revmusings

...getting old.

Thoi seems to be a constant refrain amongst many of my folk at the moment, usually accompanied by my father/mother/aunt' uncle always said it was horrible and they were right.

Your body and mind gradually giving up on you, the loss of family and friends and your horizons gradually reducing to a chair and a TV. Hard decisions about whether to have an op that might kill you or carry on with the debilitating and shameful (at least to you) effects of the disease you have.

In the midst of those difficult questions, that I don't have answers for, came this afternoon: 2 hours wasted with an elderly lady who was desperate to get out of her lovely residential home - so off we went to the local park and spent time watching the wind on the water of the lake, ducks, geese and swans and even two cygnets bobbing gently around. The drive home took in some old haunts and memories as well as surpise at all the changes.

For a short time being old did not restrict and we did what she always did on an outing. Next time we hope to have a picnic. 'It was great to feel the wind and fill my lungs with fresh air' was the final statement as I dropped her back.

I did suggest to her that the church couple who also would take her out if she asked - 'They are too busy' was the response..

So the minister has all the time in the world.........apparently! ;-)

I am preaching on the Coming God on Sunday using Zech and Ro,ans and a bit of Revelation thrown in for good measyer. I looked up the Mission Praise number for Lo. he comes with clouds descending and found a verse there that I had not seen before.

Verse three is:
Now redemption long expected
see in solemn pomp appear!
All his saints, by man rejected,
now shall meet him in the air
Hallelujah
see the day of God appear

This is completely different from both the green and red hymn book! As I am a pan-millienialist I won't be using it!

Spent a wonderful 5 hours yesterda afternoon on a walk of faith, taking in an Anglican church, a Gudwara, Qaker meeting house, Progessive Synagogue and a Hindu Temple.

Each place tried to explain its core beliefs and some offered glimpses of its worship. The separation of male and female in some was striking as well as the sense of entering holy ground by the covering of heads and the removal of shoes. I do wonder if we have lost some of that sense of entering god's presence in a special way when we come to worship.

The wonderful feeling of peace and prayer in the Quaker meeting room was very special and I decided I really want to experience one of their meetings some time. The Anglican church was interesting: just about to have a female rector this week yet retaining the 8.30am prayerbook service but then followed by an 'Express' service which is informal and for families (and includes painting and sticking) followed by the usual 11 am Parish Eucharist. A church clearly ready to move forward but not lose the established people. Similarly the Meth/Bap LEP we started at in the same road have recently appointed a minister expressly to to do church in a new way alongside the traditional services.

And yet, the Sikh and Hindu services were traditional and unchanging yet full of young people and children!

What struck me was that strong sense of community that held all ages together - being a Sikh, Hindu and Jew is who you are, not something that is tacked on. The Jewish rabbi, talking aout the Kosher rules (that they hold quite loosely to in comparison with their Orthodox conterparts) said the advantage was that frequently during the day you were reminded that you were a Jew and that made a difference. I suspect the 5 daily prayers do that for Muslims and the 5 Ks are the Sikh equivilent.

So what reminds us, so obviously, through the day that we are Christians and that that makes a difference to our whole lives?

I know we should have that constant awareness of God but I sometimes think that as fragile humans other outward signs might just help - especially if it meant that everyone knew we were Christians wherever we are and whatever we are doing - a reminder that what we say and do are a witness to God for good or bad.