One size ... and peace

I've really enjoyed taking weddings this year. There has been great variety, a mix of contemporary and traditional, and always a sense of meaningful fun. No two have been the same because each couple is different. Bookings are coming in for 2020

What suits one couple might really annoy another. I make sure they choose what's appropriate, and don't impose my tastes on others. Every couple has survived me trying to put them off getting married; most years some change their minds. Far better not to marry than tie the knot with the wrong person! One size doesn't fit all.

www.music2hues.com

The same is true of energy. I might find rock folk music is balm for the soul, whereas you prefer panpipes or chants. Wouldn't it be boring if we had the same tastes. And what energises us changes over time. Those who have the gift of young children might say all they want is sleep. Teenagers might say they enjoy being on the cusp of adult tastes, while still enjoying childhood games and traditions. 

In our Ridgeway Churches there's huge variety of worship, so all of us can find spaces. There are interactive times: Family Friendly, Café Church, Messy Church, or Bible Study groups. Traditional services abound: Holy Communion, Matins, Evening Prayer. And there are short hybrid occasions: Candlelight Evensong, informal Communion. One size doesn't fit all.

Regardless of our different opinions about Brexit, let's remember the true dividend isn't the bottom line or GDP or national identity or political persuasion or so many other things. It's peace!

Last century more blood was spilt in Europe than ever. The symmetry and strange beauty of thousands of graveyards and millions of graves mock us, and remind us of so many young wasted lives. Many too were maimed in body or mind. Egos, party allegiance, personal opinion or upbringing must recede before the great gift of peace in our time.

Jesus went further, and put forward a vision of peace that runs deep into the soil of our being, and satisfies the soul. It's his peace that knows no end. I recall a dairy farmer in his last days. I asked him if there was anything he wanted to tell me, and waited. I want to be cremated, and I'm at peace. What a treasure.

... as in heaven

As a child, the smell of pine needles and sea air triggered excitement at an approaching time on the beach. We would run down the snicket with buckets and spades. However, there were constant calls to look out for dog's mess, which created a third but unwelcomed smell.

Go down that path now and the contributions from dogs have all but disappeared. It's a trite example [unless you're a parent cleaning off contaminant] which shows that some aspects of life have improved. Unfortunately we litter like there's no tomorrow.

There's a great deal of positive work going on to check plastic pollution, and it's recognised as a challenge for mankind as a whole. You and I can make a difference. Small changes multiplied over and over really do count. By the way, my wooden toothbrushes are working fine [see my March View]. Every step brings a little more of heaven to earth.

Marie Curie was excited by the discovery of radiation, and spent a huge effort refining radium until she had a concentrated file of it which she carried about in her handbag. At supper parties she would open the bag to show off the blue glow. What she didn't realise is that the radiation was killing her, and possibly her guests. She died of cancer, and in her memory an excellent charity exists to this day.

Nowadays radiation is handled safely, and is a fantastic tool in the hands of medics. It supplies us with roughly 25% of our electricity, thanks to the work of those in the early days of the Winfrith site. It took around 120 years to understand what nuclear radiation is, and how to harness it.

Resurrection was discovered by another woman, Mary Magdelene [as told in John chapter 20]. Some of the earliest writings in the New Testament show that the phenomenon was poorly understood. St Paul implied that it was hardly worth holding down your day job, because Jesus was about to return.

120 years later writers of the New Testament see the resurrection of Jesus as demonstrating love is stronger than death. It wasn't an extension of Jesus' life, but a quality of living that knows no end. It gave us forgiveness that we could make fresh starts, and write a wholesome story with our lives, a touch of earth as it is in heaven.

Good perspective, and peace

Basically the Brits are inside the European Union with lots of opt-outs, and want to be outside with lots of opt-ins. That was the view painted by a Business Daily podcast on the BBC World Service. It got me thinking. 

In other words Brexit will change little, which appears to be roughly the direction we're heading. I commend the podcasts [¼ hour available on digital or internet] because they give different perspectives, and don't endlessly flog the same stories.

But there's another reason: they are full of positive tales. Outlook is another particularly good series. Often media delights in the bad at the expense of the good. The truth is that a huge amount of great events go unreported. Jesus said to his disciples, 'If you continue in my word ... you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.' His teaching addressed poverty, illness, abuse, and so on; he didn't avoid the bad, but his focus was always on good news or gospel.

kugelmass.wordpress.com

When heading up All Saints School governors, I participated in giving students some interview practice. One thought she had little of achievement, but as I asked her about what she did it became clear she had a wealth of skills and experience to offer. She couldn't believe the truth about herself until she heard it reflected back to her. Another thought school was just occupational therapy, but came to understand it was there to give him the skills he needed. Instead of resenting challenges he came to relish them.

St Paul put it beautifully, 'Whatever is true, honourable, just, pure, pleasing, commendable, if there is excellence and anything worthy of praise, think about these things ... and the God of peace will be with you.

Safe celebration, and just outcomes

On my way to take Padre's Hour at the Air Training Corps I was diverted around the houses by a large screen broadcasting World Cup Footie outside the Rendezvous. 

The atmosphere was amazing, a great sense of fun and excitement. However, to one side I noticed police, ambulance, and security staff making sure someone who had collapsed was safe. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to those who look after us, especially when we've overdone things.

Jesus taught that we should live to the full and celebrate all that's good, while at the same time keeping a lookout for one another.

And on another subject, the last Wessex Water information pamphlet delivered to every household invited us to rate its performance against other service providers, one of which was Sky with only a 5% approval rating. I have spent 5 months terminating my TV subscription [which had provided an excellent service] and now understand why Sky has such a poor reputation.

The above can be published in the public domain, however I cannot tell you the outcome of my dispute because it includes a confidentiality clause. What I can do is thoroughly recommend the centre for effective dispute resolution [CEDR] which provided an excellent service.

It is internet based, with provision for both parties to upload evidence. This is evaluated independently, and a binding judgement made. Power is held to account by truth. Christians lie behind the foundation of these islands' ancient courts of justice, most of which had a chapel built into their infrastructure.

As we enjoy summer lets give thanks be showing appreciation for those who keep us safe, and all who pursue justice.

Smart thinking, and privacy.

Vans are coupled back to back so that one driver can move two units. The power train uses the front wheels with rear being attached later. As I cycled by I did wonder if it was a spoof, until I saw thousands of pairs.

Smart thinking can throw up unusual ideas. There's a company exploring the storage capacity of electric vehicles. Why not use them as backup power supplies? Tot thousands of batteries together and they can supply substantial energy for those times when we all put the kettle on at the same time.

Jesus was a smart thinker. Take the idea of a day of rest. People of his day had gone all 'health & safety' mad about it. Work of any description was banned. What about healing people then? He put it very simply: rest was made for people, not people made for rest. They had things back to front, and he straightened out their thinking.

Confidence is vital in terms of respecting privacy, and allowing us to deal with things at our own pace rather than under public pressure. In my role I have many conversations, visits, and encounters which cannot be in the public domain. Some have misunderstood because much of my ministry is behind the scenes. But you can't have it both ways.

Parishioners wouldn't keep asking me for conversations if they then heard details broadcast to others. Many of those who wish to know what's going on in other people's lives find that they need privacy when facing challenges themselves.

At the end of May new privacy laws came into being. They can be summed up as everyone [whether big business or an individual] respecting privacy, and never putting anything in the public domain unless there's clear evidence of consent.

The Almighty Creator of the universe, who sustains it through his power, does not invade the human heart ~ he just gently knocks on the door waiting for an invitation. If God respects us, we should respect each other.

Questioning faith

I really appreciate those who challenge my faith because it makes it real. Without questions and comment there is no faith. In this case the conversation took place on a minibus trip back from Twickers. 'Jesus would be hopeless in an identity parade because few people recognised him. How can you believe he came alive again?' And of course retired police inspector Mike Rand is doing the asking!

www.getwestlondon.co.uk

A couple walk seven miles with Jesus, but don't recognise him until he breaks bread and gives thanks. Is Jesus a dumb teacher? That doesn't fit with the stories he tells: Good Samaritan, Lost Sheep, Sower, and so on. Then he uses powerful images. 'Give me a coin. It has two faces, so there are two truths to consider.' Jesus here is identified through symbols. That's often how we convey deep bonds: a marriage ring, flowers, and sacraments; they are outward and visible signs of inward and invisible truths.

Mary doesn't recognise him, as she stares through her tears at the gardener. In just one word Jesus reveals his identity; he calls her by name. It's recognition through emotion. Smells can be extraordinary powerful triggers. It may be that a loved one died in early autumn, so the first hint of freshly decaying leaves brings vivid memories flooding back.

I've been listening to a podcast called 'Unbelievable?' on Premier Christian Radio. If you search for it and 'Mike Rand' you'll find all the links, and a local who honestly challenges a convinced Christian about evidence. I commend it to you.

Shaggy performed for Her Majesty's 92 birthday. He has some great lyrics to the track 'Keeping it real'. Doubts and questions help to keep faith real. They are a bit like a strand in a three cord rope. If you take away questions from Jesus' conversations you'd end up with very little. He loved debate, and so should we.

Updates

Updating software introduces all kinds of 'helpful' ideas. Wally has suddenly turned up on Google Maps, but I don't want to ask 'Where's Wally?' when looking for a route or location. Yes, it might be different if I was reading to a child. And then there are voices .... but I'm going to have a go at talking to one when I feel in the mood.

Of course I don't want to be a grumpy old man, because some of these new ideas will fly. There are fantastic apps I use regularly which really irritated when they first appeared. Things are always updating. You only have to look at the tunes of familiar carols; most are relatively new. Nine Lessons and Carols from King's College, Cambridge is broadcast to millions every Christmas, and it always has some new tunes.

Jesus used many illustrations, and was a powerful communicator. Some of his ideas are in common parlance today. 'Don't put new wine into old bottles' he said. We might update that to 'Don't put new software into old computers!' Sometimes the old technology can't cope; most machines are 64 bit today.

Easter is a constant update of our ideas, of energy, of forgiveness which has extraordinary power to unlock new beginnings. It's an amazing festival celebrated every spring [autumn in the southern hemisphere], but every Sunday is a mini-Easter. In fact 'at all times, and in all places' [to quote the old prayer book] we should celebrate being an Easter people.

Forgiveness is just one facet of Easter, and it can bring new beginnings for terrorists [Good Friday agreement 20 years old], between family members, and [as the pope prayed] between countries and within countries that have not known peace for many generations. We need that Easter spirit.

warisacrime.org

Updating you on my teeth [March issue], and Fairtrade challenge to Sainsbury [August 2017]: I'm pleased with my first wooden toothbrushes, which seem to do the job well and are wearing OK. It also feels good not to be adding to landfill, where plastic toothbrushes die. It will be interesting to see how the wood burns when the time comes.

The Advertising Standards Agency [ASA] has upheld a complaint against Sainsbury for use of their Fairly Traded tile which is sufficiently close to Fairtrade so as to cause confusion. In round figures the latter is a partnership, while the former is 'big brother' supermarket chain imposing a structure because it knows best. We need justice for producers, so I strongly urge you to follow the ASA's lead and not be conned.

Easter updates should be regular, and motivate us to find the power to make a difference for good in our world.