Gifts and Acorns

All of us have been given gifts and talents. Some of us use them well. Some of us just shove them in a draw or a pocket and forget them. Some of us are a mixture of the two. There are of course seasons where perhaps we don’t use all that we have been given, for whatever reason. 

I took this photo at the local Sculpture Park. It intrigues me. The image seems to be of a child handing an adult something. Maybe an acorn? To me there is trust in the interaction. Trust that what is given will be honoured, treasured, and handled well. Not screwed up and thrown in the bin. But treasured as much as the giver treasures it. 

It is half-term week here, in other places half term is just starting. Our children, and grandchildren, are a gift in themselves. Enjoy the gift. Treasure the moments. Place your hand in theirs and embrace the moment. 

 

Acorns become mighty oak trees. Little ideas become successful ventures. Our young people become leaders. But these things don’t happen overnight they need nurturing and time and good soil in which to grow. 

I consider myself a life long learner. I’m always learning something. I like to try new things and am currently enjoying a creative streak. It’s good to push our comfort zones occasionally. We never know what we can achieve until we try. 

Sometimes God gives us gifts and we reject them. They can’t really be for us can they? It’s not until we unwrap the gift that we realise how beautiful and precious and truly perfect it is for us. 

So what has God placed into your hand? What are your gifts and talents? Is God wanting to give you another gift? Have you any gifts that you are yet to unwrap? I encourage you to peel back the paper and take a peep. 

Reflections on Lent

Today marks the first day of Lent, Ash Wednesday to be precise. Many from the Anglican and Catholic traditions, amongst others, will have taken part in an Ashing service today. Ashes from the burning of last year’s Palm crosses are used to make the sign of the cross on a believers forehead. So if you have seen someone walking around with a black smudge on their forehead today you now know why! 

Lent traditionally means a period of 40 days of fasting ending at Easter. Sundays aren’t counted as they are considered feast days however, many people choose not to break their fast. Fasting can be from anything from meat to chocolate to social-media to abstaining from alcohol. It promotes self-control and self-discipline. 

Lent is also a time of reflection, often self-reflection. There is certainly no point in fasting if you don’t reflect and at least think about why you are doing so. 

As well as fasting people can also choose to take things up. It maybe gratitude and being purposely thankful for something everyday, or to do a good deed every day. The list is endless really. 

This year I have decided to abstain from alcohol and to blog more regularly. The aim is to blog every day but I don’t want to be legalistic about it as you never know what curve balls life will throw at you that will need their attention. I’ve done both of these things in the past so nothing knew for me. The reflections however will be different some of which I will blog others perhaps will be more private. 

Well not much hilarity going on in today’s post so far! So, what can I say to make you at least smile? I will leave you with a joke that I was told last week….

How many tickles does it take to make an octopus laugh? 

Ten. Ten tickles! (tentacels)

So tell me a joke. Squid Pro Quo and all that! 

 

Here am I send me.

God calls and we follow. Easy right? Sometimes God gives us choices. We get up in the morning and look in the wardrobe for something to wear. We don’t have to pray about it just make a choice. God has given us the ability to choose. We always have free will to do what we want but in the bigger decisions in life I want to clearly hear what God has to say about it. What is his will? 

When there is a fork in the road which way do we travel? When the river forks which way do we sail our boat? Every decision in life has consequences good and bad. Sometimes we make wrong choices and suffer the consequences. Sometimes the decisions are the right ones but still there are fall outs and repercussions. 

I was 16 when I was called to ministry. Sat in church on a Sunday morning listening to a sermon on Isaiah 6. Isaiah had an encounter with God that he couldn’t deny. He was faced with his own sinfulness and inadequacies. God said to him, ‘Whom shall I send and who will go for us?’

If God asked you that question what would you say? My response and that of Isaiah was, ‘Here am I send me.’

It’s not always easy. But if we don’t follow God then who are we? Before the term Christian was used we were ‘Followers of the Way.’ That’s what I want to be, a ‘Follower of the Way!’ Look out for the sign posts as you travel and journey with God. May our answer always be, ‘Here I am send me.’

The Reckoning

The Reckoning staring Steve Coogan as the infamous Jimmy Savile is for some not an easy watch. Whilst it is triggering for those who have been victims of sexual crimes (so please don’t watch if that’s you) I would recommend you watch it. 

Coogan’s portrayal of Savile is superb capturing his mannerisms, voice, and subtle manipulative ways. It focuses our attention on the way that we the public and his victims were groomed. Chilling in many ways it helps to bring what is in the darkness into the light. It is so easy so sweep these things under the carpet, something the BBC did for years despite warnings by some, such as John Lyndon aka Johnny Rotten of The Sex Pistols fame. 

The Church has sadly failed to address its own calling in protecting those who are vulnerable and have fallen victim to those of a predatory nature. Maybe we do not want to admit these things, or people, exist? But if we are to live out Micah 6:8 ‘He has told you o mortal what is good. And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God.’ then we cannot turn a blind eye to injustice, the needs of the voiceless, and those who have been abused. 

Do perpetrators of sexual crimes also need to know the love of God? Yes. God is merciful and his love and forgiveness are available to all. Maybe you want such people to be put in jail and the key thrown away? Maybe that would be easier but occasionally people do show remorse and try to change. For me, God is the judge and only he knows if individuals are truly repentant or not. I believe in the hope of the gospel that is Jesus. I hope that sex offenders do change and live in that hope. Having worked in the prison system I am also a realist. For many they don’t change and continue to be manipulative seeking out unsuspecting victims, even in prison. 

What we can’t do is ignore someone’s past behaviour and put them in the middle of the sweetie jar without a contract of behaviour in place. Saville seemed to have lots of different sweetie jars to choose from: hospitals, Top of the Pops, Jim’ll Fix it, parties, anywhere where people knew of his fame. The world must have seemed one big sweetie jar to him and that saddens me. We, society, let him. We are all culpable in that regard. Some of course more culpable than others. This is a world problem. This sadly, is a problem in all our communities.

Coogan is a master of the detail. Comics live on the detail and finding the funny side of life. Word play, idiosyncrasies, and visual humour are all part of the comedians tool box. Here Coogan uses his skills to show us the nature of grooming. How one minute Savile plays the crowd charming those around him picking out his victim and then we see the turn and how he is behind closed doors. Then we see that his victims are people just like me and you. Not enough is said about grooming and the controlling natures of those who commit sexual offences. I hope that this program continues to flag this type of behaviour. If you are a church leader or work in an area where safeguarding is important do give this a watch but actually I would say everyone should watch it because after all if we all looked after one another the world would be a much safer place and people like Savile would no longer be able to operate. We can only live in hope.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/oct/09/the-reckoning-review-steve-coogan-is-chillingly-brilliant-as-jimmy-savile-bbc?fbclid=IwAR0lAfp_xcI3uu_X1QJ46Gy4QzACiyq2RmyA6HzGE_mzeNOrTT1Wfdm-R2k_aem_ARqlLeI6tfIIL85OAU2YCTJQRkgBw7-zD_AYGT9i2Lvr6KyDcNQHZm6CfnoKE4SSY-M

An Adventure through Lent: joy!

Today is the start of Lent. The start of an adventure! Would you like an adventure or shall we have tea first? Tea is a good thing as it makes us pause and rest for a while. It’s always good to take stock, to look back, and to reflect. It’s also good to laugh at the absurdity of it all. There is lots to laugh about in life but we seem to become much too serious if we are not careful, or is that just me? I’ve been known to dress up as a white rabbit and invite people to church for a Mad Hatter’s teas party before now. It was an induction service where I officially became minister of the church, often a solemn occasion. I wasn’t not taking it seriously I just wanted the community to come and to have fun. Start as you mean to go on as they say!

Last night my comedy writing course classmates and I put on a show. It was a theatric reading of the scripts we had written. I got to play the parts of an estate agent who liked dressing up as a bear, a psychiatrist with some very strange clients, a patient who was advised to make and eat shepherds pie to help with their alcohol addiction, and Henry VIII! Today I found out Henry VIII was crowned at Gloucester cathedral. 

I’ve been reflecting recently about why church has got so serious. There has to be more room for laughter in our services. It’s not about entertainment it’s about being fully human. Jesus laughed. God laughs. I like to laugh a lot! My happy place is fooling around. It’s how I like to connect with people. We are created to experience joy. Philippians 4:4 says, ‘rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, rejoice!’ Galatian’s 5:22 reminds us that joy is one of the fruit of the spirit. So where’s our joy? What are the things that bring a smile to your face and make you laugh? So often Lent is about giving up things but what about taking something up? What about taking up something that brings you joy and makes you laugh? 

The battlefield of the mind

Some people just leave impressions on your life, even when you don’t know them on a deep level. Today my husband and I attended a military funeral for Lieutenant Colonel (Retd.) Richard ‘Skid’ Dorney MBE at Salisbury Cathedral. Skid came up through the ranks of the Grenadier Guards. A true leader who was compassionate and always had time for people. On retirement from the guards he continued his work in supporting those with mental health issues, particularly those effected by trauma and PTSD. Setting up a company called Strong Mind Resilience  https://strongmindresilience.co.uk/ delivering courses on mental health first aid, suicide awareness, and much more. 

In the eulogy we were reminded that Skid would say, ‘there are no atheists on the battlefield.’ When we are facing death in the face then you have to be a brave man or woman to deny God’s existence. 

So are you strong minded? Do you know what you want and are clear in what you believe in? How is your resilience to life? Are you battling alone and failing miserably? We all need help once in a while and there is no shame in asking for that help, quite the opposite. Courses and training can help in overcome and living with many things. Talking and therapy can help to but so can prayer. Whatever you are feeling or thinking or worrying about right now why not talk to God about it? Prayers don’t need to be elegant and you don’t have to hold anything back. If you are angry, even angry at God tell him. Get it out your system. If you are confused and don’t know where to start God even listens to and understands our groans. Actually, he already knows how we feel and is aware of all that goes on in our lives but we still have to do our bit and come to him. We have free choice. God honours that. So what do you choose? 

Look up, instead of inward. Know that God loves you. Yes, even you. No matter what you have done, or how long you have denied him and pushed him away. He awaits you on that battlefield and when that last post sounds.