'Them and Us' - Weekly Reflection 10th August 2025

When the music stops would you all please sit down.  And a chair will be removed every time the music strikes up again. Let’s see who gets to sit in the remaining chair.

A game I am certain you have played at some time, Musical Chairs.

It seems to me at the moment this is the sort of game we are playing across the world. People moving around not just in their own country but across the world.

Many have little choice because they are displaced internally or externally most often by war and violence.  

2024 saw a continuing rise in global displacement, with at least 117.3 million people forced to flee their homes, including nearly 43.4 million refugees, around 40% of whom are under the age of 18. These vast movements of peoples, and the associated costs and disruptions, can cause significant problems in host countries.

And we have seen those ‘problems’ being manifested on the streets of the UK this week with several ‘protests’ around the country. Sadly, these play directly into the hands of right wing popularist, like Reform UK.

In the justice system new laws and revision of existing laws are being put into place that will increase the number of foreign nationals being deported.

Foreign criminals will be deported immediately when they receive a custodial sentence, the Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has pledged.

The changes would apply to prisoners serving fixed term “determinate” sentences, and authorities would retain their power not to deport a criminal but instead keep them in custody, for example, if the offender was planning further crimes against the UK’s interests or national security.

“Our message is clear,” Ms Mahmood said. “If you abuse our hospitality and break our laws, we will send you packing.”

This all appears to be a good way forward as in the ordinary course foreign nationals are deported when they have served 50% of their sentence, the new law will just bring that forward.

However, some of the rhetoric from the Conservative shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick feeds into the narrative of some of those ‘protesting.’  Jenrick said: “In Starmer’s topsy turvy world investors are fleeing the country in their droves while record numbers of violent and sexual offenders from abroad are put up in our prisons. It’s a farce. “The safety of the British public is infinitely more important than the ‘rights’ of sick foreign criminals.

That’s what I heard several ‘protesters’ saying when they were interviewed. That they don’t feel safe largely because of the increase in migrants whom they deem to be responsible for an increase in the level of crime.

That sought of language ought to be a cause for concern. Now I am not naïve about the huge problems faced both in the UK and across the world as people play this international game of musical chairs.

However, scapegoating and finding an ‘common enemy’ on which to put all our ills and troubles is very dangerous. We only need to have a cursory glance at history to show how toxic this can quickly become.

As Christians I think we need to sit deeply into our Scripture in two particular ways.

It is not that difficult to see that the heart of God is to draw all people to Himself creating a universal family. On Tuesday next I am taking a Service at Knox Court and will be exploring Mathew 15.21-28, the story of the Syrophoenician woman, the one that Jesus referenced as a ‘dog.’ Taken out of context this is not a good story. However, put within its context, literally where Matthew has placed this incident and what happens following this story, it is very obviously a story of the journey to the all-embracing and universal nature of God calling a peculiar people outside of ethnic Israel. Note who was part of the ‘great crowd’ that gathered around and note the feeding of the four thousand that nearly all commentators agree was made up of largely Gentiles, unlike the feeding of the five thousand being ethnic Israelites.

Our identity in Christ takes precedence over our ethnic identity.   

There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3.28. (See also Isaiah 56.1-8)

And this from Paul who as ‘Saul’ sought to eradicate followers of ‘The Way’ whom he saw as apostates to the Jewish faith, and Jewish identity.  

The other major theme throughout Scripture also leans into the feeding of both the five thousand and the feeding of the four thousand. That of scarcity or abundance.

Out of which do we operate?  Do we really trust that God can and will provide for all our needs. Or are we scared that there will not be enough for everyone.

These are not easy times to live through, and we need to be cautious and careful in our conversations and not to jump too quickly to the ‘blame game.’ We ought to prayerful and careful about how we study the Scriptures, guided by the Holy Sprit seeking to discern the will and way of God in this our generation.

And here is a final thought from Edwin Markham and his poem Outwitted.

He drew a circle that shut me out—
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But Love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle that took him in!

“Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.” 1 John 4.20

https://youtu.be/2MblrWZDpPQ?si=-ebR6tYazfuhE-xO

'Serious About Play' - Weekly Reflection 3rd August 2025

'Shaun the Sheep’ has a cousin named Timmy who is young lamb and member of the flock and often finds himself in chaotic situations. (There is also a spin off called ‘Timmy Time’ where Timmy and his friends have various adventures. One key thing you quickly learn about Timmy is that he has a teddy bear to which he is devoted and in one episode when ‘teddy’ goes missing. No amount of cuddles or persuasion will make Timmy settle down for the night and go to sleep.

 Last week we spent the day with our grandchildren, James and William, now six-year-old. They both have favourite toys and ‘cuddlee’s’ – one of James’ is Princes Peach. (Mario) Time for bed and Princess Peach was nowhere to be found despite a desperate search around the house and through the toy box, she was not to be found, and we had one very sad little boy. Then the thought occurred to me, I had noticed James playing on his bike and on the back of his bike is a little box. Down into the garage and a look in the box and there she was, squished up in the little box. James and Princess Peach happily reunited.

Anyone who has been around me for some time knows how much I adore our grandchildren. I love playing games with them.  And children love adults joining in with their games. (The real charm of ‘Bluey’ is parents engaging and playing daft games with their children, Bluey and Bingo) *

Being holiday time the boys came over on Wednesday last which was a fine day. We spent the morning in town, and some time playing in the park. Then after lunch as we sat outside one of the boys decided he would help grandad and water the plants. He filled up the big red watering can and then found he couldn’t lift it. I am just watching this and seeing where it was going. Together the two boys managed to pick up the watering can, with water sploshing out, and then water some of the plants. I don’t know quite how but it all very quickly became chaotic and very wet when I joined in to help them. They decided I needed watering and it ended up with us all being very wet, and – well you get the idea! Fortunately, Nana was able to find them some dry clothes.

Why do I mention this, because playing is serious fun…  

The Raising the Nation Play Commission, a year-long independent inquiry into why play is critical to the wellbeing and development of children, and how it can be restored to every childhood in England published its final report on June 11th (International Day of Play.) ‘Everything to Play For: A Plan to Ensure Every Child in England Can Play’.

I would also argue that not only is playing good for children it is also great for adults to join in with the fun.  It bothers me a lot when you see parents glued to their phones and not interacting with their children. I think every grandparent will tell you that those precious childhood years, that can seem at the time to be for ever and sometimes deeply challenging, but they pass in a heartbeat. And you can’t have that time back, you are unable to turn the clock back as much as you would wish you could.

There is of course a much darker and sadder side to all of this. Those who get some perverted pleasure out of harming or abusing children. Those children such as we see in Gaza and in many other places who face trauma beyond our imaginings.

And, in the UK it is estimated that three in every ten children live in poverty. Many more are caught up in modern slavery, often in the sex industry.

One of the things about ‘Bluey’ is the play acting in which mum and dad join in. Children have such a wonderful imagination and require little prompting to get involved and take things to all sorts of levels.  Big cardboard boxes can become rockets, cars and boats.

And so yes, we are grieved to the heart about children deprived of opportunities to play, which is part of the findings of the report mentioned above.

However, if we have the opportunity then let us play with our children. Yes there will be times when they need to play alone, certainly as they get older and you tire more easily!

And yes that may be the time when as we sometimes do, we all flop down together to watch something on TV but never allowing that to dominate.

There is a curious little story in Mark 7.24-30 and Matthew 15.21-28, about Jesus going to Tyre and Sidon.  We often focus on the Syrophoenician woman and Jesus’ encounter with her. But with a bit of imagination could this have been Jesus taking the disciples off for a Mediterranean beach holiday away from it all up on the Northwest coast. It was some distance, around thirty-five miles from Galilee.

Is this Jesus taking some R&R with his disciples.  Can you allow yourself to imagine Jesus skimming stones, playing leapfrog along the beach, evening BBQs.  Well, if not, park your ‘all the time serious Jesus’ and enjoy imagining Jesus having some fun and playing.

And then we do know that Jesus had a fondness for children even if the very ‘serious adults’ wanted them not to bother him for which they earned a rebuke.

^‘When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to  me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.’

However, let me say that I have no rose-coloured spectacles when it comes to children. I know only too well about their tantrums, their noise and their smelliness at times!

And yes, children need to be schooled and disciplined, to know boundaries and what is and what isn’t acceptable behaviour.  In ministry I developed a skill set and equipment to run Games Session for children, young people and sometimes all age family gatherings.  Very often I looked for or designed games that had an underlying lesson that could be learned.  (As most ‘team games’ do as of a natural) I often said that I wasn't just playing games.  

When I was a boy I didn’t have Lego but a cheaper alternative ‘Betta Builder.’  It is amazing that Lego has gone on to become such a phenomenon for all ages and it is interesting to note that Lego is Danish for ‘Play Well.’

I hope that if you have an opportunity this summer you will “leg godt” – play well!

And let us always remember that we are all children of God and no longer slaves to fear and that includes the fear of looking foolish as you join in with the play. 

 https://youtu.be/HUjDwIw5ih0?si=4AgwygUpKbyF821D    

P.S.

St. Thérèse of Lisieux

“I rejoice to be little, because only children and those who are like them will be admitted to the heavenly banquet.”

This quote from St. Thérèse of Lisieux sums up her whole life and her teaching. The “Little Flower”, as she is known, spent her brief but full life striving to be little. This message of “littleness” is so important that she was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope St. John Paul II. Her teaching goes to the very heart of the Gospel and has something to say to each one of us today.

* Researchers watched 150 episodes of Bluey. Here’s what they found | The Independent https://share.google/gzwdr78HHIrlCl2aF 

'Enough is Enough!'

 Refelction on Luke 11.1-13

There is a curious and puzzling story in the opening chapters of Genesis about Cain and Abel and bringing an offering before God.

With no obvious reason given God accepts Abel’s offering but rejects that of Cain.  Cain is bitter and angry, and the story takes a very dark turn when Cain murders his brother.

One take on this grim story is that Cain had a choice and could have mastered his anger towards his brother. Although God looked with favour on Abel’s offering there is nothing to suggest that God had nothing to offer Cain.

This sets in motion a theme of operating either out of scarcity or out of abundance that runs throughout the Scriptures.

Remember the Israelites during the Exodus and Yahweh providing manna from heaven, giving them their daily bread.

And Luke is presenting Jesus as a Moses type figure leading a new Exodus releasing people from the slavery of sin and death. His own blood will be the all sufficient sacrifice painted on the doors of our hearts.

And repeatedly in his teaching Jesus invites us to live in the place of abundance and not scarcity.

Invites us to grasp that as fathers we would not offer a snake instead of fish, or a scorpion instead of an egg.

 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Thus, we pray, ‘give us today our daily bread.’

And that is the key and the challenge.

Are we able to live in the place of abundance and not scarcity.

Not to follow the path of Cain in thinking there is not enough for everyone.

To begin to store up ‘daily bread’ not just for today but for the day after that and even the months and years after that.

The very simple fact is that there is enough food, enough daily bread across the world that no one should be dying of starvation.

The real issue that Jesus challenges us on is a fair distribution.

Storing up and not having faith enough to believe that God will provide for my needs leads to others not having their daily bread.

It is a tough call, because most of our Western economy is based around a model of scarcity, of there not being enough.

When a rich person was asked how much money they needed the response was, ‘always a pound more than I already have.’

But this ‘storing up of treasures’ on earth leads to stress, violence and war, just as much as it did when Cain rose up and killed his brother.

Dare we pray for God’s will be done, on earth as in heaven.

Can we possibly begin to live, however falteringly, with a mind set of abundance and not scarcity.

Are we really able to trust that God will provide for all our needs to met?

Could we even go a step further and work towards everyone receiving their daily bread.

Not only to pray the Lord’s Prayer but to give ourselves totally to work towards its realisation.

To seek for God’s Kingdom to come upon earth with a mindset of abundance that needs to be shared fairly.   

Let us pray…

O Saviour Christ, in whose ways of love lays the secret of all life, and hope of all people, we pray for quiet courage to match this hour. We did not choose to be born or to live in such an age; but let its problems challenge us, its discoveries exhilarate us, its injustices anger us, its possibilities inspire us, and its vigour renew us. Pour out upon us a fresh indwelling of the Holy Spirit; make us bold and courageous in sharing faith in both word and deed for your Kingdom’s sake. Amen

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

'Actualizing the Lord's Prayer' - Sermon Transcript St Bartholomew's Binley 27th July 2025

 

(Hosea 1:2-10) Luke 11.1-13

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

The John here it is safe to assume is John the Baptizer - and wouldn’t we like to know what John taught his disciples to pray.

And has that every struck you as a rather odd request.

After all these were Jewish men who knew and heard prayers and recited prayers from childhood. They also had the Psalms and many other writings and Scripture.

What was it they were asking for – how to pray or what to pray for or an admixture of both.

What they got was what has become known and formalised as the Lord’s Prayer.

Matthew offers a slightly longer version.

The doxology, “For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and for ever” which is not in the Scriptures, is a bit of a rabbit hole, especially as to its use by the Roman Catholic Church.  

However, it was used in the early Church as evidenced by its mention in the Didache,  known as the “Teaching of the Twelve Apostles” and was written in  later first or early second century (Didache 8, 2).

Added to which St. Paul uses doxologies in Roman 16:27 and 1 Timothy 1:17. Such doxologies were a common way to culminate ancient Jewish prayers, e.g., Psalm 41: 1 “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen.”

Another question is to whether Jesus was offering a framework or a prayer to be used as it is, much as we do today.

The danger with this is that it could become viewed as a sort of magic talisman. Say this pray and you will get this result – a type of prayer slot machine.

Over the years there have been very many books written exploring the Lord’s Prayer.

One of the latest is by the Archbishop of York published in October 2024 – ‘The Lord’s Prayer for Everyone.’

And of course, we have had the ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ initiative now running for ten years with an unexpected growth on a global scale.

The Lord’s Prayer is the prayer that keeps on giving.

With this wealth of material there is little that I could add or say that hasn’t already been said.

However, I would like us to think about where Luke has placed this prayer in his Gospel account.

(Matthew places it in the block of teaching known as ‘The Sermon on the Mount.’)

Matthews does mountains and Luke does roads.

In Luke’s account this story take place as Jesus is set resolutely on his way to Jerusalem, covering chapters nine to nineteen.

This prayer in Luke 11 appears to act as a kind of summation of all that precedes it, particular Jesus’s view of the Kingdom of God. 

Over the last three weeks we have been exploring Luke chapter 10.

This begins with the sending out of the seventy or seventy-two to all the towns and villages he planned to visit on his way to Jerusalem.

The peculiarity of the seventy or in some renderings seventy-two alerts us to an incident recorded in Numbers which would suggest Luke is framing Jesus as a Moses type figure. 

Number 11.16-17…

 The Lord said to Moses: “Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the tent of meeting, that they may stand there with you. I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone.

However, we read on about another two on whom the Spirit fell…

However, two men, whose names were Eldad and Medad, had remained in the camp. They were listed among the elders but did not go out to the tent. Yet the Spirit also rested on them, and they prophesied in the camp. (verse 26ff)

Luke portrays Jesus leading a new Exodus and creating a new people of God who will abide by a new covenant. 

And this new people of God will go beyond ethnic Israel and be marked by love and compassion for everyone.

This is in essence what we find in Luke 10 and the story of what we have come to refer to as the Parable of the Good Samaritan.

And there is an urgency in the message Jesus is bringing. There is no time to mess about, there is stark and important choice to make.

Remember that Luke reframes the oppressive Egyptians who brought enslavement and death to the occupying Romans who have also enslaved the Jews and brought death and destruction.

And Jesus notes three ways that people have responded.

Either in collusion, or in compromise or in open rebellion. 

Jesus offers another way on his journey to Jerusalem that will culminate in his death and resurrection.

By which means he will powerfully demonstrate that the power of love conquers the love of power. 

Advocating that the Kingdom of God is here, it has come amongst us.

‘Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.’

I sometimes invite people to change the words, ‘on earth’ to their own town or village, their own Faith Community, their family or even themselves.

‘On earth’ can become vague and even meaningless.

However, bringing it down to asking what the Kingdom of God might look like in my community can literally bring it down to earth.

And the Kingdom of God, or the Reign and Rule of God, looks like people honouring God’s name. Not saying OMG for example would be a good start.

We are having such a tussle with out six-year-old grandchildren who have picked this up from school.

The Kingdom of God also looks like my being satisfied with my daily bread.

Remember the story of the Israelites in the desert and the provision of daily manna.

If I don’t trust that God will provide, which is what is being pointed out in the other verses we read from Luke 11, then we may endeavour to get bread not only for today but also store some up for tomorrow.

Building bigger barns and putting up fences around them and then going to war if we suspect someone might want to come and steal from us.

This is operating out of a scarcity model rather than an abundace model. It's not that there isn't enough food in the world to feed everyone, its a fair distribution that is the problem. 

And operating out of a scarcity model means that others will not have their own daily bread because we have taken it ourselves.

Some of those washing up on our shores are peoples whom historically we have stolen from in our grand empire building days.

For that we need to seek forgiveness, to be forgiven and to forgive others.

And then we need to be careful about the ploys of the evil one who seeks to destroy and whisper that God is unable to provide for all of our needs.

And in here is sound wisdom, ‘lead us not into temptation.’  Well, if you find you have a weakness or some habit that causing you to sin Jesus’s teaching is to cut it off or take it out, referring to hands and eyes. Now I don’t suspect that Jesus is speaking literally here but is using hyperbole to get the point across. Remember that the thought is father to the deed.    

‘For the Kingdom, the power and the glory are yours…’

We naturally assume this is addressed to God – however I think Luke would say that at that time it was Rome who was claiming to rule, to bring glory and wield the power and authority – bringing in the Pax Romana - but at a cost.

And that’s the stark and urgent choice – either Caeser is Lord or Jesus is Lord.

As it has been said, 'if Jesus is not Lord of all, then he is not Lord at all.' 

Therefore, we ask who might be the Rome of today, what Caaser’s are stomping around, bullying and promising to bring a certain kind of peace and order if we would only fall into line and accept their rule?

But note, we are reminded that the Kingdom of God, the reign and rule of God and the glory of God have always been and will always be – ‘now and forever’.

Revelation 21 puts the full realisation of the Lord’s Prayer in beautiful picture language.

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.  

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. 

They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Until that moment we are to be like those sent out by Jesus, proclaiming the Kingdom of God in both word and deed, encouraging everyone to honour God’s name and to seek His will and way, looking to Him for daily provision and living as forgiven and forgiving people.  

To not only pray the Lord’s Prayer but work for its actualization.

______________________________________________________

There are a lot of versions of the Lord's Prayer, and a lot of beautiful sung renditions, but I just love the joy and vibrancy of this version...

https://youtu.be/foWzC2Kqz5Y?si=fPvecAmMPQkYFAWN  

 

 

'Why are you?' - Weekly Reflection 20th July 2025

In one of the many memorable scenes from the film ‘Oh! What a Lovely War,’ * wounded soldiers have arrived back in ‘Blighty’ and are awaiting onward passage to various hospitals.  The film is interspersed with songs popularised at the time, many with a dark gallows humour.  As they wait at a London train station a song begins to emerge with the lyrics being simple and repetitive, reflecting on the futility of war.   “We’re here because we’re here because we’re here because we’re here. We’re here because we’re here because, we’re here because we’re here,” Sung to the tune of ‘Auld Lang Syne.’

In 1 Kings 19, we read the story of Elijah and the contest with the prophets of Baal. And in verses 9 and 13 we hear God address Elijah and ask him this question, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Now that is a good question to tuck in our back pockets and think about regularly.

(If you want to explore this question then I can highly recommend ‘Invitation to Silence and Solitude’ by Ruth Haley Barton.’

And when should we be asking that question, ‘what am I doing here’ – or perhaps to make it more pertinent, ‘what am I doing here for God’s sake.’

It may seem rather odd, but I have often pondered on why a bird suddenly takes flight from sitting on a fence or in a tree. What makes them decide to do that, or is there no decision involved, purely natural reflexes. A life lived around reproduction and survival.

This leads us into asking philosophical questions about the cognitive behaviour of the human species.

Are we merely atoms bouncing around randomly like a giant pin ball machine.

Or do we have purpose and agency to determine our course of action?

Well for many of those young men fighting in WW1 there was little or no choice. The external circumstances beyond their control brought things about to the point where they ended up wounded and waiting on a London train station to go to hospital.

It was the stoic philosophers who pondered this and came up with a school of thought about our choosing how to react especially to external circumstances beyond our control.

At the heart of Stoic philosophy lies the concept of understanding what is within our control and what is not. According to Stoics, only our own actions, thoughts, and feelings are under our direct control. External events, the actions of others, and the past or future, are outside this sphere. Recognizing this distinction helps individuals focus their energy and attention on what they can influence, thereby fostering a sense of empowerment and serenity.

Victor Frankl's seminal book ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’ is Frankl’s account of his time in the Nazi concentration camp. His insights into our ability to find meaning despite great adversity has offered solace and guidance to generations of readers since it was first published in 1946. He speaks of watching the light of hope dissapear from men's eyes and knowing that in a few days they would be dead.

So, when should you ask the question, what am I doing here?

Well, as those who confess faith in God mediated through Jesus and empowered by the Spirit, as those who believe that God’s plans and purposes are being worked out primarily through human agency, surely that question is to be asked wherever we find ourselves and whatever we find ourselves doing, ‘regardless of the circumstances’ we might find ourselves in.

However, those ‘circumstances’ might have left us beaten, broken, bruised and battered, as they had for Elijah. But read 1 Kings 19 carefully and prayerfully and you will notice how God met with Elijah, how God gently restored Elijah, how God recommissioned Elijah.

(If you want a good succinct study on life application for today check this out. Study 7 WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE, ELIJAH? - Words of Life Ministries CIO)

Peter, like Elijah, was restored and recommissioned, and in so doing Jesus spoke these words, “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.”  John 21.18.

We may not have a choice on where we go but we always have a choice on our response and can say to God as Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane, ‘your will be done,’   or God, in his love and graciousness says to us, ‘your will be done.’

The choice is always yours and always mine to make.

For God’s sake, for the world’s sake and for your own sake, make sure that it’s the right choice!

For God is working his purpose as year succeeds to year and offers us an invitation to particpate...

https://youtu.be/yb75RsKBKvI?si=iBpDuG9rr0Gz03Jb

(And this is a very interesting version of this hymn classic!)

 

* Oh! What a Lovely War is a 1969 British epic comedy historical musical war film directed by Richard Attenborough

 

 

 

 

'Mind your head' - Weekly Reflection 13th July 2025

 

‘What yer bumpin yer noggin on?’

Not literally, like a low hanging branch, although that is also a real danger for me as I run or cycle along the canal tow path, but what things seem to keep bubbling up that have something of a theme developing.

I try to be alert to such things and ask if it is something God is trying to teach me.

Recently for me it has been about pioneers and settlers.  A well known and classic example would be the European expansion of the Americas. (Not making any value judgments on the rights and wrongs of this colonisation)

Initially Europeans stayed on the coastline and only later began to explore deeper inland.

To venture into unknown territory took a special kind of person, a pioneer. Someone who was curious about what lay on the other side of that mountain, or the far side of that valley.  They carved out a path for others to follow and then for them to settle. This symbiotic relationship between the pioneer and the settler is in the warp and weft of human society.  Both are necessary for flourishing.

For those of a certain age you might remember the musical Oklahoma and the song, ‘The cowboy and the farmer should be friends, one likes to chase a cow and one like to push a plough…’

Last Friday (11^th July) was the Feast Day of St Benedict, the Father of Western Monasticism.  (480-547) One things Benedict had no time for was for wandering monks going from monastery to monastery. This was referenced during a session on ‘Community’ as part of our ‘Practising the Way Course.’   The Course — Practicing the Way

One of the vows monks make is to stay in one monastery until they die!

And yet we are called to apprentice under Jesus of whom we read ‘had no place to lay his head.’  (Matt 8.20)

And what would we say to Paul, who certainly travelled huge distances.

Then we have the celebrated peregrini, the Irish monastic exiles who left Ireland for Britain and continental Europe from the sixth century onwards.  Very much part of the culture of the West Country and in fact a peregrine falcon forms part of the diocesan emblem for the Diocese of Truro. (Peregrine means tending to wander, and comes from Latin peregrinus, meaning "foreign" or "pilgrim".)

So, which is it, to stay or to wander?

I have also listened to another podcast from the ‘Leaving Egypt’  series (and there’s another fascinating story about Israel, wanderers and pilgrims and then becoming settlers with everything firmly established around Jerusalem and the Temple.)  

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4SsSsbG2VcwxWIrMp4b4v2?si=015bc456b2ba4359

Reuben Slife tells a story of settling down in a small town in Ohio in America, a town that once was big and busy with heavy industry that has subsequently gone. Reuben talks of staying and settling rather than ‘getting on his bike and going to look for work.’ (A quote from the late Norman Tebbit who died recently) Because moving breaks up community and negates establishing roots and relationships.

Our family know something of the challenge and stress of regular moving, especially during school years for our children. As a Church Army Evangelist (Church of England Lay Minister) we travelled the length and breadth of the UK.

This is a reflection in every sense of that word, and I am still chewing over all of this and pondering about it all. Staying and building community and investing in where we are in this atomised and transient world we live in certainly has a huge appeal.

And I also reminded of the story about ‘letting down your bucket.’  This was story told to me by an American friend, Bill Heflin whom I got to know while living in Newmarket. The story comes from Booker T. Washington who delivered a speech in which he told a powerful story of a ship lost at sea for many days. The sailors on board this distressed vessel were without hope, exhausted from hunger, and dehydrated to the point of death. Finally, someone spotted a boat far away. A signal was sent from the lost ship: “Water, water. We die of thirst.”

The other ship signalled back, “Cast your bucket where you are.”

The sailors were confused. Their signal was obviously being misinterpreted. They tried again. “Water, send us water.” The same response was delivered: “Cast your bucket where you are.” The men were beside themselves with frustration. “We’re going to die of thirst because these people don’t understand what we’re trying to say!” Desperate, they signaled again. Same response. Then a fourth and final time. Same response.

Finally, the captain of the lost ship said, “I don’t understand what it means, but we’ll die if we don’t try.” He took a bucket and let it down into the ocean. When he brought it up, the captain couldn’t believe his eyes. The bucket was filled with sparkling, fresh water! What he did not know was that he was very near the mouth of the Amazon River, which deposits fresh water far into the ocean. What these sailors had needed all along was right under them. Their thirst was satisfied.

Two final comments. 

Remember the people of Israel wandering through the desert.  ^'In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted. So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels. -Exodus 40:36-38

And to those in exile Jeremiah writes, ^‘But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. Jeremiah 29.7.’

We move at God's prompting and wherever we are we seek to settle and invest in that place. 

And above all I love the sentiments in this song that no matter where we are when we get up in the morning or where we lay our head at night we can all drink deeply rich draughts of live giving water from the well of God’s love. (cf. John 4)

Therefore, where ever you are it is time to go to the well and let your bucket down...

https://youtu.be/ufeGQidJ0bI?si=8gI148cYWdG6-D7g

 

 

 

 

  

 

“Curiouser and curiouser!” - Weekly Reflection 6th July 2025

Where do butterflies go when its wet?  That was today’s question, not from our grandchildren who have been with us for the weekend, but from my own curious mind.

This was prompted because our small array of growing vegies are attracting a lot of butterflies. With today’s downpour it was a natural question to ask.  And at six-years-old the boys are also asking a lot of questions.  We try and answer as honestly and in the most straightforward manner we can.  Plus, we name all sorts of things and try and explain their function. For example, in the kitchen, what is this for? That’s a trivet and it used for putting hot things on so that they do not burn the top surface on the cupboards.

In the shed and garden tools, explaining all the basic tools I have and their function. I imagine they will forget most of this, but hopefully over time they will pick these things up and they will be stored in their memory bank.

Then as we were watching Rosie and Jim (another thing grandparents do, introduce your grandchildren to all those ‘classics,' Thunderbirds, Supercar, etc.) This episode of Rosie and Jim featured a ‘life-lesson’ about firefighters with them visiting a school and showing their skills.  Key of course was knowing what to do in case of an emergency, phone 999.  My question to my daughter, ‘this was when we had land lines, what happens with mobiles?’   Look at your phone dad and you will see every phone has an ‘emergency call feature’ that doesn’t require a pass code to access the phone.  The boys have been taught this to access an emergency call and then to phone 999.  And you can also add an ICE (in case of emergency) number on there as well. Today’s life lesson for me and an ICE number added!

On Tuesday evening we hosted our regular Connect Group (Home Group) as we continued our exploration of Practising the Way. A comment from the ‘teaching’ was that some people have a closed mind and others have an open mind. An open mind that is always curious, never pulls up the drawbridge, always asks questions and is on a quest to know more and more and more.  

I have been listening to a series of podcasts called ‘Philosophize This!’ – as you can guess this explores philosophy and follows the development of philosophy through the ages. I find it fascinating that an underlying tow in all the philosophies is the need to have an open enquiring mind.

Probably best known is Socrates and a quote attributed to him, "The unexamined life is not worth living."  This carries a profound meaning that invites us to examine our own existence and choices. Socrates believed that a life devoid of introspection, self-reflection, and critical thinking is essentially meaningless and lacks value. 

The Apostle Paul recognised this pursuit by Greeks philosphers, but for him, following this particular path, would not lead to true wisdom and knowledge about the human condition and living the best life. 

1 Corinthians 1.20-25 ' Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

In context I get what Paul is saying, but he manifestly was someone with an 'open mind' otherwise he would never have embraced and proclaimed Jesus as Messiah.  This cannot be about not having an enquiring mind. 

And there is an awful lot that the Scriptures have to say about ‘Lady Wisdom.’ 

A simple reflection this week (it has been a fun and yet exhausting weekend!) and a simple challenge. Are you constantly curious, always asking questions, always seeking to learn and know more about all sorts of things.  

Do you look at things and wonder why, how, who?  I remember on honeymoon in the Southwest and stopping the car when I saw a man sat by one of those boxes that register traffic. I went and asked him how it worked. In those days it was pneumatic pressure that registered vehicles passing over the tube.

And butterflies – they shelter in nooks and crevices and occasionaly under broad leaves from wet weather - a good reason to build bug hotels!

Now, do you know why they are called butterflies?

 

 Appendix

The Elephant's Child - by Rudyard Kipling (From ‘Just So Stories’ 1902)

 

I Keep six honest serving-men:

       (They taught me all I knew)

     Their names are What and Where and When

       And How and Why and Who.

     I send them over land and sea,

       I send them east and west;

     But after they have worked for me,

       I give them all a rest.

 

     I let them rest from nine till five.

       For I am busy then,

     As well as breakfast, lunch, and tea,

       For they are hungry men:

     But different folk have different views:

       I know a person small—

     She keeps ten million serving-men,

       Who get no rest at all!

     She sends ‘em abroad on her own affairs,

       From the second she opens her eyes—

     One million Hows, two million Wheres,

       And seven million Whys!