Drowning in the storm

There's a legend of a man who lives beneath the sea. He is a fisher of men, a last hope for those who are left behind.

The Guardian (2006) staring Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher tells the story of a veteran coastguard. It starts with the above thought provoking quote of a mystical figure who helps those who are drowning to reach the surface.

We don't need water to drown. Life can drown us, or so it seems. Sometimes the waves are big and fierce crashing down around us leaving us gasping for breath. Sometimes the storm seems relentless. We can only tread water at best. We pray for help. We pray some more. Nothing seems to change or even give. The storm continues. Life continues but not perhaps as we would like or want it.

But Jesus is still there amongst the waves and in the storm and his love for us never changes.

God is our refuge and strength,

An ever-present help in times of trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way

And the mountains fall into the heart of the sea

Though its waters roar and foam

And the mountains quake with their surging.

He says, 'be still and know that I am God'...

The Lord Almighty is with us;

The God of Jacob is our fortress.

(Psalm 46:1-3, 10a, 11 NIV)

Remember the account of Jesus sleeping in the bottom of the boat (Mat 8:23-27) whilst the disciples worried about the storm. Then Jesus calmed the storm and everything was still once more.

In the midst of the storm Jesus says to us... 'Be still and know that I am God.'

 

Eyes to see what is beautiful

I have a few people with pastoral needs on my heart this week. As I wrote this I was thinking not only of my need to stop for a moment but also of a young man who went into hospital on Monday for an eye operation - for new eyes!

Lord, open my eyes to see what is beautiful.

To cherish the moment of every new day.

Lord, open my ears to hear as for the first time

The dawn chorus of birds and quietness of morning.

Lord, open my heart to love those I meet.

To offer my hand in friendship and truth.

Lord, open my mind to know what is your will.

The desire to follow you every step of the way.

Let me not be too hasty, too noisy, too busy,

To make time to embrace you.

Lord, open my mouth and help me to praise you.

Revdjo 2013

World Book Day

It is World Book Week today so I thought I would share what I have been reading. The Nations Favourite Poems (1996: BBC Books) came about as a result of a poll to discover the nations favourite poem and coincided with National Poetry Day in 1995. I have enjoyed reminding myself of some childhood favourites such as Jabberwocky by Lewis Carol, and The Owl and the Pussy-Cat by Edward Lear. (Once a cat lover always a cat lover.) Last night I read Stop all the Clocks (Twelve Songs IX or 'Funeral Blues') by W.H. Auden and heard it in the voice of John Hannah who played Matthew in Four Weddings and a Funeral. However, the poem that most spoke to me last night, continuing my recent blogging thinking of stopping, resting, and looking, is this one: 

Leisure by W H Davies

What is this life if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs

And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,

Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,

Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to wait till her mouth can

Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this, if full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.  

Comic capers, superheros, and God

I loved comics as a kid and would eagerly await with anticipation for my weekly Beano and Dandy comics to arrive. It didn't take me long to grow out of reading Twinkle and Rupert Bear in favour of something with a little more action and, pardon the pun, some comic relief. I must admit to getting fed up of Desperate Dan and his cow pies and replacing him with Bananaman and the aptly named Nutty comic. Maybe I was enticed by the free packet of Space Dust? The first issue came out 16th February 1980 but it seems like only yesterday, such was my excitement of my new comic. I still have some back-copies somewhere. Should I have admitted that? I should perhaps point out, Space Dust was popping candy that crackled and made your tongue tingle. I loved my comics and think I was in love with Denis the Menace. I also loved Saturday morning TV. The caped crusaders, alias Batman and Robin, battling numerous villains: the Penguin, the Riddler, the Joker, and my personal favourite Catwoman. Saturday viewing however, was not complete without Zorro. OK maybe he wasn't a Superhero, although he did wear a cape, but he was my hero. You just can't beat a good sword fight!

When not reading comics, or watching children's TV, I would be roaming the streets and fields where we lived. On rainy days I would draw cartoon characters or read. I inherited some children's encyclopedia from my older brother. The set was bookended by an illustrated Bible and a book of paintings. I loved both. There was also an atlas. Atlas may have had the world on his shoulders and I may have lugged said book around on my shoulders during my secondary school years but alas my geographical knowledge is almost non-existent. I just wasn't interested. We are all inspired by different things. What grabs one persons interest bores the next. We are all different and it would be a boring world if we weren't. I was out walking the other day, OK maybe more of a gentle stroll, and came across a certain Superhero. My husband completely missed him, but then he dislikes anything science fiction. How can you miss Spider-Man? Its not everyday you come face to face with a Superhero!

There is so much around us that we miss in our hurry to get things done. Perhaps we think we are a Superhero and can cope? Wearing your pants over your tights is never a good look, especially in public. Thinking we are Superman or Wonderwoman is not healthy. Even God took a rest on the seventh day and yet we so often ignore our own needs for a Sabbath (Gen 2:2-3; Ex 20:8-11; Lev 19:30, 23:3; Deut 5:12; Jer 17: 24). Thankfully God never takes a holiday but us mere mortals certainly need one. I know I do. Still we continue racing around like the Bionic Man or woman. If we are not careful we miss the things that God wants to show us. It might be Spider-Man stuck up a tree reminding us we are not a Superhero. It might be the catkins that look so delicate and beautiful glistening in the sun as a reminder of spring and a new season in our life. It might be the ripples of the water reminding us that our actions effect other people and the world around us. Or perhaps that Gods love reaches out to all.

Stop rushing around and relax. Take a stroll. Go feed the ducks. Remember there is bread for all.

'I am the bread of life,' Jesus told them. 'Those who come to me will never go hungry; those who believe in me will never be thirsty.' John 6:35 GNB

How do you listen to God?

How do you listen to God? 

As I thought about the subject of listening to God I could not help but think about Adam and Eve. 

Genesis 3:8-9 When the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” 

Adam and Eve did not seem to have a problem in listening to God in the Garden of Eden. They heard him walking in the garden. I wonder if he was singing a tune or whether he was just rustling some leaves as he walked? They hid from him because they were naked and yet God knew that they were there. There is no hiding from God and there is no hiding our sins (the things we do wrong) from him. He already knows what they are. People say they cannot hear God but I wonder if they are blocking him out or perhaps, like Adam and Eve, trying to hid from him? Perhaps we have just forgotten how to listen to him? Or are too noisy or to busy rushing around to stop and listen to the sound of God?

For me God is in the incidentals of life and in the things we so often can miss. He speaks to us through the majesty of creation, through the cry of a baby, and in the vastness of the ocean. He speaks to us in the quietness and stillness of the morning. He speaks to us in the crash of thunder and the roar of a waterfall. He speaks to us through our friends who encourage us and offer a helping hand (Prov 11:14, Mat 18:16). He speaks to us through the preacher on a Sunday morning. Through scripture (2 Tim 3:16-17), and through the pounding of our heart beat as the Holy Spirit prompts us (Heb 8:10-11). He speaks to us through the still small voice, as well as through prophecy, dreams, and visions (Act 2:17-18). God talks to us in so many ways and yet we fail to hear. 

What has he been trying to tell you today? Take a moment to sit quietly and listen. Do you hear him?

 

Isaiah 30:21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

 

Book Review: The Scent of Lemons

The Scent of Lemons: Technology and relationships in the age of Facebook written by Jonah Lynch and published by Darton, Longman, and Todd (2012) is eloquently written. The flow of the writing entices you in and paints an almost romantic picture of our relationship with technology. The Internet and in particular social media, be it Facebook, twitter, or indeed blogging, have changed our world in the way we communicate; so to has the introduction of the mobile phone. The book has an interesting title and to explain why it was chosen Lynch writes in his preface:

But what do lemons have to do with technology? A lemon fresh from the tree has a rough skin. The better the tree has been cared for, the rougher it is. It's a strange roughness, because if you squeeze a little, a perfumed oil comes out and makes the skin suddenly smooth to the touch. And then there's that wonderful sour juice, so good on fish and oysters, in summertime drinks and in a hot cup of tea! Touch, scent, taste. Three of the five senses cannot be transmitted through technology. Three-fifths of reality, sixty per cent.

Lynch invites us to notice and give time to developing the remaining sixty per cent in our own relationships. He argues, there is a parental and older sibling responsibility to notice and reflect on the changes the internet brings to our relationships and society, to see the warning signs and offer guidance to those caught up in the change who have no experience of a pre-internet age. So how has technology, and in particular the internet, profoundly influenced every part of our daily lives? This needs more unpacking by Lynch to support his thesis of how it has changed relationships. Those of us who are already somewhat addicted to social media, writing a status update or tweeting our every move, may already know but there is still a readership who do not understand social media and if they are to offer guidance to their children they need educating.

Lynch writes from a Christian perspective and calls for a life balance where technology is embraced but social media, and the like, does not dominate relationships or replace face to face meetings. In the chapter 'A Nerd's Life' Lynch talks of his experience and love of technology, as well as his sense of responsibility as an educator and priest to reflect and share his concerns. For example, his concern for his work habits: its fast pace, the immediate response of email, and distraction in prayer. (Prayer requires a much slower rhythm of life and God's response cannot be hurried.) As well as the intrusion of mobile phone calls that have invaded places of relaxation, such as train journeys and the theatre, and sacred spaces such as the church. A 'technology fast' is one of the tools he offers to help safeguard relationships and one that Lynch advocated to students of his seminary. Having recently trained for Baptist ministry, alongside Anglican ordinands, I do not think a complete 'technological fast' would be practically possible, but I like the concept.

As someone who loves well written books and social media I enjoyed The Scent of Lemons. It is however, more of an overview of the subject matter, rather than an in-depth unpacking of Lynch's thesis. I hope Lynch continues to explore and write more on what he acknowledges are, 'his incomplete thoughts.' With social media still in its infancy opportunity presents itself for further study in this particular area. Psalm 34 says, 'Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.' Lynch calls the world to wake up and smell the lemons before we loose our senses. A timely written book.

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