary of. I know what is coming next.

Well, let us continue.

Forgive us our sins

What about Robert.

I knew this was going to happen. I had a feeling the minute I said that his name would crop up. He was as much to blame as I was, for that difference and break up we had. I  wa hurt also in that event.

But what about your prayer/

I did not really mean that.

At least you are being honest for once. But it cannot be at all easy carrying all that anger around with you all the time. All that bad feeling and hatred must be causing you some anxiety?

It is not easy. I am sure I will feel better once I have had the opportunity to even the score. When I get my own back. What was it that somebody said, "Do not get angry, get your own back?" I have many plans to do just that. He will be wishing he had never met me when I am finished with him.

You will not feel one little bit better. The truth is if you do as you say you will probably end up feeling even worse than you do now. If you let me I can change all of that right this minute.

You can? How can you do that?

Forgive Robert. In that instant, I, in turn, will forgive you.

NO! I cannot, can I? Yes, I could. I will forgive him this very minute and when I am finished I will convey that to him. Even as I say that I am aware that he is probably feeling every bit as bad as I have been.

How does that feel? To have forgiven him.

I feel good. So much better than I did before I began this prayer earlier. Truth to be told I already feel better than I have in a very long time. Yes, I feel good.

You have not finished your prayer, please let us continue.

Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.

Yes. That is good I will do exactly what you ask. Remember though it is so much easier if you do not put yourself in the way of temptation.

 Please explain just what you mean by that?

You know exactly what I mean. I mean to keep away from the things that you know you find tempting that every time you give in to the temptation you always feel so much worse because you have given in. I can and will help. But remember I am neither your escape hatch or your crutch.

Again, please explain.

You frequently get yourself into trouble. Often when you do you turn to me. You frequently make promises. If I help you out of this you promise never to do such and such again. Or you say that if I help you this time you promise to do so many things. Promises made but seldom kept.

Yes, I remember. I am aware of the promises I made but when things turned out for the better I did not link that to an answered prayer. I put it down to good fortune.

Well, maybe you will remember in future. Please complete your prayer.

For yours be the power and the glory.

So it will be. if you just remember this prayer and this conversation. If you stop just reciting it but begin to listen to and heed the words. Together we just might begin to make a difference.

AMEN. Thanks be to you.

I Am the Resurrection and the Life.

I Am the Resurrection and the Life

Jesus said: I am the resurrection and the life. He that believes in me, though he were dead, shall have life.

John 11: 25

How often have you felt that life had reached a stop, a dead end? There is a problem that you just cannot face, there seems to be no answer and no way forward. You have for one reason or another ended up in a fix and cannot seem to get yourself out of it.

You have tried one thing after another trying to find just one way that will, if not solve the problem, at least make things a bit easier.

This can be a kind of death. Sharing the problem, taking the problem in prayer to the source of your faith can all lead to a resurrection, to a new life. How often the solution that seemed impossible can come in a flash of inspiration. or in the quiet of meditation and thoughtfulness Slowly but surely the answer can come to you and you see a way forward. 

There are some who get caught up in addiction, and there are many addictions other than the very obvious. If you find yourself in such a corner it can seem as if there is no way to break the habit. No matter how often you try to break free you keep returning to the same habitual behaviour.

For those in such a predicament, they are facing a sort of death. For them admitting that they are powerless to overcome the addiction, they are beaten. Such an admission can be the first step to the resurrection, to overcoming the problem. 

In such a state of helplessness and despair, Jesus says, "I am the resurrection."

If this is the case in life, how much more it is so when we find ourselves having to face up to the reality of death itself. In one way or another, we are all reluctant to face up to the reality of death. Yet it is the one thing we cannot defeat, the inevitable for us all.

Again such fear can be taken from us by handing the fear to our faith to the source of our strength. Death does not need to be a fearful thing, many have faced the inevitable with a sense of confidence. Jesus says, death is not the end but the gateway to a fuller life.  He promises to remove the fear with a peace that passes all understanding.  Commit the future to the future and live life to the full at the moment. To allow what is yet to be to control our lives is in itself a form of death, and we lose the joy of the moment.

Jesus says, "I am the resurrection and the life.'  Another sage said, "Live life to the full and for the moment go with the flow."

I am the way the truth and the Life.

I Am the Way the Truth and the Life

Jesus said: I am the way the truth and the life. No man comes to the father but by me.

John 14: 6

The wind blows up the valley across a field of growing wheat. The wheat bends this way and that as the wind swirls and turns. Clouds crossing the sky hurrying to create shadows that rush across the tops of the standing wheat. Each shadow creates its own pattern. This one like a dragon flying hurridly past, the next like a ship in full sail across the field.

The wind dries the growing grain. The farmer comes with his harvester and amidst the noise of the machinery, he gathers in the harvest.

The winds of change blow through our lives carrying us this way and that. How often we bend to this whim and that fashion or the next fad to take its hold. An idea catches our imagination and for a while we allow ourselves to be caught up in it. Then along comes another new idea and we go with it for a while.

How easy it is to give religion a whirl to be caught up in the Jesus movement. Until something else comes along that grasps our imagination. We are filled with flashes of enthusiasm and then it dies to be taken over by apathy.

For a time we take our stand and are counted among the members of a cause. We find faith and life seems to be well. Then something happens, often something trivial and we turn our back on the very thing that was bringing some sense and peace to our lives.

We become selective in what we consider to be the truth and what we follow. We consider the truth to be what it is that we want to hear. We even manage to delude ourselves that some of the exaggerations of our lives are truths. How simple it can be to compromise what it was that we had found because it no longer says what we want to hear or make demands on us that we do not wish to face or stand up and be counted for. it might all become uncomfortable.

We forget that we were part of a rich harvest, claimed by God and Jesus. We live our lives as if they are entirely our own to do with as we must. We have to make decisions but now we leave faith out of the equation. For a while, we felt very much a part of that glorious creation.

But Jesus gently and quietly reminds us that the way to life is found in Him. That the Truth is something that is bigger than us. Life is much bigger and can be much better than just ourselves. 

I Am the Light of the World.

I Am the Light of the World

Jesus said: I am the light of the world. He that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

John 8: 12

Have you ever gone to stay with friends or gone off to a hotel for a holiday break and found yourself in the middle of the night fumbling about in the dark, simply because you did not know the geography of the room? You were in unfamiliar territory.

Here is a very simple little exercise about just such a situation. You have checked into a hotel and been shown to your room. You have had a long and tiring journey to get there so you freshen up and put your clothes in the wardrobe and drawers.  You are looking forward to an evening meal but there is time for a stroll along the town to familiarise yourself to some extent.

You enjoy the stroll it seems like a lovely spot to spend some time. You are once again feeling that it is going to be nice to have a cooked meal that you did not have to cook and served up to you with no clearing up at the end of it. You feel very relaxed. You turn and begin the journey back to the hotel just as the light begins to dim and the street lighting comes on.

As you arrive back at your hotel it is almost dark. You have your meal and collect your key from the desk and head up to your room.

You are feeling tired after the long day of travel and you are ready to relax. 

You open the door to your room. Where is that light switch? Not where you thought or had expected it to be.  You enter the room in the dark remembering you had noticed a bedside light.  What was that you just banged against your leg? You cannot remember the layout of the room. A few more unexpected bumps and knocks and you eventually find the bedside light and manage to switch it on.

The room burst into view with the light from the lamp, everything takes on a new perspective, a new sense of order.

Jesus says, "I am the light of the world."

Without light, we flounder about in the dark trying to find order and meaning in all things and our lives. Often we think we have found the answers only later to be disillusioned.  We go it alone and life throws us many bumps, knocks and hardships.

We seek meaning and purpose but seldom find what we seek.

To find something that helps us, to put our trust and faith in something or someone is like putting on a light. The road ahead looks a lot less frightening. That problem for which there seemed no answer suddenly does not appear so bad.

Where are the dark corners of our lives?  We all have them and we all need some help to cast some light upon them. The frightening corners where we need someone to light the way ahead and remove the fear.

Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. he that follows me will not walk in darkness."

I Am the Good Shepherd.

I Am the Good Shepherd

Jesus said; I am the Good Shepherd, I know my sheep, and they know me. My sheep hear my voice, I know them and they follow me and I give them life. They shall never perish. Neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

John 10: 27-26

It is a very simple picture to conjure up in our minds that of the shepherd with his sheepdog and his herd of sheep. You can easily hold this image in your mind.

We can see the sheepdog running this way and that, hear the shrill whistle and commanding words of the shepherd and watch as the dog obediently does as told. The sheep in their fear of the dog run this way and that, slowly and surely the dog or dogs bring them under control and the shepherd has them where he wants them to be.

But now picture a completely different scene.

A shepherd walks along a dusty track, he is playing a tune on his homemade reed pipe. The music and the bleats of the sheep fill the air. It is, in its own way a symphony of sound. The sheep follow behind the shepherd, there is no dog to herd or push them on; they follow willingly. They know the shepherd, they have put their trust in him and he knows them, each and every one of them.

As you picture the scene another shepherd with his sheep comes from the opposite direction. His sheep, like the first herd, is following in the footsteps of the shepherd. For a moment the sheep mingle together as if they are now one large single herd. The two shepherds stop and pass the time of day. They then continue each in their direction of travel. The sheep separate and each herd follows their shepherd. With just a glance each shepherd will know if any of his sheep are not with his herd, they will be aware if they each have all their animals.

Jesus said that in the same way, he knows his flock each in their own way. Like the shepherd, he is concerned for his sheep; he is concerned for his flock. He has called disciples to be fishers and shepherds of men.

We are not sheep who follow blindly, yet ask yourself in the quiet of the moment how often have you gone chasing after other things thinking that there you will find your peace and your happiness?

The sheep follow their shepherd because it is there that they know they find their safety and security.

What is it you follow? Who is it you follow? To what and whom do you give your trust? 

I Am the True Vine.

I Am the True Vine

Jesus said: I am the Vine, you are the branches, live in me and I in you, then you will bear much fruit.

John 15: 5

Imagine a vine growing. It has roots that go down very deep before anything ever appears above the ground. Because of those deep roots the vine seldom needs watering; they seek out nourishment from deep in the soil. Once firmly rooted it reaches up through the ground, frequently very stone-filled ground, yet it manages to find its way to the surface and reaches up towards the sun, the light.

It needs to find support as it grows upward so it sends out tendrils that grip and hold anything it comes into contact with. In this way, the plant can stay upright and spread its branches and leaves, to take strength from the sun.

The wine keeper puts stakes in the field, there are wires running along which the vine is trained and supported. These are important, but long before humans cultivated vines they managed on their own, finding natural holds and sources of nurture.

Once the vine has grown strong, and only then, when it is firmly grafted to the roots and held to the holds it has from its tendrils does it begin to produce the fruit.

We as children similarly hold and grasp to adults to enable us to grow strong and learn to support ourselves.  Many of us put our trust in God or Chi, yet how often we let go and drift seeking other things to bring us support and help. Rather than faith in things spiritual we might put our trust in wealth or other people.

It is wise from time to time to take stock and to assess what ( or where or how) it is we put our trust? Have we drifted from the spiritual to the material? Or have we decided that we do not need any such support, we can manage to stand on our own two feet.?

The very structures of religion that were put there to enable us to find support can become the very things that detract from what is important in our trust and faith.

The buildings can become more important and drain much of the energy from those who gather within them.

The music and the singing can become more important than the words and the message of the songs.

The members of the congregations or assemblies can become more important than the faith or God that is meant to be at its centre.

Those who call themselves part can spend more time propping up the props than ever devoting oneself to the message or the being.

Remember the branches of the vine only require to be damaged or partly broken for the first signs of fatigue. The fruits it bears become smaller and less flavoursome and the vine becomes less value and worth. Eventually, there is no fruit at all.

Once the branch is cut through and is no longer attached to the vine the end is very fast. "It is as well pruned and cast into the fire," says Jesus.

How well secured is your faith, your trust, the meaning of your life? Is it strong and secure or bruised and broken?

I Am the Bread of Life.

The next few pages contain meditations shorter in nature based on the, "I Am" saying found in the gospel of St John. These sayings seem so very different from any other of the well-known sayings of Jesus. They are very gnostic in nature and hardly seem like the words of Jesus who was a preaching, teaching Jew.

That said, John found that in some way they conveyed the message that he wanted about the life of Jesus. Jesus may well have spoken very similar words to the ones we are going to be looking at. he would have been familiar with the importance of bread and he would have seen shepherds regularly. Other various aspects, vines and such would indeed be familiar to him.

So rather than get involved in the debate about the theology of these sayings I would like us simply to consider them as they are and to contemplate what they say to us in this age about Jesus.

When I became involved in the life of the Church for the very first time, it was to be part of a group of people engaged in writing modern hymns and music. The group was known as Group 96 from Psalm 96, "I will sing a new song to the Lord."

This was a turning point in my life, and one of the very earliest hymns I ever wrote was based around the I Am sayings.

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I Am the Bread of Life

Jesus said I am the bread of life, he that comes to me shall never hunger. He that believes in me shall never thirst. If any man eats of this bread. he shall live forever, he that comes to me I will never turn away.

John 6: 36-37

I would like you to make a list of the five most important things in your life, at this present moment in time. ( If you include your family that will count as one item.)

Hold these five things in your mind. Here are the five most important things for you at this very present moment of time.

Having decided that these are important to you, consider them for a moment one at a time.....  Now taking time, do not act impulsively discard the one you consider the easier to let go of. 

You now hold in your mind the four most important things you hold dear............

Consider them again and lay aside another. You now have the three dearest things you possess.......

Each section of this meditation gets more difficult as you have probably already realised. From three we must now once again set aside another one of the remaining three. 

You are now holding in your mind the two most precious things that you have in life. Of course, I am now going to ask you to choose between those two, setting aside one of the remaining two, leaving you with the one thing you hold most important.

BEHOLD YOUR GOD...........

Taking time to consider what it is that you have held onto as the most precious, the most important. Considering this and giving earnest and serious thought the question that we can ask now is this, is your life in balance?

All of the chosen items have played their part, family, friends your home all of those things are of course very important in all of our lives. But like most things we find important they are transient and impermanent. Some of them may never have to be discarded but they may be taken from you by the very nature of their being.

What it is that stands as the most important thing in your life can be the very thing that enables you to cope with later loss or sadness at parting. What we hold most precious should be the strength, the rock on which we build a life able to cope with the hard times and occasions of all of our lives. 

Nobody ever finds this meditation simple to do. In fact, at times some have argued that the most important thing has got to be the Love of family and friends. Even love holds within it some impermanence. Nothing ever lasts forever except that upon which we build our trust and faith. It is this very thing that rather than diminish enhances the value of all the other things which we hold dear to us. 

Tragically this is for some the very thing that is cast aside early on in the course of this meditative exercise.

Contents

Introduction

Helpnotes

Reflections

A Pale Reflection      1 Cor  13:12

Reflections from a Barstool
Thinking of Self We pass Him By        Matt 25: 44-45

Pools of Love
That Inner Voice        1 Kings 19: 11

A Letter to Isaiah       Isaiah 6
Some Further Thoughts Isaiah

A Journey of Discovery
The Journey Continues

Along The Beach

Questions?
Why Oh Why?     Job 3: 20-23

A Bereft man Called Job

The Peacock
Good Luck? - Bad Luck?      Romans 8: 38

The Woman at the Well

The Still Small Voice
The God of our Creating     Matt 16: 13-14

Iona beach
Every Hair Is Cared For.

The Storms of Life

Changing Seasons
For Everything a Season       Eccles:3

At One with Creation
Let All creation Shout        Rev: 19 1-6

The West Wind
The Winds of Change        Psalms 104; 3-4

A Candle
Light and Dark

The Healing of the Demon-Possessed Man

Looking Back to the Future
Yesterday and Tomorrow       Hebrews 13: 8-9

Two Sacrificial Acts

Be Still and Know
Be Still                   Psalm 46; 10

Four Good Friends.

I Am the Bread of Life      John 6: 36-37

I Am the True Vine            John 15: 5

I Am the Good Shepherd   John 10; 27-28

I Am the Light of the World    John 8: 12

I Am the Way the Truth and the Life  John 14: 6

I Am the resurrection and the Life      John 11: 25

Four Good Friends.

Four Good Friends

You are standing in a room full of people. It is a large room with plain white walls. The floor is made of dry beaten dust. There is only one window and it is placed high up on the wall. The sun is streaming in through this window creating a shaft of light.

The room is packed with people and their feet moving around are causing particles of dust to fill the air, they dance like tiny fireflies in the shaft of light. You are standing against the wall furthest from the only door where there are still a large number of people pressing to enter. It is clear from the movement that although the room seems to be packed there are still many more trying to get in through the door.

You look up again at the shaft of light with the dust catching the rays of the sun. The shaft drops down almost into the centre of the room and there in the light as if in a spotlight stands Jesus.

There is still a push of people and the mumbling of many voices..............

Without any prompting, the room falls silent and all eyes turn towards the man Jesus, he begins to speak to the room of onlookers..........

As you listen to his words you hear another sound and your eyes are once again caught by the shaft of sunlight. it seems to be getting bigger and more dust is visible, now falling thickly down through the light.......

It seems to be increasing in size as your eyes are captivated by it. The hole that is allowing the light to cast its ray is becoming larger as you watch........

At first little by little it enlarges, more and more of the pan-tiles are being removed and you can begin to see hands working to remove even more........

The tiles are now being removed even faster as the hole enlarges. More hands join in removing the tiles and laying them to the side. More and more light fills the room and more dust is being stirred up by the movement of people and the removal of the tiles........

Soon, everybody is becoming aware of what is happening. Those standing in the middle beside Jesus begin to press back and you can feel yourself being pressed closer into the wall........

Then you see that there are four men on the roof and they are about to lower down into the room what looks like a stretcher. Slowly it drops to the floor almost right at the feet of Jesus. On it lies a man, and it looks obvious to all that he has lain on this stretcher for some time. He is thin and looks very dirty and uncared for..........

He seems helpless to move, he looks up and around at the people, and into the eyes of Jesus.........

Jesus, in turn, looks towards him, this poor pathetic looking man. He speaks to the man......

You listen, as does everybody else as you hear him say, "Your sins are forgiven"...........

There is a noise of complaining voices. They are complaining that this man Jesus has the audacity to offer this man forgiveness of sins. Just who does he think he is? Who has given him the authority to forgive sins? 

Jesus looks around the room, he turns looking all around. "Would you rather I would tell this man to get up and walk ?" he says............

Again the mumbling voices get louder...........

Jesus ignores the voices and the complaining and turns his attention once again to the man at his feet lying on a dirty bundle of blankets and sheets..........

You watch and listen, wondering just what is going to happen next?

Jesus says to him, "Get up off your fleapit and walk."............

The man seems astounded but the words of Jesus sound commanding almost condemning. It is obvious they have sunk deep into the mind of the man.........

Slowly, very slowly, but surely he does as told and stands on his feet.........  

Equally slowly he begins to walk..........

Those at the door, step aside and make way for him as he passes through. He passes without comment or word and leaves, the dirty fleapit of a bed left lying at the feet of Jesus........

Again the mumbling commences..........

You look towards Jesus who stands still and silent watching the man as he walks away and out of the room..........

He looks up towards the ceiling at the four men who had lowered him into the room........

There seems to be a knowing look which passes from them to Jesus and back......

There is a contented look on the face of the four friends. It seems that they knew what this friend of theirs needed and where it would be found..........

All eyes are on Jesus as he looks around the room.......

He moves slowly around the room, stopping here and there in front of this person and that. Quietly words are passing from Jesus to people in the room......

He moves towards you....... and he looks straight into your face. Your eyes meet and you wait knowing that he is going to have something important to say to you................

In the silence of this moment hear as he lays his hand on your shoulder and gently speaks to you..........

Look and listen and in the silence of your inner being hear those healing words you need to hear..........

It matters not who you are, or where you are from, there are for us all moments when in the silence we hear words that can make a difference and lift a burden. Those worries that hold us down can be lifted from us as we listen again to the inner words that are precious to us.

Be Still.

Be Still and Know

We spend our days in a constant rush and hurry,
moving from one thing to another.
Never giving thought to how best it might be done.
We spend our lives in clouds of haste 
and it loses all the fun.
There is no time for joy or peace.
From the rising of the sun to the beauty of its setting,
we fail to see the passing hand of time.
Lessons learned of being well
are lost in the hurry of the day.
Through it all, we seldom see,
 that we have lost the way.
So take a moment when you can, 
and let the inner you catch up.
Find the peace that passes all understanding.
Surround yourself, with Chi or He,
your comforter and guide.
For in our rush,
we may lose our path instead.





Be Still  

"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"

Psalm 46: 10

I would like you to picture a scene that we have probably seen in many films during our youth. Here is the explorer, usually a white man, and with them those who are carrying all the equipment of the explorer. The tents, food and all the camping equipment needed on such journeys. I am sure this is a familiar picture.

In most of those films and tales, it is the white man who is the hero of the tale. it is who teaches the lessons and him who makes all of the decisions.

Let us look at this scene a bit more, maybe all is not as simple as it seems. Maybe the others have something to teach them.

The journey is progressing at a pace and the explorer is pushing things along, keen to get on with things. All at once the rest of the party, without asking or seeking permission, stop and sit down all the equipment laid aside. There is much of the day still to travel and the explorer is keen to make haste.

No matter how excited he seems to get, the carriers sit still, very quietly saying nothing and not making any effort to take up their loads and progress.

The explorer after much waving of arms and much shouting and pointing turns to the only one of them who can understand what he is saying and asks why the men are refusing to obey and move onward?

The translator looks at him with a puzzled expression and quietly says, "We have been moving a fast pace all day. It is now time to stop and allow our souls to catch up."

Or as the psalmist says, "Be still and know that I am  God."

We live our lives at a hectic rate of knots as if there was never a single minute to spare. Is it at all surprising that in this modern age more and more people are suffering from mental illness and burn out?

We all have to take some time to allow our inner being to catch up. To steady our lives, take time out to gather ourselves and our thoughts before making haste yet again. 

There is also much to be gained from taking some time to allow the world of beauty around us to once again remind us of the wonder of things beyond ourselves. In all our haste and hurry we are in danger of forgetting that we have a part to play in caring for creation. 

In our rush to find life, we are in danger of losing the very things that make life worth living.

Introduction

Introduction

Having lived a number of years, like many others I have had my high moments and my down times. The highs when things have been going well and everything seems to go as desired. I have also, as have most, had those moments I call, "the dark nights of my inner being," wondering which way to turn and what to do to get myself out of the feeling that nothing I do is going well. Those times when you feel like just giving up and giving in. I have not followed through with this and surrendered to defeat because I have learned to make the inward journey to find again the cornerstone of my life, and have listened once again to the still small voice within.

Isaiah puts it this way, "This is my resting place, let the weary rest," or again "This is the place of repose." 

Isaiah: 28.

Jesus says,

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

Matthew: 11.

The Buddha said,

"Those who are awake will no longer be afraid of nightmares. Those who have recognised the nature of the rope that seemed to be a serpent will cease to tremble."

The  Sermon at Rajagaha.

It is no exaggeration to say that regular times of silent meditation can transform times of despair into new paths of hope. It is not always a comfortable experience because there are times when one has to face up to some honest truths about ourselves. Meditation and silent times of quiet thinking is not some magical panacea that will work overnight. It is worthy of any time spent and any hard thoughts and decisions that are called for because the results are manifold. It brings a sense of contentment and a real awareness of happiness that is seldom found elsewhere.

Some other benefits accrue, such as becoming less critical of others and a less judgemental attitude. I make no promises that it brings a more controlled thinking person, to make that claim I would have to say that I had failed in the process, my mind is as active as ever it has been, it might be more controlled thinking but no less active.

The following pages make no effort to do any deep theological study of biblical texts. What it offers is another way of looking at some of the well-known things that are found in the pages of Christain Scripture, allowing them to speak afresh for you the reader. No attempt, for example, is made to question whether Jesus put forth his hand and calmed the waves, it merely invites you to experience a sense of real calm from the story.

It is an aid to personal search and insight, and help to a closer understanding of the self.

They have in the main come from a time of reflection of my time as Parish Minister. When I left the Ministry I became a Teacher of Philosophy and World Religions. My growth, understanding and considering the meaning and purpose of life did not stop or even slow down so there will be some points in this book where I give some insights from other places that have better helped me on my journey.

This is not a manual of fitness either spiritual or physical. It is merely a collection of what for me have been gems that have brought a sparkle of light to bear. Some facets of the diamond that is my inner thinking.

I offer it humbly and hope it brings some insight as it is read.

Today and Tomorrow

The following was written at the turning of the year. The year is unimportant but that it was written on New Year's Eve probably is.

Looking Back to the Future

We stand at the turning of a minute.

Just one moment in time.

Yet this moment

like no other

is a point of no return.

Time is ever onward in its flow,

we are very aware of the hands that move.

Aware of the tick of the passage of time.

The past takes on new meaning. 

The future holds new hopes.

The sorrows of our yesterdays

become the sadness of our now.

The mistakes haunt us with their hurts and wounds.

The joys touch us briefly, 

and we try to catch them once again,

in the whispered memories of the year now gone.

Part of that bundle that we call life,

what will we take

what will we leave?

As we stand at this momentous point,

let us place into the hands of God,

the bundles with their hurts, 

the sorrows and the joys.

Let God sift and cast away the chaff,

the joy let us retain.

Now know he waits for us once more 

in the tomorrows of our days.

The same yesterday, today and again tomorrow.

Yesterday and Tomorrow

Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever.  Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by ceremonial foods, which are of no value to those that eat them.

Hebrews: 13  8-9

It is a very easy thing to say that the past lies behind us and forgotten, that there is nothing we can do about past mistakes. I am sure we have all heard the words said to us, "Forget it, that is in the past and tomorrow is another day." 

But is that in fact the case? Is it so straightforward a thing to put the past behind us?

The past so often comes back to haunt us in the present. So often just when we thought all of those little nagging things from the past were now laid aside some little chance remark made by another brings it all flooding back.

We all make human errors, nobody is beyond making mistakes. We become very conscientious of them and we might make genuine efforts to put them aside and seek to make amends.  Apologies are made for any harm or hurt caused and it seems that it is now, in fact, something of the past to be forgotten. Then sometime later, when least expected, something is said and all the feelings come flooding back and once again you are made to feel those same hurtful feeling as if it was only yesterday.

The past can haunt us and very easily you can relive the painful experience all over again. Sadly, they are often brought back into the light of day many years after they happened and brought out into the open by the very person who has said you were forgiven and it was a thing of the past.

It is not an easy thing to let go of the past. But it is possible in the spirit of faith to go back with the source of that faith. For many, this will be Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. For others, it may be the Chi or energy of life that has been there and is there at all times.  If you have such a trust in the stillness and calm of a moment of thought go back with that being or energy and allow the healing balm of time to be poured out onto that moment as you let it go.

Deal with it in your inner being and let it go.  It often helps to make a note of this physically on a sheet of paper and to silently read it as you leave it in the past setting fire to the page and letting it flutter off and out of your life.

No longer is this an internal sore that eats away at the core of your being. It has now been removed by that in which you lay your faith or trust.

The past need not niggle at your present or disrupt and spoil your tomorrow but it will not happen just by attempting to suppress it deep within. A definite decision to cast it aside has to be taken. Consign it to the past of history and face the day afresh and renewed.

Two Sacrificial Acts

Two Sacrificial Acts

You are part of a g mainly disciples who are with Jesus. They have gathered in Jerusalem and are now entering an upper room of a dwelling place. As you enter there are a group of women waiting to greet you, they have been preparing the room for the celebration of the Passover meal.

Not far from the door of this upper room there is a large bowl of warm water and drying towels made ready for the ritual of the washing of feet. It is the custom for the host to carry out such an act and everybody is looking around to see who on this occasion is to be the host?

There is a hum of voices going around the room as those gathered are wondering just who is going to perform this act.................

You watch as Jesus reaches out and gathers up one of the towels..............

You watch as he drops to his knees and begins to wash the feet of the first of the gathered group..............

One by one they quietly allow him to perform this task...........

You notice that he does not differentiate from males or females or the order in which the task is carried out.......

Eventually, he arrives at Peter one of those who is obviously one of the closest to Jesus in terms of friendship.............

There seems to be some disagreement between Jesus and Peter and it becomes obvious that he is unhappy about Jesus performing this act for him. At one point he tries to take the towel..........

Jesus insists and washes his feet.............

He then comes to you, and in the same way, washes yours................

He then gently dries them with one of the towels............

You feel humbled, and yet there is a real sense of feeling that you like the others have been accepted and given this ritual act...........

There is a warm feeling that moves through you as you feel accepted...........

Everybody now moves towards the centre of the room and gathers around a low table with many cushions scattered around it.........

Everybody takes a place and all make themselves comfortable ........

There is the sound of happy chatter as all prepare to share this meal............

They are all aware that during this meal there are normally roles played out by some of the participants and they wonder who will play what role.........

Just when you think the meal is to begin one of the women moves over towards Jesus in her hand she holds an alabaster jar.............

She breaks it open and the room fills with a strong aroma from what can be seen to be precious ointment........

She pours some of the contents of the jar onto her hands and very gently massages it over the head and face of Jesus...........

She takes his hands in hers and again massages some of the oil into the palms of his hands, you watch in silence...............

Some of the disciples begin to speak rather loudly complaining that this is a very costly act, not one they should be participating in...............

They murmur about what could have been achieved with the money that such a jar of oil would have cost........

They could have provided food for all present and more from the local market place.......

Jesus turns his attention to them, gently he tells them, "Be still, this woman will be remembered for this act of kindness."....................

He then says something rather strange, he talks of his death.............

There is a silence that fills the room as each looks to him trying to comprehend the meaning of these words..............

In the silence and stillness of this moment think of what she has just done..........

Allow yourself to think to the washing of the feet, see it happening...............

Consider these two sacrificial acts of giving..........

Remember who washed the feet.................

The cost of the ointment and its fragrance.............

Now for a moment consider the wealth of your own life.........

As you contemplate imagine Jesus looking at you and in the look asking you to consider what you do with the possessions of your life..........

Ask yourself if in your life you use your talents and your wealth in the way this woman just has.........

As you remember again the washing of feet, hear the words of Jesus about loving your neighbour and also your enemy...........

Consider in the silence if there is some pride or something that holds you back from acting on behalf of others..........

Jesus washed the feet, Mary gave everything she owned...........

All religions like Christianity ask us to consider what we do with the things that we own. Some warn us against becoming attached to the things we surround ourselves with. Others remind us that in having wrong attitudes to possessions we can bring pain upon ourselves. Jesus asks us to consider who is our neighbour/

A Demon Possessed Man

This account is told as if we are experiencing through the eyes of one of the disciples. Which of the twelve disciples is not important, it is just seeing it from a different angle that can be found in the pages of the New Testament. I have added the question mark to the title not to be in any way controversial, I am inviting questioning of just what did occur that day.

The Healing of the Demon-Possessed Man?

It had been a very calm and peaceful sail we had experienced across the lake towards Gerasenes. The water had indeed been very calm but there was just enough of a breeze to keep the boat moving. The skill of those who had once been fishermen meant that they could keep the sails full of wind and we made steady progress. It was good to have these moments when we were alone, twelve of us and Jesus, with no interruptions from others.

It seemed that we were constantly surrounded wherever we travelled, each in their own way making demands on the attention of Jesus, and often each of us. It never failed to amaze me how calm Jesus stayed under all of the pressure; we often, on the other hand, got short tempered. At times such as this, we often asked what lay in the future for all of us? When Jesus took the time to give us answers we did not always understand just exactly what he was saying and we were left bewildered.

It had been a good sail with lighthearted conversations, the sun was bright in the sky but there had been enough breeze to stop it from becoming uncomfortable.

Then everything changed, as we arrived at the shore Jesus hardly had his foot out of the boat when this thing came screaming from the caves, many of which were used as tombs. I say this thing, in fact, we could see it was, in fact, a human being, a man. At first sight, I had thought it was some kind of animal, a frightening enormous animal. My heart was in my mouth and as I looked at the others they also looked alarmed. The only person unmoved and calm was Jesus. 

I felt sure we were about to be attacked. He was like a screaming dervish, as he yelled and screamed,arms flying all over the place. Alongside the noise, he was making there was the rattling of the many pieces of chains that had, at one time and another, been placed on his arms and legs. It became plain to see many attempts had been made to restrain him but he had broken free. It was very obvious that this man was possessed in some way but it was also clear that this was a very strong and dangerous man.

It was not made any easier when he hurtled towards us at great speed. We all looked as if we were making ready for trouble. So I am sure you can imagine the surprise when he threw himself on the ground in front of Jesus begging him to leave him alone.

He yelled at the top of his voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus Son of the Most High? Swear that you will not torture or torment me."

I looked towards this man and then to Jesus and asked myself who was the most likely to be the torturer?

Jesus turned towards him and said, "Come out of this man, evil spirit!" He then spoke to him again and asked his name. The man responded, "Legion, for we are many."  Or something to that effect. It was a very strange almost weird conversation. 

He certainly seemed to have the strength of many, but yet he did just look like one very mad man.

There did seem to be some kind of understanding passing between him and Jesus. What happened next was even stranger. Some sort of discussion took place between Jesus and this man.

Now the next thing that happened was either part of this ongoing event or some kind of coincidence, but a herd of pigs came hurtling down a steep bank and straight into the lake we had just left. We all stood mesmerised as we watched them all drown. One minute they were there, the next minute they were not.

I turned from watching this to look again towards the mad man, only to see that he was no longer a mad man. he was sitting as calm as you can imagine holding a conversation with Jesus as if they were long lost, friends. It was very difficult to comprehend just what had happened in the last moments.

The events of the day were not yet over. Some of the men who had been in the field with the herd of pigs were running towards as fast as their legs would carry them.  Whether there had been any connection between the healing of the man and the drowning of the pigs or not, what I was sure of was it was time for us to depart the scene. This feeling was only strengthened when I heard talk of demons and pigs.

Soon almost the total population of the town were there beside us and the place was abuzz with questions. There were those who seemed happy for the man that he had somehow calmed down and seemed very normal. There were those who were more annoyed about what had happened to the pigs and the first noises of us being in some way to be the cause.

We were asked, if not ordered, to leave. I for one thought this sounded like a wise decision and the sooner the better. Some of the locals spoke kindly to us advising us to leave.

We headed towards our boat, which we had so recently left. We clambered aboard and those experts in such matters made ready the sails. Jesus was the last to make a move to climb aboard, he was still conversing with some of the people. As he boarded, the man who had been yelling and screaming quietly asked Jesus if he could join them in the boat. It was very obvious to all that he was pleased to regain his lost sanity. Jesus spoke firmly, "No, you return to your family and share with them what has happened to you."

His head dropped but he did as Jesus had asked him. He set off for home leaving behind his cave. How I would have loved to be there when he entered his home and they saw him. I imagined much celebration in that household that night.

This story can be seen on many levels. It can be viewed as Jesus performing a miracle cure, and there could very well be truth in that belief. It could be seen as an account of Jesus bringing calm and peace to a distraught human being, that of itself is something not to be undermined. There is also the message of the instructions of Jesus firmly but quietly given, sometimes our first priority is to our families. We must learn where our priorities are.