The journey of death

"There is a season for everything,
a time for giving birth,
a time for dying;
a time for tears,
a time for laughter;
a time for mourning,
a time for dancing . . ." Ecclesiastes 3 : 1 - 2, 4

"Autumn comes, It always does.
Goodbye comes. It always does.
The trees struggle with this truth today
and in my deepest of being, so do I.

Every autumn, nostalgia fills me;
every autumn, yearning holds me.
I cling to the ripeness of summer,
knowing it will be many long months
before I can catch a breath of lilac,
or the green of freshly mown grass.

And so I begin my fallow vigil,
remembering the truth of the ages:
Unless the wheat seed dies
it cannot sing a new birth.
Unless summer gives in to autumn
springtime will never embrace me"

So writes Joyce Rupp in her wonderful book "Praying our goodbyes".

And so I embark on one of those journeys I would like to avoid. The man I have known for almost 50 years as my father is dying. He has a new journey to go on - a journey that he travels alone as he rests his body from the onslaught of disease. And I, and my mother and brothers, have to let go. Like so many that I have shared with in my ministry I too am reluctant. I want life to go on forever, but it does not.

Shakespeare wrote these powerful words that remind me of my dad:

As the lighting and storms sound outside (and in our hearts) Ceasar says to Calpurnia:
"Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste death but once. Of all the wonders that I have yet heard, It seems to me most strange that men should fear, Seeing that death, a necessary end, Will come when it come".
Julius Ceasar Act II scene II

It is coming to a valiant man whom I love and wish for peace on this new journey.

Meetings, bloody meetings!

Last night I chaired my final Church Council meeting for the year! Now for a Circuit Quarterly Meeting, a Local Preacher's Circuit Quarterly Meeting, a Church Executive, a few Society Stewards Meetings . . .

What is it that we are so pre-occupied with meetings? I have read a few books and watched training material on how best to run a meeting (the best one I remember, hence my title, was a video "Meetings, bloody meetings!" by John Cleese - without the famous funny walk) and still they do not inspire me.

I also remember that I felt a call to ministry but somehow much of my work seems about having meetings, and the resultant preparation for these meetings.

I have used some of those famous ideas - no seats, no food or anything to drink, no papers - but all to no avail. Some people just like meetings more than others, I guess.

I think I am gonig to plan a meeting to discuss the value and regularity of meetings in our circuit and society. And then I shall plan another meeting to discuss process and procedure, oh, and of course, another meeting to discuss the rules of debate and decision making, and then . . .

Press Freedom Day

In a democratic country one of the most important aspects is the freedom of expression! For many years people in South Africa have stood against the idea of suppression of ideas and thinking. When we celebrated democracy we voted for the freedom of expression and the freedom of the press. Let us not allow any government or leaders to ever take that away from us!
Wear this virtual Press Freedom Day yellow ribbon with me.

Read more on Dion's blog, the blogger of all bloggers.

Gangs and groups: Us and them!

I have attended yet another church leaders meeting where the familiar terms "us" and "them" were used to separate that which God has made one! What is it that drives this fear of others? Is it ignorance? Loss of power? Need for control? I think it is all of these and more!

The church that I have served for a number of years seems intent on stopping people discover unity. All that we want is people who agree with us and are willing to be subservient. Any differences are ascribed to the need for them to change and adopt my way of thinking.

The meeting in question allowed one of the members to express concern about people of another colour who, to quote this leader, "if they are not led gently will come and take it". After questions for clarity I never really managed to discover what "it" is!

The church too often reflects the principles of gangs that are threatened by those outside instead of excited about discovering the richness of our unity in diversity. Lord, help us.