We watched the Hour of Power today. A nice lady preacher was talking about her cat that got stuck on the roof. Which brings me to our cat. Alexis is a nice cat. She moved in with us in our first rental house in Wellington. She must have thought that we were trees - she would climb up your leg while you were putting the washing on the line. She moved with us to our second rental. She ran away one time when we were in Brisbane - and we thought that was the end of it. Alex was found through advertising on PETS ON THE NET. Home she came - scrawny and emaciated, and she was nursed back to health.
Alex remained quite committed to indoor life after that. Traumatised by her scary six weeks away, she decided that the streets were not a good place. We moved to our third rental which was to be a temporary move. Alexis settled down well. We are still in that rental 18 months later. She has stamped her mark on the territory here. A series of yowling and screeching cat fights have determined that other usurpers and casual visitors from the feline establishment seldom cross the line. Alexis' most recent fight led to another hole in the head and a damaged leg. Then of course someone fell over her in the night - more yowling.
Yesterday Alexis went to the Vet for the first time - she is a good patient. Last night Sheilagh put her medicine on the bed next to her and she simply swallowed the pills without any objection. She greets one at the door, and often waits at the bottom of the drive for me to get home, and asks in a typical cat way for food or to go out.
Alexis has been adopted by us, found again through hi tech search methods, and subjected to potentially unpleasant medical treatment (what cat travels well in the car and smiles when getting her jabs?). For some reason she is trusting and loyal. She is an illegal squatter I guess - our landlord does not allow pets. But she crept into our hearts by showing up one day and she is still here.
As parents we are so proud of her. As I write she has had her morning anti-biotic - once again we put it in front of her and she obligingly eats the pills.
I recall somewhere a story about our heavenly father welcoming those who seek refuge in his home - searching for us when we went astray in Eden - and offering us a home and a solution for our ailments.
How sad that so many of us don't accept this offer - or take the meds we need.
Go Alex - you are a living parable for those who wish to read your life.
Saturday, 14 February 2009
Tuesday, 16 December 2008
Pre-Christmas jitters
I've been reading about Christmas again. I have friends who write the most profound things - getting back into the hearts and minds of the people in the first Christmas story. Some have suggested that we need to remove all the glossy stuff - tinsel and gifts. Others are already feeling disappointed because Christmas does not feel the same as it used to. For my children (now really adults) living in NZ seems to have taken the shine off it all. For them Christmas in Africa was better - warmer (in spirit) and more connected (to friends and family).
For me, Christmas tears me in two. My niece is about to have her first child - sometime after Christmas, making me almost a great uncle and my sister an almost Grandmother. How often have I not looked at available flights - really wanting to be in South Africa with them at this time. Family is at the heart of it all. My family - immediate family - are feeling the usual disconnection here. Sheilagh's family is in three countries, and all our families have to face the challenge and struggle of trying to bring in justice and mercy into our respective worlds. We all have to resist selfishness, and decisions made out of fear and craving for our own security. We all have to embrace the spirit of Christmas - the giving of ourselves to others with the given risk that we lose ourselves in the giving.
At Christmas so many suffer. My friend and colleague had to bury his fiancé on Monday - his Christmas is overwhelmed by surrender of her to the Lord, and the ongoing surrender of his life and the lives of his children to God's grace and mercy. Christ's death and surrender on the cross is the only way though the making sense of such loss. There is a life beyond the grave which he earned for us - we were bought with a price.
In all of this we have no home again - just tenants under the pressure from a landlord . We have finally found the house we would love to buy and wait to see whether some new door will open. Foxes have holes and birds have nests... (Matt 8:19-20).
Why does Christmas make me jittery? Is it my inability each year to grasp the depths of this truth - this incarnational mystery of the God-person? Is it the fact of being foreigners on a distant island that is a chilling reminder that the God-person of Bethlehem became a refugee in Africa, with a lunatic king trying to perform an infant genocide?
Is it the world's manifest indifference towards the truth of this event that nags away in my heart? - if only I could get people to worship the Christ child gain.
Perhaps it is my my own loss - that tearing of those parts within that only those who have died a death ever understand. Mack, in "The Shack" by William P Young speaks of The Great Sadness. As I read this book I am faced with the gnawing suspicion that I have my Shack to visit too.
If you are still reading this you probably have scratched your head in bewilderment - wondering if I have lost the plot entirely. "Keep it simple, preacher man" I hear them say. It's just pre-Christmas jitters. If you don't get them, then don't fuss too much.
The impact of the Advent of Jesus Christ is another matter altogether. Have you felt the power of that impact? It's no steamroller - not a tsunami - perhaps impact is not the right word at all. Perhaps a warm flood....
For me, Christmas tears me in two. My niece is about to have her first child - sometime after Christmas, making me almost a great uncle and my sister an almost Grandmother. How often have I not looked at available flights - really wanting to be in South Africa with them at this time. Family is at the heart of it all. My family - immediate family - are feeling the usual disconnection here. Sheilagh's family is in three countries, and all our families have to face the challenge and struggle of trying to bring in justice and mercy into our respective worlds. We all have to resist selfishness, and decisions made out of fear and craving for our own security. We all have to embrace the spirit of Christmas - the giving of ourselves to others with the given risk that we lose ourselves in the giving.
At Christmas so many suffer. My friend and colleague had to bury his fiancé on Monday - his Christmas is overwhelmed by surrender of her to the Lord, and the ongoing surrender of his life and the lives of his children to God's grace and mercy. Christ's death and surrender on the cross is the only way though the making sense of such loss. There is a life beyond the grave which he earned for us - we were bought with a price.
In all of this we have no home again - just tenants under the pressure from a landlord . We have finally found the house we would love to buy and wait to see whether some new door will open. Foxes have holes and birds have nests... (Matt 8:19-20).
Why does Christmas make me jittery? Is it my inability each year to grasp the depths of this truth - this incarnational mystery of the God-person? Is it the fact of being foreigners on a distant island that is a chilling reminder that the God-person of Bethlehem became a refugee in Africa, with a lunatic king trying to perform an infant genocide?
Is it the world's manifest indifference towards the truth of this event that nags away in my heart? - if only I could get people to worship the Christ child gain.
Perhaps it is my my own loss - that tearing of those parts within that only those who have died a death ever understand. Mack, in "The Shack" by William P Young speaks of The Great Sadness. As I read this book I am faced with the gnawing suspicion that I have my Shack to visit too.
If you are still reading this you probably have scratched your head in bewilderment - wondering if I have lost the plot entirely. "Keep it simple, preacher man" I hear them say. It's just pre-Christmas jitters. If you don't get them, then don't fuss too much.
The impact of the Advent of Jesus Christ is another matter altogether. Have you felt the power of that impact? It's no steamroller - not a tsunami - perhaps impact is not the right word at all. Perhaps a warm flood....
Sunday, 12 October 2008
Sunday Sermon at St John's
Sunday 12th October 2008 ST JOHNS CHURCH 10.00am
2Sa 22:17 "He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.
2Sa 22:18 He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me.
2Sa 22:19 They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the LORD was my support.
2Sa 22:20 He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.
2Sa 22:21 "The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.
2Sa 22:22 For I have kept the ways of the LORD; I have not done evil by turning from my God.
2Sa 22:23 All his laws are before me; I have not turned away from his decrees.
2Sa 22:24 I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin.
2Sa 22:25 The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his sight.
2Sa 22:26 "To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
2Sa 22:27 to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.
2Sa 22:28 You save the humble, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low.
2Sa 22:29 You are my lamp, O LORD; the LORD turns my darkness into light.
Mat 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
Mat 5:14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
Mat 5:15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
Mat 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
MESSAGE
I love the dark. Especially out in the African sky – in what we call the GAMADOOLAS – back of beyond – the sticks. When you look up at night – when it’s really dark – the stars are just amazing, Wonderful.
The problem is that by the time the light of those stars reaches us – we can’t be sure that the stars are actually still there. If the closest star is 38,000,000,000,000 kilometres away, then what we see has come a long way over many years! It still gives us great joy to look at the stars – even little children sing about them!
TWINKLE TWINKLE LITTLE STAR
How I wonder what you are
OR
He made the stars to shine (twinkle twinkle)
He made the rolling sea (roll roll)
He made the mountains high (so high)
And he made me (and he made you)
And this is why I love him
For me he bled and died
The Lord of all creation
Became the crucified!
Other songs; This little light of mine. I’m going to let it shine – which we sang just now = speak of the light! Light is a wonderful thing! It dispels darkness! It shows the way. It calms us when we are afraid! It steadies our nerves.
A candle – was the subject of Jesus’ teaching in the Semon on the mount. An insignificant thing really. Not something that lasts either. It burns away.
The point is simple – the effective candle is the one that is put on a candlestick – so that it gives light to the house. That’s what candles are made for! They achieve their purpose when people are blessed – where they benefit from the light.
The Old Testament reading is a psalm of David buried in the second book of Samuel – pretty much the same as Psalm 18. What I like about this is that there is another angle to the lamp/light/candle image here.
2Sa 22:29 You are my lamp, O LORD; the LORD turns my darkness into light.
We often think of ourselves FIRST as the light that has to shine.It is GOD who is the lamp here – David states quite clearly: “you are my lamp o Lord. You turn my darkness into light”.
The Presbyterian metrical Psalm of Psalm 18 has this:
The Lord will light my candle so,
that it shall shine full bright:
The Lord my God will also make
my darkness to be light.
The movement from DARKNESS to LIGHT is a picture of what happens when we become a Christian. Its not an unfamiliar image – we’ve heard people testify that they have “seen the light”.
Peter puts it this way:
1Pe 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Paul puts it this way:
Eph 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light
And of course these words of Jesus:
Joh 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
What do we do with this?
It’s simple really. If we are to be the light we have to be in the light! We have to have the light of Christ in us. It’s our point of difference.
We should be concerned about the light of love shining in people’s lives in this community.
But most of all, we should want them to experience the light of Christ!
We should be concerned for justice for all – for the homeless and needy – for those who are hungry.
But we should also be concerned that those people discover the power of Christ in THEIR lives.
IN SHORT
The good news of what it means to have Christ in our lives motivates all that we do.
Whether we are concerned for ecology, global warming issues, or the use of toxic chemicals on our sports fields and parks where our children play –
WE NEED TO OFFER CHRIST AS THE WORD OF LIFE – the light of the world – who gives people direction and the right path to travel.
Paul puts it this way in Philippians
Do everything without complaining or arguing, Php 2:15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe Php 2:16 as you hold out the word of life.
We live in a society that is no different from that of Jesus’ day or Paul’s day. People have the same human needs – social and community needs – but the truth is that they are still struggling in the dark. Domestic violence is on the increase – or it is reported more – but it doesn’t go away. Neither does poverty.
And we have a light that should shine – we should make an impact on the community – the people we see – the people we work with – and the people who walk past this building.
The SYMBOLIC presence of the church stands for something. This church is known for its presence – its history in the city – and its signage. We had a church in Africa where lit banners on street lamps had a series of pictures of teens with interesting body piercing – and it ended with a message about JESUS – he too had his body pierced – on the cross.
Apart from our physical plant and its presence
OUR PRESENCE – as the LIVING BODY OF CHRIST - has to stand for something too. In fact it is the more important thing.
Research indicates that 90% of new people come to a church for the first time in response to personal invitations from family and friends. Only 2 % because of the preacher. But the ministry of preaching and teaching – the fellowship – and the community – will keep them there.
Here’s what may be happening:
We may be candles – but I suspect that we are under bushels. It’s almost a secret thing – our faith.
· We don’t share it
· We are terrified by the idea of inviting people to church
· We seldom really sit and talk about it
What we need is for the light of Jesus to burn in US – so brightly – that people will be drawn to the light like moths! Except they won’t be burned alive – they will be enlivened – filled with new energy. Revived – given new life – to pray, worship, love, speak boldly.
The church really grew not because of fancy buildings – or great plans – but because of a passion of a group of people who new how much God loved the world – that they went out to change it.
You’re going to hear promises galore in the next weeks – from American and New Zealand politicians. We are already! They’ll all promise to change things! And we need good leaders to change things!
The light that burns in us performs the deepest and most profound change – of our hearts and minds. Jesus – the light of the world!
The early church was crazy about the message – of Jesus and the resurrection.
They taught that the same spirit which raised Jesus from the dead dwells in us- bringing life and renewal.
Healing
Restoration
Forgiveness
Peace in times of trouble
Guidance
Provision
Driving out the darkness! - a story from Judaism
The pupils of a Hasidic rabbi approached their spiritual leader with a
complaint about the prevalence of evil in the world. Intent upon driving out
the forces of darkness, they requested the rabbi to counsel them.
The rabbi suggested that they take brooms and attempt to sweep the darkness
from a cellar. The bewildered disciples applied themselves to sweeping out
darkness, but to no avail. The rabbi then advised his followers to take
sticks and to beat vigorously at the darkness to drive out the evil. When
this likewise failed, he counseled them to go down again into the cellar and
protest against the darkness by shouting at it. When this, too, failed, he
said, "My children, let each of you meet the challenge of darkness by
lighting a candle."
The disciples descended to the cellar and kindled their lights. They looked,
and behold! the darkness had been driven out.
Let's keep singing - “This little light of mine - I’m going to let it shine”
2Sa 22:17 "He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.
2Sa 22:18 He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me.
2Sa 22:19 They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the LORD was my support.
2Sa 22:20 He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.
2Sa 22:21 "The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.
2Sa 22:22 For I have kept the ways of the LORD; I have not done evil by turning from my God.
2Sa 22:23 All his laws are before me; I have not turned away from his decrees.
2Sa 22:24 I have been blameless before him and have kept myself from sin.
2Sa 22:25 The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in his sight.
2Sa 22:26 "To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
2Sa 22:27 to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.
2Sa 22:28 You save the humble, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low.
2Sa 22:29 You are my lamp, O LORD; the LORD turns my darkness into light.
Mat 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
Mat 5:14 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
Mat 5:15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
Mat 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
MESSAGE
I love the dark. Especially out in the African sky – in what we call the GAMADOOLAS – back of beyond – the sticks. When you look up at night – when it’s really dark – the stars are just amazing, Wonderful.
The problem is that by the time the light of those stars reaches us – we can’t be sure that the stars are actually still there. If the closest star is 38,000,000,000,000 kilometres away, then what we see has come a long way over many years! It still gives us great joy to look at the stars – even little children sing about them!
TWINKLE TWINKLE LITTLE STAR
How I wonder what you are
OR
He made the stars to shine (twinkle twinkle)
He made the rolling sea (roll roll)
He made the mountains high (so high)
And he made me (and he made you)
And this is why I love him
For me he bled and died
The Lord of all creation
Became the crucified!
Other songs; This little light of mine. I’m going to let it shine – which we sang just now = speak of the light! Light is a wonderful thing! It dispels darkness! It shows the way. It calms us when we are afraid! It steadies our nerves.
A candle – was the subject of Jesus’ teaching in the Semon on the mount. An insignificant thing really. Not something that lasts either. It burns away.
The point is simple – the effective candle is the one that is put on a candlestick – so that it gives light to the house. That’s what candles are made for! They achieve their purpose when people are blessed – where they benefit from the light.
The Old Testament reading is a psalm of David buried in the second book of Samuel – pretty much the same as Psalm 18. What I like about this is that there is another angle to the lamp/light/candle image here.
2Sa 22:29 You are my lamp, O LORD; the LORD turns my darkness into light.
We often think of ourselves FIRST as the light that has to shine.It is GOD who is the lamp here – David states quite clearly: “you are my lamp o Lord. You turn my darkness into light”.
The Presbyterian metrical Psalm of Psalm 18 has this:
The Lord will light my candle so,
that it shall shine full bright:
The Lord my God will also make
my darkness to be light.
The movement from DARKNESS to LIGHT is a picture of what happens when we become a Christian. Its not an unfamiliar image – we’ve heard people testify that they have “seen the light”.
Peter puts it this way:
1Pe 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Paul puts it this way:
Eph 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light
And of course these words of Jesus:
Joh 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
What do we do with this?
It’s simple really. If we are to be the light we have to be in the light! We have to have the light of Christ in us. It’s our point of difference.
We should be concerned about the light of love shining in people’s lives in this community.
But most of all, we should want them to experience the light of Christ!
We should be concerned for justice for all – for the homeless and needy – for those who are hungry.
But we should also be concerned that those people discover the power of Christ in THEIR lives.
IN SHORT
The good news of what it means to have Christ in our lives motivates all that we do.
Whether we are concerned for ecology, global warming issues, or the use of toxic chemicals on our sports fields and parks where our children play –
WE NEED TO OFFER CHRIST AS THE WORD OF LIFE – the light of the world – who gives people direction and the right path to travel.
Paul puts it this way in Philippians
Do everything without complaining or arguing, Php 2:15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe Php 2:16 as you hold out the word of life.
We live in a society that is no different from that of Jesus’ day or Paul’s day. People have the same human needs – social and community needs – but the truth is that they are still struggling in the dark. Domestic violence is on the increase – or it is reported more – but it doesn’t go away. Neither does poverty.
And we have a light that should shine – we should make an impact on the community – the people we see – the people we work with – and the people who walk past this building.
The SYMBOLIC presence of the church stands for something. This church is known for its presence – its history in the city – and its signage. We had a church in Africa where lit banners on street lamps had a series of pictures of teens with interesting body piercing – and it ended with a message about JESUS – he too had his body pierced – on the cross.
Apart from our physical plant and its presence
OUR PRESENCE – as the LIVING BODY OF CHRIST - has to stand for something too. In fact it is the more important thing.
Research indicates that 90% of new people come to a church for the first time in response to personal invitations from family and friends. Only 2 % because of the preacher. But the ministry of preaching and teaching – the fellowship – and the community – will keep them there.
Here’s what may be happening:
We may be candles – but I suspect that we are under bushels. It’s almost a secret thing – our faith.
· We don’t share it
· We are terrified by the idea of inviting people to church
· We seldom really sit and talk about it
What we need is for the light of Jesus to burn in US – so brightly – that people will be drawn to the light like moths! Except they won’t be burned alive – they will be enlivened – filled with new energy. Revived – given new life – to pray, worship, love, speak boldly.
The church really grew not because of fancy buildings – or great plans – but because of a passion of a group of people who new how much God loved the world – that they went out to change it.
You’re going to hear promises galore in the next weeks – from American and New Zealand politicians. We are already! They’ll all promise to change things! And we need good leaders to change things!
The light that burns in us performs the deepest and most profound change – of our hearts and minds. Jesus – the light of the world!
The early church was crazy about the message – of Jesus and the resurrection.
They taught that the same spirit which raised Jesus from the dead dwells in us- bringing life and renewal.
Healing
Restoration
Forgiveness
Peace in times of trouble
Guidance
Provision
Driving out the darkness! - a story from Judaism
The pupils of a Hasidic rabbi approached their spiritual leader with a
complaint about the prevalence of evil in the world. Intent upon driving out
the forces of darkness, they requested the rabbi to counsel them.
The rabbi suggested that they take brooms and attempt to sweep the darkness
from a cellar. The bewildered disciples applied themselves to sweeping out
darkness, but to no avail. The rabbi then advised his followers to take
sticks and to beat vigorously at the darkness to drive out the evil. When
this likewise failed, he counseled them to go down again into the cellar and
protest against the darkness by shouting at it. When this, too, failed, he
said, "My children, let each of you meet the challenge of darkness by
lighting a candle."
The disciples descended to the cellar and kindled their lights. They looked,
and behold! the darkness had been driven out.
Let's keep singing - “This little light of mine - I’m going to let it shine”
Wednesday, 8 October 2008
Back to school
True to form, I am beginning to unwind just as the school holidays draw to a close. Always predictable and on target - it takes 10 days to really relax. When asked what I did in the holidays, I am seldom able to really recall. This recall thing is either drug related (all prescription of course) or an age factor (yes, yes I am approaching 50). So what has really moved me?
An art exhibition. The Rita Angus exhibition at Te Papa was awesome. I have little genuine appreciation for art, never having really been able to create much with pen or brush. This work moved me - ok I did not show the tears but it was profound in this sense - this was the deepest creativity of a woman ahead of her time. What can I say - a glimpse into the soul (looking into her eyes) and also looking through her eyes - the lens of shape and form, curious colours and wonderful vistas.
Enough of that. The exhibition is over and so was her life some decades back. Yet she lives and speaks. Abel too still speaks - the victim of a horrible fratricide. Millions of dead still speak - but how bad we are at listening. Will I still speak? Are people really listening while I live? When I cease to speak?
What else moved me this week? Brahms' German Requiem. I have always loved the fourth movement. The whole thing is not a good requiem in the Catholic sense - it is not for the dead but a Blessing for those who mourn. So on 9th November I will hear it in Wellington - commemorating the 70th anniversary of Kristallnacht on November 9, 1938. A Remembrance concert - including Boris Pigovat's Holocaust Requiem - he will be here from Israel for the concert.
O gosh, I am too easily moved. I have been for almost two years - finding myself weeping at the contradictions, the deep griefs, the dreadful capacity of powerful people who miss the point despite the greatness of their dreams.
Well there is this movie you could watch. Guess the poet:
Not for the proud man apart
From the raging moon I write
On these spindrift pages
Not for the towering dead
With their nightingales and psalms
But for the lovers, their arms
Round the griefs of the ages,
Who pay no praise or wages
Nor heed my craft or art.
Perhaps I am trying to put my arms around the griefs of the the ages. The task is just a little too big for me.
Yes it is "In My Craft Or Sullen Art". See the movie "The Edge of Love" - the actor playing the poet is Matthew Rhys. See the movie.
So what of back to school? Would that more would try to put their arms round the griefs of the ages. The cheerful energy and reckless abandon with which the young men face their dreams and avoid their tasks is both liberating and scary. This last stretch takes us through to Advent and - hopefully - a fresh celebration of the coming of the Light of Christ into the dreary fears of this choked world. The markets tumble - yet poor and desperate alike live day or hour to hour for simple gifts of love and food to nourish - and here we sit sharing words of colour and question - words travelling through the cyber-routes that criss-cross such pain and horror on this hectic globe.
Whatever you go back to each day - may you embrace the griefs and dance the joys.
An art exhibition. The Rita Angus exhibition at Te Papa was awesome. I have little genuine appreciation for art, never having really been able to create much with pen or brush. This work moved me - ok I did not show the tears but it was profound in this sense - this was the deepest creativity of a woman ahead of her time. What can I say - a glimpse into the soul (looking into her eyes) and also looking through her eyes - the lens of shape and form, curious colours and wonderful vistas.
Enough of that. The exhibition is over and so was her life some decades back. Yet she lives and speaks. Abel too still speaks - the victim of a horrible fratricide. Millions of dead still speak - but how bad we are at listening. Will I still speak? Are people really listening while I live? When I cease to speak?
What else moved me this week? Brahms' German Requiem. I have always loved the fourth movement. The whole thing is not a good requiem in the Catholic sense - it is not for the dead but a Blessing for those who mourn. So on 9th November I will hear it in Wellington - commemorating the 70th anniversary of Kristallnacht on November 9, 1938. A Remembrance concert - including Boris Pigovat's Holocaust Requiem - he will be here from Israel for the concert.
O gosh, I am too easily moved. I have been for almost two years - finding myself weeping at the contradictions, the deep griefs, the dreadful capacity of powerful people who miss the point despite the greatness of their dreams.
Well there is this movie you could watch. Guess the poet:
Not for the proud man apart
From the raging moon I write
On these spindrift pages
Not for the towering dead
With their nightingales and psalms
But for the lovers, their arms
Round the griefs of the ages,
Who pay no praise or wages
Nor heed my craft or art.
Perhaps I am trying to put my arms around the griefs of the the ages. The task is just a little too big for me.
Yes it is "In My Craft Or Sullen Art". See the movie "The Edge of Love" - the actor playing the poet is Matthew Rhys. See the movie.
So what of back to school? Would that more would try to put their arms round the griefs of the ages. The cheerful energy and reckless abandon with which the young men face their dreams and avoid their tasks is both liberating and scary. This last stretch takes us through to Advent and - hopefully - a fresh celebration of the coming of the Light of Christ into the dreary fears of this choked world. The markets tumble - yet poor and desperate alike live day or hour to hour for simple gifts of love and food to nourish - and here we sit sharing words of colour and question - words travelling through the cyber-routes that criss-cross such pain and horror on this hectic globe.
Whatever you go back to each day - may you embrace the griefs and dance the joys.
Saturday, 27 September 2008
Daylight Saved from today...
So I'm back from church and very pleased with myself and the congregation. We made it by 9.00am last week's time. We were officially there at 10.00am. Actually we were there at 9.10am last week's time. I religiously changed all the clocks except Sheilagh's watch - hence the tardiness. Oh - church does start at 10.00am here.
You could be forgiven for being confused by this outburst, but if you have never been in a country that puts its clocks forward or backwards at various times of the year, these things will make absolutely no sense. In short what matters is that Australia is 4 hours behind us now, while South Africa is now 1 hour ahead, although you have to switch from day to night or vice versa. Makes phone calls quite interesting.
Less confusing is this fact - that school has closed for the holidays. The Chaplain is always in an invidious position. The political situations determine what people hear in the sermons, even though I usually attempt simply to talk about what the Bible says, what it means, and how we should apply it to our lives. The fact that it does apply does not necessarily mean we are any worse than other schools. Sometimes we need to be more encouraging, at other times kinder, and every day grateful for the blessings we have. Like the average local church, the hearers tend to apply the message to everyone else except themselves.
On the home front, I am still praying that my children all find their direction and purpose in their respective lives. Chris is on the brink of a new job application process in a second interview phase. Not sure if that will make sense for you either. I pray that he finds the right job which will enable him to pursue his goals. David is a bit behind in that process but on the road. Roxanne is excelling at Art at school and has chosen her subjects for Level 2 - including Design and Painting. I am amazed at her creativity. She has exams next term to complete Level 1 NCEA (NZ year 11, Australian year 10, and South African who knows what- grade 10 I think).
Sheilagh is venturing into a new position in addition to her part-time library work. The local Baptist church has a centre called FAMILY SPACE and one of their programs starting next term is an aftercare centre. Sheilagh has been appointed as the Supervisor of this ministry. I guess you can call it a ministry. So there is much to be done in that department as things get started on 13th October.
My last two weeks have been quite hectic. The ski trip to the mountains was great fun, although I did not actually ski. Playing in the snow was fun enough. I found the stuff quite claustrophobic - perhaps because I was stuck on a mountain while it was actually snowing. The boys we took there were an interesting blend of internationals - some hours of Japanese singing on the way up and back proved entertaining.
The last weekend in Melbourne was dominated by the IB course called TOK (Theory of Knowledge). Met some fascinating people. Sheil went over the Tasman with me and the other 9 teachers from school, and enjoyed a three day tour including a proper bus trip up the coast to real touristy places. Melbourne is a lovely city, but sadly the wind there is more extreme in some ways than Wellington. The fact that there are more people living in the city than the whole of New Zealand is just another bit of trivia.
Since last writing to you, the South Africans in our number have a new President and cabinet, including, thankfully, a new health minister. Away with Dr Beetroot and Garlic. I'm not sure that New Zealand will manage to change prime ministers with such little obvious fuss. Our election is drawing near and most of us believe we need a change. Politics are rather messy here - too much personal muck dug up about people. I think we need more focus on policies. With the world economic melt down. more interest will be focused on the US. In a matter of time we will know the outcomes of all these things.
We are half way to that place when we will have the option of applying to become Kiwis. It takes 5 years of being permanent residents before you can do that. So two and a half years down the track what has changed for us? I guess we feel less like South Africans as such, but not more like Kiwis. I talk about being an African, which creates some confusion in those who make assumptions. We do feel like global citizens - a bit more connected with the wider world, even though we have never crossed the equator. Our Christian identity makes so much easier for us - we have this wonderful worldwide family. Maybe that's what we all need to work on - being people of integrity in living out our faith.
So as we enjoy the benefits of spring, the onset of summer, and the extra hour's daylight we have saved by fiddling with the clocks, may you feel the warmth of love and support you need from your family and friends. Community needs to work for it to be the added bonus of a safe place where people know and accept you as one of them. Perhaps that is the African thing that I can't shake off.
You could be forgiven for being confused by this outburst, but if you have never been in a country that puts its clocks forward or backwards at various times of the year, these things will make absolutely no sense. In short what matters is that Australia is 4 hours behind us now, while South Africa is now 1 hour ahead, although you have to switch from day to night or vice versa. Makes phone calls quite interesting.
Less confusing is this fact - that school has closed for the holidays. The Chaplain is always in an invidious position. The political situations determine what people hear in the sermons, even though I usually attempt simply to talk about what the Bible says, what it means, and how we should apply it to our lives. The fact that it does apply does not necessarily mean we are any worse than other schools. Sometimes we need to be more encouraging, at other times kinder, and every day grateful for the blessings we have. Like the average local church, the hearers tend to apply the message to everyone else except themselves.
On the home front, I am still praying that my children all find their direction and purpose in their respective lives. Chris is on the brink of a new job application process in a second interview phase. Not sure if that will make sense for you either. I pray that he finds the right job which will enable him to pursue his goals. David is a bit behind in that process but on the road. Roxanne is excelling at Art at school and has chosen her subjects for Level 2 - including Design and Painting. I am amazed at her creativity. She has exams next term to complete Level 1 NCEA (NZ year 11, Australian year 10, and South African who knows what- grade 10 I think).
Sheilagh is venturing into a new position in addition to her part-time library work. The local Baptist church has a centre called FAMILY SPACE and one of their programs starting next term is an aftercare centre. Sheilagh has been appointed as the Supervisor of this ministry. I guess you can call it a ministry. So there is much to be done in that department as things get started on 13th October.
My last two weeks have been quite hectic. The ski trip to the mountains was great fun, although I did not actually ski. Playing in the snow was fun enough. I found the stuff quite claustrophobic - perhaps because I was stuck on a mountain while it was actually snowing. The boys we took there were an interesting blend of internationals - some hours of Japanese singing on the way up and back proved entertaining.
The last weekend in Melbourne was dominated by the IB course called TOK (Theory of Knowledge). Met some fascinating people. Sheil went over the Tasman with me and the other 9 teachers from school, and enjoyed a three day tour including a proper bus trip up the coast to real touristy places. Melbourne is a lovely city, but sadly the wind there is more extreme in some ways than Wellington. The fact that there are more people living in the city than the whole of New Zealand is just another bit of trivia.
Since last writing to you, the South Africans in our number have a new President and cabinet, including, thankfully, a new health minister. Away with Dr Beetroot and Garlic. I'm not sure that New Zealand will manage to change prime ministers with such little obvious fuss. Our election is drawing near and most of us believe we need a change. Politics are rather messy here - too much personal muck dug up about people. I think we need more focus on policies. With the world economic melt down. more interest will be focused on the US. In a matter of time we will know the outcomes of all these things.
We are half way to that place when we will have the option of applying to become Kiwis. It takes 5 years of being permanent residents before you can do that. So two and a half years down the track what has changed for us? I guess we feel less like South Africans as such, but not more like Kiwis. I talk about being an African, which creates some confusion in those who make assumptions. We do feel like global citizens - a bit more connected with the wider world, even though we have never crossed the equator. Our Christian identity makes so much easier for us - we have this wonderful worldwide family. Maybe that's what we all need to work on - being people of integrity in living out our faith.
So as we enjoy the benefits of spring, the onset of summer, and the extra hour's daylight we have saved by fiddling with the clocks, may you feel the warmth of love and support you need from your family and friends. Community needs to work for it to be the added bonus of a safe place where people know and accept you as one of them. Perhaps that is the African thing that I can't shake off.
Wednesday, 10 September 2008
Spring
We live in hope. As September approached I was really hopeful that the sun would shine on a more committed basis. I am reminded of our years in Rustenburg where a twiggy little fig tree would produce a green leaf just on time when Spring started. When summer comes we have daylight saving here - and the evenings are the sunny times with long walks on the beach.
Greetings from these wobbly islands. An earthquake of 5.9 in the Hawke's Bay sent bottles of lovely wine crashing on the floor in the supermarkets recently, reminding us of the fragility of things. There are some 15 000 quakes a year - a secret not revealed to us when we first considered moving here. Wellington, lying lazily on two fault lines, has the most amazing houses perched on the sides of hills. Auckland is more stable, but above average rainfall over the last three months has caused major land slips and large town house complexes are now at risk of slipping down the hill. As are other very nice houses. There is this story in the gospel of Matthew about houses on rock and sand, if I recall.
The steady things in our lives - work, children, food becoming more expensive, and the delight of a gas heater which can warm this icy house. All in all we can not complain, as we are blessed in so many ways. The winter ailments caught a number of people, especially young people.
The local political scene is hotting up as New Zealand approaches its next general election. The opposition is still ahead in the polls, but is losing ground. I suspect Labour may still sneak in as so many people will vote for the safety of its rather socialist system.
Our personal challenge is to present a relevant and consistent Christian witness in the community. School life is quite hectic, but there are regular sources of joy and celebration as we continue to try to make a difference through our presence there. We enjoyed a worship celebration recently - over two hours of worship and listening to Scripture, which was edifying and refreshing. Our neighbours invited us to their local church for that. Chapel services at school are not exactly the most riveting worship experiences - it takes a long time to get students to learn new songs!
Blessings and peace to you all. Do take care.
love
Robin
Greetings from these wobbly islands. An earthquake of 5.9 in the Hawke's Bay sent bottles of lovely wine crashing on the floor in the supermarkets recently, reminding us of the fragility of things. There are some 15 000 quakes a year - a secret not revealed to us when we first considered moving here. Wellington, lying lazily on two fault lines, has the most amazing houses perched on the sides of hills. Auckland is more stable, but above average rainfall over the last three months has caused major land slips and large town house complexes are now at risk of slipping down the hill. As are other very nice houses. There is this story in the gospel of Matthew about houses on rock and sand, if I recall.
The steady things in our lives - work, children, food becoming more expensive, and the delight of a gas heater which can warm this icy house. All in all we can not complain, as we are blessed in so many ways. The winter ailments caught a number of people, especially young people.
The local political scene is hotting up as New Zealand approaches its next general election. The opposition is still ahead in the polls, but is losing ground. I suspect Labour may still sneak in as so many people will vote for the safety of its rather socialist system.
Our personal challenge is to present a relevant and consistent Christian witness in the community. School life is quite hectic, but there are regular sources of joy and celebration as we continue to try to make a difference through our presence there. We enjoyed a worship celebration recently - over two hours of worship and listening to Scripture, which was edifying and refreshing. Our neighbours invited us to their local church for that. Chapel services at school are not exactly the most riveting worship experiences - it takes a long time to get students to learn new songs!
Blessings and peace to you all. Do take care.
love
Robin
Sunday, 22 June 2008
June is flying along
Hello all
I had one email from a member of our email list checking that she had not been excommunicated from the cyberchurch! No - the good news is that we are all still alive and kicking, to use an old phrase. I have been busy and also sick for the last 3 weeks on and off.
The school term is three weeks from completion which is quite scary. Our 6 month stay in this house has grown to 10 months which is tricky seeing that we did not unpack things on account of the planned short stay. Ha Ha. So we will have winter here. The gas fire in the lounge keeps that part of the house warm while electric heaters are needed in all the other rooms. It is a pleasant reasonably priced rental with one son in the study and the other living in the dining room.
Will be visiting in Melbourne in September at an IB conference and Sheilagh will come with to shop in what is the Kiwi shopping destination of choice. She will enjoy what is a beautiful city. In the July hols we will visit Sydney. There are lovely destinations in Australia as a holiday place - time for a good break!
On a personal note I finished part 1 of the MA Tesol course and have asked for an interim Hons BA to be awarded in July. I will not make it to Pretoria for the graduation but after 5 years of study I am relieved that something concrete (paper...) will come of it. In the future I may well teach English in some exotic place.
Great news from South Africa is that my niece Joanne is pregnant. Well done Dene and Joanne! So I am due to be a great Uncle!! This is the first of that generation and the family is really delighted. The Gellings are all doing well in Johannesburg. Congrats to my sister Anne, her husband John , and sister Kerry as well.
Sheilagh's mum is in Heidelberg in Gauteng and planning to visit at some stage. Her dad and Rosemary are now in Tauranga with Jenny and Lionel. Di and Noel and their family in Brisbane are all excelling - Kelvin and Brigitte are doing very well at school, and Brett now lives on the Gold Coast and works as a financial advisor.
Back in Port Shepstone two of our dear old friends Betty Messina and Maddie McDouall have passed away after becoming very frail. We remember them fondly. The Presby church there is still limping along, aided by Stella Donald who has returned from the UK, thankfully. She is great in the office prodding away and keeping people looking forward.
So we approach our 3rd winter and I must say it isn't that intimidating. There was snow recently and the ski fields have opened I believe. No - I will not be propelling myself down any of those volcanoes. At school shortly we will have our first EARTHQUAKE drill. Drop, cover and hold is the simple way forward.I can imagine my year nines holding on to their desks on the floor with great glee and propelling them around the room while teacher braces in the doorway like Sampson of old. Actually one has to drop and brace... Let's pray that we don't ever get the big one that Wellington is expected to receive. We think of those tens of thousands dead in China - especially the kids in the classrooms. We remember the countless bereaved.
A cheerful thought - some jokes to make your June move along happily:
Teacher: Billy, name two pronouns. Billy: Who, me?
Teacher: Very good!
The child comes home from his first day at school.
Mother asks, "What did you learn today?"
The kid replies, "Not enough. I have to go back tomorrow."
The following notes from parents excusing their children
from attending school have been around a while but if you
haven't seen them, I'm sure you will get a kick out of them:
"Please excuse Freddie from being away yesterday because he had the fuel."
"Please accuse Michael from being absent on January 30 because he was aleing."
"George was absent yesterday because of a sore trout."
"Please excuse Betsey from being absent. She was sick and I had her shot."
"Joseph has been absent becuz he had two teeth taken off his face."
"My son is under doctor's care and should not take fisical education. Please execute him."
"Please excuse Ralph from school on Friday. He had very loose vowels."
Blessings and love
Robin
I had one email from a member of our email list checking that she had not been excommunicated from the cyberchurch! No - the good news is that we are all still alive and kicking, to use an old phrase. I have been busy and also sick for the last 3 weeks on and off.
The school term is three weeks from completion which is quite scary. Our 6 month stay in this house has grown to 10 months which is tricky seeing that we did not unpack things on account of the planned short stay. Ha Ha. So we will have winter here. The gas fire in the lounge keeps that part of the house warm while electric heaters are needed in all the other rooms. It is a pleasant reasonably priced rental with one son in the study and the other living in the dining room.
Will be visiting in Melbourne in September at an IB conference and Sheilagh will come with to shop in what is the Kiwi shopping destination of choice. She will enjoy what is a beautiful city. In the July hols we will visit Sydney. There are lovely destinations in Australia as a holiday place - time for a good break!
On a personal note I finished part 1 of the MA Tesol course and have asked for an interim Hons BA to be awarded in July. I will not make it to Pretoria for the graduation but after 5 years of study I am relieved that something concrete (paper...) will come of it. In the future I may well teach English in some exotic place.
Great news from South Africa is that my niece Joanne is pregnant. Well done Dene and Joanne! So I am due to be a great Uncle!! This is the first of that generation and the family is really delighted. The Gellings are all doing well in Johannesburg. Congrats to my sister Anne, her husband John , and sister Kerry as well.
Sheilagh's mum is in Heidelberg in Gauteng and planning to visit at some stage. Her dad and Rosemary are now in Tauranga with Jenny and Lionel. Di and Noel and their family in Brisbane are all excelling - Kelvin and Brigitte are doing very well at school, and Brett now lives on the Gold Coast and works as a financial advisor.
Back in Port Shepstone two of our dear old friends Betty Messina and Maddie McDouall have passed away after becoming very frail. We remember them fondly. The Presby church there is still limping along, aided by Stella Donald who has returned from the UK, thankfully. She is great in the office prodding away and keeping people looking forward.
So we approach our 3rd winter and I must say it isn't that intimidating. There was snow recently and the ski fields have opened I believe. No - I will not be propelling myself down any of those volcanoes. At school shortly we will have our first EARTHQUAKE drill. Drop, cover and hold is the simple way forward.I can imagine my year nines holding on to their desks on the floor with great glee and propelling them around the room while teacher braces in the doorway like Sampson of old. Actually one has to drop and brace... Let's pray that we don't ever get the big one that Wellington is expected to receive. We think of those tens of thousands dead in China - especially the kids in the classrooms. We remember the countless bereaved.
A cheerful thought - some jokes to make your June move along happily:
Teacher: Billy, name two pronouns. Billy: Who, me?
Teacher: Very good!
The child comes home from his first day at school.
Mother asks, "What did you learn today?"
The kid replies, "Not enough. I have to go back tomorrow."
The following notes from parents excusing their children
from attending school have been around a while but if you
haven't seen them, I'm sure you will get a kick out of them:
"Please excuse Freddie from being away yesterday because he had the fuel."
"Please accuse Michael from being absent on January 30 because he was aleing."
"George was absent yesterday because of a sore trout."
"Please excuse Betsey from being absent. She was sick and I had her shot."
"Joseph has been absent becuz he had two teeth taken off his face."
"My son is under doctor's care and should not take fisical education. Please execute him."
"Please excuse Ralph from school on Friday. He had very loose vowels."
Blessings and love
Robin
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