Dear friends around the world,
To those old friends who are new on this list, welcome! I am sorry that you were left off. Some were on the old Presby list from my former parish which is seldom used these days! This email newsletter is to keep you in touch with Robin, Sheilagh, Christopher, David and Roxanne in New Zealand. We'd love to hear from you.We are reaching our second Christmas in New Zealand, and I write this delicately balanced between two family birthdays. So a bit of news for the many new members!
We moved here at the end of March 2006 in response to various things - family enthusiasm, the desire for a new beginning and opportunities for our children, and my growing passion for working in schools which developed on the South Coast of Natal. Leaving the parish there was really hard for me. I am pleased to report that it is doing well under the leadership of Damien Williams who will be ordained soon, and Denzil Lloyd-Evans, the Session Clerk and truly one of the kindest and most supportive men I have ever worked with. All of that is a joy to me, and we still hear regularly from our friends there.
Immigration is a tumultuous and painful journey. Leaving Africa is tough in addition. We miss the warmth and vibrancy of the land and people. Looking back on the long trip here, and the journey we have taken in the last 20 months, I must say that we haven't done badly. The first winter was terrible - the summer lovely. We have winter rainfall here and long hot dry summer days - more of a Mediterranean climate. With daylight saving the sun goes down after 9.00pm so the evenings can be very nice.
My work as a school chaplain is challenging and very special. A couple of cards from boys at Christmas are always a source of energy as you realise what a difference you can make. Pastoral care of families is like that of a parish - I can do that and support those in crisis and bereavement. I love the classroom and the challenge. In addition I will have a colleague in 2008 who will teach RE with me and do some chapel work.
Sheilagh had some valuable months off after working with Smile and being a parish wife for so long. In January this year she took the plunge and went to work at Scots College where I am - in the school library. Using her considerable gifts in the book trade and her people and business skills and adding on the dreaded IT challenge, I must say that she is remarkable and I am very proud of her. She is now also selling Avon products and again networks with people and makes friends. Now that the boys know she is the Chaplain's wife, she is also a counsellor in the library! When I am away, they drift in her direction.
Our children have found this move really tough. If you want to change countries, do it when your kids are younger! But we have come through a long challenging time quite well. Chris has finished an IT diploma at the Polytech, and David has dabbled in some home studies. Dave is a master gamer (computer gamer) and usually on top of the logs in New Zealand in his field. He comes home from the competitions loaded with prizes. Roxanne turned 15 yesterday. School is going very well. She is working at the local New World to raise money for her school trip to China, and busking in the city with a friend (two guitars and lots of nice songs they sing and write). She is a great daughter and good supportive friend to others. Roxanne picked up Chinese last year, having had to catch up with her class and has done very well. All the kids have bikes and cycling in the summer is great here. Wellington is a lovely city, and we are quite settled. We will spend Christmas eve together at home this year by general agreement. On Christmas day we will meet with some of our SA friends for lunch.
The rest of the family is scattered around. Sheilagh's mum is still in Heidelberg in Gauteng and her sister Colleen is with her. Her dad and step-mum are in Durban after moving here without getting proper residence - their belongings are here and they had to go back to SA. We are not sure what their plans are. Family has to be sponsored by members who have been permanent residents here for at least three years, and there is no guarantee of getting in. Sheilagh's step sister has been here longer than us, but I think they miscalculated somewhere.
My sister Anne has had a great year in Johannesburg. She is deputy head of St Andrew's School. Her husband John is Principal of De La Salle Holy Cross College in Linden and has done really well too. Anne writes and publishes various text books, and both of them are really good at their vocations. Kerry has just graduated recently and Joanne is also a qualified teacher and married to Dene. All these good teachers. Kerry is setting up a music department at St Benedict's as well. We miss them all very much.
Sheilagh's youngest sister Diane is married to Noel and they live in Brisbane. They are very happy there with Kelvin and Briggie who are great kids who are a delight to have around and excelling in their lives. Diane works really hard at work and at home and is the best mum to her family. Noel works long hard hours, but they all love the place and the lifestyle. Brett lives on the Gold Coast not far from them and is also doing extremely well in his career.We were fortunate enough to visit in April. Robin attended a conference and Roxanne and Sheilagh had a lovely time exploring Brisbane, going on the ferry and being thoroughly spoilt. Noel returned from the Philippines on the w/e and we shot off to the Gold Coast a place were SAs can feel very at home.The sand is a squeaky clean white.
So all in all our families are in good heart this Christmas. We trust that you are all well and that Christmas is going to be a blessing and good time together. May 2008 be even better for you all. We look forward to hearing from you. Apologies to those friends we have neglected.
Blessings and love
Robin, Sheilagh, Christopher, David and Roxanne.
Wednesday, 12 December 2007
Saturday, 8 December 2007
Great Stories - from THE QUAD
From the Chaplain’s Pen. “GREAT STORIES”
As you read this you will no doubt be facing the pressures of the Christmas season. Families and friends will gather together, holidays will be planned, and there will be much to celebrate. Most of us will be glad to have a real break after a demanding and challenging year at Scots.
Not all that we experience at school is of a happy nature, however. There are tough lessons to be learned. Academic and sporting successes and failures we cope with - there are always opportunities to try again. It is in the area of emotional and social literacy that many of our students and families often struggle. Our high-tech children are sometimes low-tech in terms of their ability to co-exist with people of other backgrounds, cultures, religions, and points of view. Much time needs to be spent in working on conflict resolution, changing unkind behaviour, and dealing with experiences that score very low on the achievement scale of decency. And of course our children have to live with themselves as they journey towards an adult understanding of their meaning and purpose in life.
Schools have to spend more and more time and energy today on building social and emotional health. Students today have high levels of stress, and need good ways of processing this.
A simple solution? Perhaps create more time to talk, share, and listen together as families and as a school community. Those little boys at the gates of school are suddenly gone, and parents and teachers easily miss most important opportunities of sharing our life stories.
The Christmas story, like other significant stories, brings back memories of the warmth and joy of our own childhoods. It also tells of a God-event in which the Divine meets us in the very ordinary. In this story God affirms our world with its human dramas.
Our national, cultural, and personal stories all matter. Our children’s stories are also so different from ours. We need to hear each other.
My prayer is this: whatever challenges we face, may the outcomes of our life-stories be worthy of honour and retelling. May our students’ stories at school and at home have the very best of endings.
As you read this you will no doubt be facing the pressures of the Christmas season. Families and friends will gather together, holidays will be planned, and there will be much to celebrate. Most of us will be glad to have a real break after a demanding and challenging year at Scots.
Not all that we experience at school is of a happy nature, however. There are tough lessons to be learned. Academic and sporting successes and failures we cope with - there are always opportunities to try again. It is in the area of emotional and social literacy that many of our students and families often struggle. Our high-tech children are sometimes low-tech in terms of their ability to co-exist with people of other backgrounds, cultures, religions, and points of view. Much time needs to be spent in working on conflict resolution, changing unkind behaviour, and dealing with experiences that score very low on the achievement scale of decency. And of course our children have to live with themselves as they journey towards an adult understanding of their meaning and purpose in life.
Schools have to spend more and more time and energy today on building social and emotional health. Students today have high levels of stress, and need good ways of processing this.
A simple solution? Perhaps create more time to talk, share, and listen together as families and as a school community. Those little boys at the gates of school are suddenly gone, and parents and teachers easily miss most important opportunities of sharing our life stories.
The Christmas story, like other significant stories, brings back memories of the warmth and joy of our own childhoods. It also tells of a God-event in which the Divine meets us in the very ordinary. In this story God affirms our world with its human dramas.
Our national, cultural, and personal stories all matter. Our children’s stories are also so different from ours. We need to hear each other.
My prayer is this: whatever challenges we face, may the outcomes of our life-stories be worthy of honour and retelling. May our students’ stories at school and at home have the very best of endings.
Monday, 3 December 2007
Christmas reflection from the Chaplain - to staff at school
Dear colleagues and friends,
A short reflection on Christmas is appropriate at the end of the term. While some may delete this email before reading it, the special character of our school - in terms of the founding fathers who were committed Christians and Presbyterians - requires that the story be told even if it falls on deaf ears. No self-respecting minister would fail to tell this story again.
Christmas is a family celebration about a birth. A new beginning in almost impossible situations. A family on a journey because of a political decree. A busy town with "no vacancy" at every gate. A dodgy and unsuitable place for a child to be born. Implications in the lives of the poor (shepherds) the educated (high priests and magi from a foreign land), and political instability (the murder of the infants). A little family takes on refugee status. And in the midst of the turmoil angelic hosts are heard singing.
The modern Christmas shopper probably thinks little of all of that. It is in the distant past, relegated to the place of myth and legend. Overwhelmed and indeed challenged by a hundred Christmas brochures and lovely leaflets, and armed with considerable wads of plastic, s/he hits the streets and malls, harassed by greedy-eyed offspring who have already heard at school what manner of gifts their peers will get, and how they long for better greater brighter loads - heaps of hi-tech and glitzy stuff.
For those of us who have a chapel spirituality and are somewhat relieved when exam desks end our weekly contemplations here at school, the idea of Christmas in church may well be quite foreign and removed from the family pressures of obligatory gatherings and generous doses of other breads and wines.
For some, a visit to St Christopher's or some other sanctuary presents the true bright light of the season. A midnight service - a quiet song or stillness - the taste of holy things at mass or Eucharist - the Lord's table - and Christmas shapes hearts of gratitude and praise.
May you have some stillness at Christmas. May you reflect on your life - your heritage and your future - with new sense of gratitude for all that is good and fine, worthy of the investment of time and energy. May you have hope - so central in this story - hope which is so needed in the lives of those who have found this year a painful and difficult journey. May you be refreshed and renewed, and know the fullness of love that underpins this long tradition of Christmas. It is the love of God for us that is at the heart of the matter.
A blessed Christmas to you and your loved ones.
Robin
Rev Robin Palmer
Chaplain
A short reflection on Christmas is appropriate at the end of the term. While some may delete this email before reading it, the special character of our school - in terms of the founding fathers who were committed Christians and Presbyterians - requires that the story be told even if it falls on deaf ears. No self-respecting minister would fail to tell this story again.
Christmas is a family celebration about a birth. A new beginning in almost impossible situations. A family on a journey because of a political decree. A busy town with "no vacancy" at every gate. A dodgy and unsuitable place for a child to be born. Implications in the lives of the poor (shepherds) the educated (high priests and magi from a foreign land), and political instability (the murder of the infants). A little family takes on refugee status. And in the midst of the turmoil angelic hosts are heard singing.
The modern Christmas shopper probably thinks little of all of that. It is in the distant past, relegated to the place of myth and legend. Overwhelmed and indeed challenged by a hundred Christmas brochures and lovely leaflets, and armed with considerable wads of plastic, s/he hits the streets and malls, harassed by greedy-eyed offspring who have already heard at school what manner of gifts their peers will get, and how they long for better greater brighter loads - heaps of hi-tech and glitzy stuff.
For those of us who have a chapel spirituality and are somewhat relieved when exam desks end our weekly contemplations here at school, the idea of Christmas in church may well be quite foreign and removed from the family pressures of obligatory gatherings and generous doses of other breads and wines.
For some, a visit to St Christopher's or some other sanctuary presents the true bright light of the season. A midnight service - a quiet song or stillness - the taste of holy things at mass or Eucharist - the Lord's table - and Christmas shapes hearts of gratitude and praise.
May you have some stillness at Christmas. May you reflect on your life - your heritage and your future - with new sense of gratitude for all that is good and fine, worthy of the investment of time and energy. May you have hope - so central in this story - hope which is so needed in the lives of those who have found this year a painful and difficult journey. May you be refreshed and renewed, and know the fullness of love that underpins this long tradition of Christmas. It is the love of God for us that is at the heart of the matter.
A blessed Christmas to you and your loved ones.
Robin
Rev Robin Palmer
Chaplain
Friday, 9 November 2007
Celebrating
College Chapel service 9 November 2007
Psalm 90
Philippians 4:6-9
So has it been a good year? Or a pretty bad one? Excellent year? Meritorious? Achieved? Or not? If it’s been perfect, then maybe you’ve been asleep most of the time. Or ignoring the opportunities you have to help others. Someone once said: When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.
There are different ways of dealing with the good and bad in life. Some people are quite philosophical. They say these kinds of things in order to cope with the ups and downs of life: Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue. That may not be the best approach…. Maybe we should teach people to fly, or clean statues!
We’ve heard a few stories of successes this year. I think there are lots of things to celebrate! There will be more before the year is out.
So what does the Bible say?
The Psalm we read today is a bit gloomy in parts. We are like weeds that sprout in the morning – and are dead by night. Things like that – and the bit about us going back to dust. It speaks of the inevitability of our life coming to an end!
But there are some glimpses of celebration. There are these prayers:
Satisfy us in the morning with your constant love, so that we may sing and be glad all our days!
Lord our God, may your blessings be with us! Give us success in all we do!
Success in all we do is not always being first. Sometimes it is being faithful. Not giving up.
For some it’s having courage to try new things.
For some success is simply making a new friend – and keeping the new friend!
One person wrote of a particular student: It may be that his sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others. Well we do learn from things that go wrong.
What we really need to do is to celebrate every success! All the time! With an attitude of gratitude. And with a song in our hearts!
And following our second reading:
Instead of worrying, pray!
And then Paul goes on to say that we should fill our minds with good things!
In addition it helps to fill our minds with the work we need to remember for our exams.
Prayer doesn’t work when you haven’t done the work. Like the boy who prayed a prayer that God could not answer after his exam: “God, please make Paris the capital of Germany”.
May you find strength as you celebrate this year – discipline as you focus on these next weeks and finish the year well – and true happiness. Remember what Abraham Lincoln said: Most people are about as happy as they choose to be.
The choice of faith makes a difference:
Satisfy us in the morning with your constant love, so that we may sing and be glad all our days!
Lord our God, may your blessings be with us! Give us success in all we do!
Psalm 90
Philippians 4:6-9
So has it been a good year? Or a pretty bad one? Excellent year? Meritorious? Achieved? Or not? If it’s been perfect, then maybe you’ve been asleep most of the time. Or ignoring the opportunities you have to help others. Someone once said: When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.
There are different ways of dealing with the good and bad in life. Some people are quite philosophical. They say these kinds of things in order to cope with the ups and downs of life: Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue. That may not be the best approach…. Maybe we should teach people to fly, or clean statues!
We’ve heard a few stories of successes this year. I think there are lots of things to celebrate! There will be more before the year is out.
So what does the Bible say?
The Psalm we read today is a bit gloomy in parts. We are like weeds that sprout in the morning – and are dead by night. Things like that – and the bit about us going back to dust. It speaks of the inevitability of our life coming to an end!
But there are some glimpses of celebration. There are these prayers:
Satisfy us in the morning with your constant love, so that we may sing and be glad all our days!
Lord our God, may your blessings be with us! Give us success in all we do!
Success in all we do is not always being first. Sometimes it is being faithful. Not giving up.
For some it’s having courage to try new things.
For some success is simply making a new friend – and keeping the new friend!
One person wrote of a particular student: It may be that his sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others. Well we do learn from things that go wrong.
What we really need to do is to celebrate every success! All the time! With an attitude of gratitude. And with a song in our hearts!
And following our second reading:
Instead of worrying, pray!
And then Paul goes on to say that we should fill our minds with good things!
In addition it helps to fill our minds with the work we need to remember for our exams.
Prayer doesn’t work when you haven’t done the work. Like the boy who prayed a prayer that God could not answer after his exam: “God, please make Paris the capital of Germany”.
May you find strength as you celebrate this year – discipline as you focus on these next weeks and finish the year well – and true happiness. Remember what Abraham Lincoln said: Most people are about as happy as they choose to be.
The choice of faith makes a difference:
Satisfy us in the morning with your constant love, so that we may sing and be glad all our days!
Lord our God, may your blessings be with us! Give us success in all we do!
Friday, 2 November 2007
Death and the fires
Psalm 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; I will fear no one. The LORD protects me from all danger; I will never be afraid.
Mat 5:16 In the same way your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.
We had this interesting discussion in an RE class this week. About cremation. It actually started with the topic of relics – how many bits of bone fragment could be retrieved from a cremated religious leader. That led to a discussion of how people dispose of the cremated remains of people. Some are kept. Some are scattered. Some are scattered at sea, or out of plane windows. Some have been scattered over the edge of hills or cliffs, only to land on unsuspecting tourists below.
It all depends hot the flame are – I guess – as to what you have left.
It sounds bizarre. A bit gross. Some people get all stressed by those conversations.
It’s about death of course. A probability of one. We all face it. Eventually.
Perhaps we’d all be better off if we talked about that eventuality more. It would help us to come to terms with our humanity. Perhaps to respect life more. And others.
Possibly the worst thing about death is that people are left with regrets – about things that they’ve done and said – especially when a person dies very suddenly. More than once I’ve had to deal with people banging on coffins and yelling at the dead body. Or visiting the grave a lot and talking. At least one young man shared beers with his dead brother at the grave. Pouring them onto the young man’s burial mound. What a waste, some might say. It’s just what grief does. It was quite helpful really. He didn't do it for ever.
Perhaps the fact that people die should make us treat them better when they’re alive.
* Make more time to spend with good friends.
* Fix the messed up relationships – say sorry more.
* Be kinder and tolerant of others who we might not always like.
* Forgive. They could be hit by a bus any time. So could we.
The reading today had something to say about being the light of the world. About letting our light shine.
I’d like to ask you – students and staff – this question today.
What kind of light are you?
* A pumpkin like the Jack-o-lanterns at Halloween? A hollow head with a light inside that creates a strange and quirky image from the outside?
* A guy Fawkes light – short fuse and loud noise – that really has no lasting influence for good. Full of sound and fury. And perhaps a bit idiotic.
* A torch – guiding others and showing the way – real peer support – mentoring and sharing of the right path for others.
* A lighthouse – a helpful beacon showing a safer way – sturdy and constant.
* A useful fire – cooking and feeding others – nurturing and encouraging them
* Or a horrible fire – the kind of person who brings the flames of hell into other’s lives.
Our first reading today began with this:
The LORD is my light and my salvation
Real direction is found in a relationship with a God who himself guides, protects, nurtures and directs.
The stories of great men and women of faith through the ages reflect lives that shine – and many shine beyond their generation – they shine through the pages of history.
That kind of light needs to shine in this school. We have a shot at behavioural change. We talk about responsibility. We hold people accountable for what they do. We punish and attempt to correct behaviour.
The real change – from the Bible’s point of view – comes from a change of heart. It’s the burning fire within when God speaks to us – and we really know that we have missed the mark. That we have hurt others. That what we do is not just unhelpful, but also sometimes plain evil. It is an offense to God and others. It’s called sin.
The remedy is not in the laws of the land. Not in the Parliament, or in the courts. Those things create the boundaries – as do rules and codes of conduct.
The remedy is in the transformation needed on the inside.
The light of Christ needs to shine.
The change comes in you and me when we believe and allow God to change us.
So what will you do with this light? It’s up to you really…
There’s more than just forgiveness when we put our faith in God.
There’s the promise of eternal life – which puts death into its proper place.
AND there is a whole new way so seeing the world and treating others.
We need this change in this place. Amen.
Mat 5:16 In the same way your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.
We had this interesting discussion in an RE class this week. About cremation. It actually started with the topic of relics – how many bits of bone fragment could be retrieved from a cremated religious leader. That led to a discussion of how people dispose of the cremated remains of people. Some are kept. Some are scattered. Some are scattered at sea, or out of plane windows. Some have been scattered over the edge of hills or cliffs, only to land on unsuspecting tourists below.
It all depends hot the flame are – I guess – as to what you have left.
It sounds bizarre. A bit gross. Some people get all stressed by those conversations.
It’s about death of course. A probability of one. We all face it. Eventually.
Perhaps we’d all be better off if we talked about that eventuality more. It would help us to come to terms with our humanity. Perhaps to respect life more. And others.
Possibly the worst thing about death is that people are left with regrets – about things that they’ve done and said – especially when a person dies very suddenly. More than once I’ve had to deal with people banging on coffins and yelling at the dead body. Or visiting the grave a lot and talking. At least one young man shared beers with his dead brother at the grave. Pouring them onto the young man’s burial mound. What a waste, some might say. It’s just what grief does. It was quite helpful really. He didn't do it for ever.
Perhaps the fact that people die should make us treat them better when they’re alive.
* Make more time to spend with good friends.
* Fix the messed up relationships – say sorry more.
* Be kinder and tolerant of others who we might not always like.
* Forgive. They could be hit by a bus any time. So could we.
The reading today had something to say about being the light of the world. About letting our light shine.
I’d like to ask you – students and staff – this question today.
What kind of light are you?
* A pumpkin like the Jack-o-lanterns at Halloween? A hollow head with a light inside that creates a strange and quirky image from the outside?
* A guy Fawkes light – short fuse and loud noise – that really has no lasting influence for good. Full of sound and fury. And perhaps a bit idiotic.
* A torch – guiding others and showing the way – real peer support – mentoring and sharing of the right path for others.
* A lighthouse – a helpful beacon showing a safer way – sturdy and constant.
* A useful fire – cooking and feeding others – nurturing and encouraging them
* Or a horrible fire – the kind of person who brings the flames of hell into other’s lives.
Our first reading today began with this:
The LORD is my light and my salvation
Real direction is found in a relationship with a God who himself guides, protects, nurtures and directs.
The stories of great men and women of faith through the ages reflect lives that shine – and many shine beyond their generation – they shine through the pages of history.
That kind of light needs to shine in this school. We have a shot at behavioural change. We talk about responsibility. We hold people accountable for what they do. We punish and attempt to correct behaviour.
The real change – from the Bible’s point of view – comes from a change of heart. It’s the burning fire within when God speaks to us – and we really know that we have missed the mark. That we have hurt others. That what we do is not just unhelpful, but also sometimes plain evil. It is an offense to God and others. It’s called sin.
The remedy is not in the laws of the land. Not in the Parliament, or in the courts. Those things create the boundaries – as do rules and codes of conduct.
The remedy is in the transformation needed on the inside.
The light of Christ needs to shine.
The change comes in you and me when we believe and allow God to change us.
So what will you do with this light? It’s up to you really…
There’s more than just forgiveness when we put our faith in God.
There’s the promise of eternal life – which puts death into its proper place.
AND there is a whole new way so seeing the world and treating others.
We need this change in this place. Amen.
Let your light shine.
Shine for good. Or burn....
Shine for good. Or burn....
Friday, 19 October 2007
Which way are your running?
Friday Chapel Readings: 1 Kings 19; Phil 3;
A man was seen fleeing down the passage of a hospital just before his operation. “What's the matter?” he was asked by a staff member. He said, “I heard the nurse say, ‘It's a very simple operation, don't worry, I'm sure it will be all right.’" “She was just trying to comfort you, what's so frightening about that?" replied the concerned staff member. “She wasn't talking to me, “said the terrified patient. “She was talking to the doctor! “
What have you run from in your life?
Elijah, the prophet of God, had just had a powerful encounter with the prophets of Baal. He defeated them – all of them were dead – and he was on a high.
His faith was great. The adrenalin was probably pumping. And he knew God was with him.
And then he received a message from Jezebel, the wife of the King.By this time tomorrow I’ll have you killed! And the guy flees – he runs for his life.
That’s one kind of race. Running away!
Compare that to Paul in our second Bible reading today. Listen to what he says: the one thing I do, however, is to forget what is behind me and do my best to reach what is ahead. So I run straight toward the goal in order to win the prize. It’s flight or fight if you like. We either run from trouble, or we run towards the goal we’ve set in life.
Which way are you running?
Those of you who have had a wake-up call in the exams – are you wanting to bolt? Maybe life has thrown you some other disaster far worse. What will you do? Give up? Be like Elijah? – he just hides away from life – we are told today that he had burn-out. He crashed. If you read the rest of the story we find this.
Elijah walked a whole day into the wilderness. He stopped and sat down in the shade of a tree and wished he would die. "It's too much, LORD," he prayed. "Take away my life; I might as well be dead!" It’s an all-time low for this great prophet. Depressed. Suicidal. Messed-up totally.
And God comes to his aid. He is given physical food and nourishment – strength to go on a 40 day journey. He’s not put to bed, curled up with a good book and the TV on. He has to press on. Forward. Like a long march. And on Mount Sinai he eventually hears God again – not in the noisy things of earthquake wind and fire, but in a still small voice – in virtual silence. God speaks.
Sometimes when we’re at the edge, it takes both physical and spiritual restoration before we are brought back. Some of us end up there – at the edge - and then we press on with life again.
For Paul in the New Testament there is a different focus. He had his many trials too.
But it’s his focus on his goals that impresses me: the one thing I do, however, is to forget what is behind me and do my best to reach what is ahead. So I run straight toward the goal in order to win the prize
Forget what is behind. Don’t dwell on the past!
Look forward. Life is a race – and in a race we know the perils of looking behind you. Life is also described as a rat race. The problem with the rat race is that even if you win, you're still a rat.
There has to be a better way than winning at the expense of others – or winning and being totally stressed and burned-out. It’s the goal that matters. Avoiding the extreme stress and being a pathetic rat in a rat race comes when we have a goal that is greater, higher, and loftier than just survival. Or money.
We need time out – time for quiet to balance things – time for rest – reflection – listening to the still small voice of God who puts it all into perspective.
Then it is much easier to refocus on the future without the panic. We find a peace and inner calm which makes us so much more disciplined.
Life has thrown some of you some really bad things. Some people have far greater challenges than a bad exam result.
Don’t lose your sense of future – and don’t give up on your goals and dreams! Keep looking ahead! And may you make space and time to hear God speak a good word into your heart and life. You might just find a new and greater purpose to your existence.
It beats being another rat in a rat race.
Amen.
A man was seen fleeing down the passage of a hospital just before his operation. “What's the matter?” he was asked by a staff member. He said, “I heard the nurse say, ‘It's a very simple operation, don't worry, I'm sure it will be all right.’" “She was just trying to comfort you, what's so frightening about that?" replied the concerned staff member. “She wasn't talking to me, “said the terrified patient. “She was talking to the doctor! “
What have you run from in your life?
Elijah, the prophet of God, had just had a powerful encounter with the prophets of Baal. He defeated them – all of them were dead – and he was on a high.
His faith was great. The adrenalin was probably pumping. And he knew God was with him.
And then he received a message from Jezebel, the wife of the King.By this time tomorrow I’ll have you killed! And the guy flees – he runs for his life.
That’s one kind of race. Running away!
Compare that to Paul in our second Bible reading today. Listen to what he says: the one thing I do, however, is to forget what is behind me and do my best to reach what is ahead. So I run straight toward the goal in order to win the prize. It’s flight or fight if you like. We either run from trouble, or we run towards the goal we’ve set in life.
Which way are you running?
Those of you who have had a wake-up call in the exams – are you wanting to bolt? Maybe life has thrown you some other disaster far worse. What will you do? Give up? Be like Elijah? – he just hides away from life – we are told today that he had burn-out. He crashed. If you read the rest of the story we find this.
Elijah walked a whole day into the wilderness. He stopped and sat down in the shade of a tree and wished he would die. "It's too much, LORD," he prayed. "Take away my life; I might as well be dead!" It’s an all-time low for this great prophet. Depressed. Suicidal. Messed-up totally.
And God comes to his aid. He is given physical food and nourishment – strength to go on a 40 day journey. He’s not put to bed, curled up with a good book and the TV on. He has to press on. Forward. Like a long march. And on Mount Sinai he eventually hears God again – not in the noisy things of earthquake wind and fire, but in a still small voice – in virtual silence. God speaks.
Sometimes when we’re at the edge, it takes both physical and spiritual restoration before we are brought back. Some of us end up there – at the edge - and then we press on with life again.
For Paul in the New Testament there is a different focus. He had his many trials too.
But it’s his focus on his goals that impresses me: the one thing I do, however, is to forget what is behind me and do my best to reach what is ahead. So I run straight toward the goal in order to win the prize
Forget what is behind. Don’t dwell on the past!
Look forward. Life is a race – and in a race we know the perils of looking behind you. Life is also described as a rat race. The problem with the rat race is that even if you win, you're still a rat.
There has to be a better way than winning at the expense of others – or winning and being totally stressed and burned-out. It’s the goal that matters. Avoiding the extreme stress and being a pathetic rat in a rat race comes when we have a goal that is greater, higher, and loftier than just survival. Or money.
We need time out – time for quiet to balance things – time for rest – reflection – listening to the still small voice of God who puts it all into perspective.
Then it is much easier to refocus on the future without the panic. We find a peace and inner calm which makes us so much more disciplined.
Life has thrown some of you some really bad things. Some people have far greater challenges than a bad exam result.
Don’t lose your sense of future – and don’t give up on your goals and dreams! Keep looking ahead! And may you make space and time to hear God speak a good word into your heart and life. You might just find a new and greater purpose to your existence.
It beats being another rat in a rat race.
Amen.
Sunday, 14 October 2007
Weddings and other random matters
And so I find myself back in Havelock North. We shared a wedding with a colleague from work - and a gang of teachers and ex staff from our school, travelling up together in a school bus ominously so labelled. Chaplains get to marry people - that's the term that is used. I prefer saying that I "do" weddings, as I have been happily married for 23 years and would not like the confusion of being married to all these other characters.
The Kiwi wedding, like the funeral (and no they are not related directly) could be conducted by a variety of celebrants. I find the celebrant funeral (the kind that is non- religious and explicitly without God) a very gloomy affair. New age platitudes are cold comfort in my simple view, and I prefer the ordinary Christian notion that there is life beyond the grave.
Weddings however are different. While all the weddings I have "done" (I recall of course people in my parish days asking me if they could get little Johnny "done" which referred to baptism - whereupon I would retort - "how would you like him done? Medium or well?") have been for staff members, they have all been different. People like to write their own vows (none of which includes, I hasten to add- I promise to do the dishes, wash the car and mow the lawn), and have various degrees of God-inclusion. So the poor old Chaplain (me) does get a tad confused. I guess it is the consequence of hundreds of weddings - when I lose my place in the newly written services, I simply default to what I know from memory. It can be interesting. Yesterday's wedding was such an occasion where I left out the bride's written conclusion and did a good Trinitarian blessing. Ah well, that's who I am. A dear lady came to me and asked afterwards - you can't be a celebrant, you must be a priest? Upon enquires to another priest (the father of the bride) I discovered it was the prayers that exposed me.
Kiwiland happily accepts the Maori karakia - the blessings, the traditional prayers - but gets all wobbly with conventional Christian stuff. I suspect there were many prayers during the world cup - and look what happened there!
On another matter altogether, having the reception at a very nice wine estate was a great cause of celebration for the party of educators from my school. The rest is history, and some of that history is captured on my camera. The chaplain is now loaded with interesting information on these dear people. I can only assume they will wake up some time this morning.
A more fascinating encounter was meeting a character from Durban who lived near my aunt and various friends in Henry Road. Curious that you meet people on the other side of the world and are really so connected. We had so many things in common - same High School, many of the same teachers (started there 12 years after me and the teachers, ancient in my time, were still churning it out) and same friends. He proved to be the life and soul of the party. Messed things up totally by moving himself and his very patient wife from his allocated seats at table something-or-other to table 2. The wedding hosts could not cope with this lack of order and strongly encouraged him to return to his allocated position for his meal. He politely declined. The authorities sent an urgent message to the groom, who in turn relayed the message that the kitchen would be confused. He happily solved the problem by collecting everything from their allocated table and bringing it to ours. Once their order was placed, the die was caste and we all survived. For the life of me I can't imagine why it was so complicated, but of course the groom is a maths teacher. Actually it was the waitron person who probably could not fit the extra order on her undersized order pad. These South Africans. Really. Very disruptive.
Havelock North - returning to my original chat - is a small town in the Hawke's Bay, which at this time of the year presents itself with streets lined with the blossoms of fruit trees. The fragrance and colour gently combine and add to the overall warmth of the place which yesterday reached a massive 24 degrees - the highest in the country. This little escape presents to us a welcomed relief from the wild wintry weather of our home town Wellington. real sunshine and warmth are an antidote to the cold desperation of harsh winters that hang around in spring.
I should think that our attempt to make a difference here is a bit like that - a bit of sunshine in a cold dark place. With the excessive drinking of people on these islands one might say a cold dark wet place. The wedding itself was a good reason top celebrate of course. It's all about limits I guess. Of greater concern is the binge drinking of children. They really are children. Not teenagers.
As I write to you various wedding attenders are emerging from their rooms here at the Wine Country Inn. This is wine county. Somehow we need to get people to taste the new wine of God.
From the islands....
Robin
The Kiwi wedding, like the funeral (and no they are not related directly) could be conducted by a variety of celebrants. I find the celebrant funeral (the kind that is non- religious and explicitly without God) a very gloomy affair. New age platitudes are cold comfort in my simple view, and I prefer the ordinary Christian notion that there is life beyond the grave.
Weddings however are different. While all the weddings I have "done" (I recall of course people in my parish days asking me if they could get little Johnny "done" which referred to baptism - whereupon I would retort - "how would you like him done? Medium or well?") have been for staff members, they have all been different. People like to write their own vows (none of which includes, I hasten to add- I promise to do the dishes, wash the car and mow the lawn), and have various degrees of God-inclusion. So the poor old Chaplain (me) does get a tad confused. I guess it is the consequence of hundreds of weddings - when I lose my place in the newly written services, I simply default to what I know from memory. It can be interesting. Yesterday's wedding was such an occasion where I left out the bride's written conclusion and did a good Trinitarian blessing. Ah well, that's who I am. A dear lady came to me and asked afterwards - you can't be a celebrant, you must be a priest? Upon enquires to another priest (the father of the bride) I discovered it was the prayers that exposed me.
Kiwiland happily accepts the Maori karakia - the blessings, the traditional prayers - but gets all wobbly with conventional Christian stuff. I suspect there were many prayers during the world cup - and look what happened there!
On another matter altogether, having the reception at a very nice wine estate was a great cause of celebration for the party of educators from my school. The rest is history, and some of that history is captured on my camera. The chaplain is now loaded with interesting information on these dear people. I can only assume they will wake up some time this morning.
A more fascinating encounter was meeting a character from Durban who lived near my aunt and various friends in Henry Road. Curious that you meet people on the other side of the world and are really so connected. We had so many things in common - same High School, many of the same teachers (started there 12 years after me and the teachers, ancient in my time, were still churning it out) and same friends. He proved to be the life and soul of the party. Messed things up totally by moving himself and his very patient wife from his allocated seats at table something-or-other to table 2. The wedding hosts could not cope with this lack of order and strongly encouraged him to return to his allocated position for his meal. He politely declined. The authorities sent an urgent message to the groom, who in turn relayed the message that the kitchen would be confused. He happily solved the problem by collecting everything from their allocated table and bringing it to ours. Once their order was placed, the die was caste and we all survived. For the life of me I can't imagine why it was so complicated, but of course the groom is a maths teacher. Actually it was the waitron person who probably could not fit the extra order on her undersized order pad. These South Africans. Really. Very disruptive.
Havelock North - returning to my original chat - is a small town in the Hawke's Bay, which at this time of the year presents itself with streets lined with the blossoms of fruit trees. The fragrance and colour gently combine and add to the overall warmth of the place which yesterday reached a massive 24 degrees - the highest in the country. This little escape presents to us a welcomed relief from the wild wintry weather of our home town Wellington. real sunshine and warmth are an antidote to the cold desperation of harsh winters that hang around in spring.
I should think that our attempt to make a difference here is a bit like that - a bit of sunshine in a cold dark place. With the excessive drinking of people on these islands one might say a cold dark wet place. The wedding itself was a good reason top celebrate of course. It's all about limits I guess. Of greater concern is the binge drinking of children. They really are children. Not teenagers.
As I write to you various wedding attenders are emerging from their rooms here at the Wine Country Inn. This is wine county. Somehow we need to get people to taste the new wine of God.
From the islands....
Robin
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