Stations…

I wonder if as many people will be considering the stations of the Cross this Easter as are currently queueing at the stations of the Petrol…?

Heartened by Hospitality

“Share with God’s people who are in need. Practise hospitality.” ~ Romans 12:13 (NIV)

Participating in the Lent group at St.Peter’s these past five weeks has been both thought provoking and inspiring.

More generally, in terms of helping to make the implicit become explicit. We all have notions (in this case we have been exploring hospitality in a Christian context) that we implicitly understand. But it is often not until we make those notions explicit and investigate them further that we appreciate their full significance. The group has certainly helped me in that regard.

More specifically, I have felt that I have had my own views challenged and horizons widened and have acted differently in my daily life as a result. The differences have perhaps been relatively small in the grand scheme of things, but I hope that those small differences have been helpful – and more hospitable – for others.

I am thankful for the opportunity to have been a part of the journey that the Lent groups from St. Peter’s and the Methodist Mission have taken together this year.

oOo oOo oOo

On a different – but related – note, I popped in to Church today and had an impromptu conversation with a visitor there. I was heartened to hear that this person was thrilled by the fact that St. Peter’s was open so much of the time. The person went on to describe how – more often than not – they would arrive at a Church to visit, only to find the building closed up and inaccessible, or the hospitality lacking. Whilst clearly not delighted that the visitor’s experience of many Churches has been a cold or unwelcoming one, it was great to hear that their experience of St. Peter’s hospitality was so positive.

Long may our tradition of warmth, openness and accessibility – truly being a Church in the heart of the town – continue.

Yes, New Perspectives!

Sometimes you see people from a new perspective whether you were trying to or not.

Last night, unexpectedly, I saw a close family member in a clearer, richer light and my love for them grew just that little bit deeper.

Seeking the same perspective in all people, who knows what we might achieve together.

A Too Regular Question…

“Why, oh why?”

The question I so often ask.

I am ten minutes early for meeting a friend and they are going to be ten minutes late. The story of my life and the friends I seem to have, or seem to choose.

Still I wait patiently, recall their redeeming features and look at my watch and repeat my mantra:

“Why, oh why?”

The Beauty of Holiness…

Perhaps, just perhaps all that holiness entails is: “Talking to the Father,” and holiness occurs when “there is nothing between us.”

This is part of a much longer conversation I danced today.

The person I am referring to is a very self-contented individual, calm and happy. She continued by saying that she had never asked anything of God.

I foolishly asked: “Why not?”

“He has always fulfilled my needs without asking,” was her innocent reply, “I have always known God’s words to me – ‘you are my child and I protect you’.

Perfect, beautiful holiness radiates from her, in quiet acceptance of life now and heavenly life afterwards.

Simple!

New Perspectives?

 Walking around the outskirts of Huddersfield and on into Calderdale, I covered on foot ground only touched previously by car tyres. Crossing farm land near the Roundhill pub, we came across a view over into Elland – magnificent! Skirting the M62, we headed up the hill and south, avoiding cows and thick mud, coming through trees onto Huddersfield Golf Club – open fairways traversed by this public footpath – everything crystal clear and vibrant green. Over the brow and a vista that contained all of the town of Huddersfield and across to Castle Hill – St John’s look enormous and St. Peter’s diminutive. Down into the valley and a long climb up Grimescar valley, in glorious sunshine we ate our lunch by a brook. What a well-kept secret! Continuing the climb avoiding Ainley Top roundabout, we were soon on open farmland again, crossing the M62 to look over Greetland and Halifax and walked up and down dale until we reached Turly Cote Lane – a very old track indeed. Such views there are to be had, birds singing and not even a hum of traffic. The valleys below looked flat and smooth, until we headed down to meet the canal at Elland – the route was neither flat nor smooth. At last though the safety of the canal and we left all views as we were enclosed by the regularity of a flat walk along the navigation.

We found so many different perspectives, vantage points and new vistas. My walking buddy was in awe of some beautiful places within a stone’s throw of major towns.

How do we view other people? Do we try and find different perspectives, vantage points and new vistas. If we can see the land different in such a vast area, the person in front of us deserves the same.

On Science and Religion

“Religion and science are opposed…but only in the same sense as that in which my thumb and forefinger are opposed – and between the two, one can grasp anything.” ~ Sir William Bragg, Physicist and Mathematician.

“Men of religion can learn from science what the physical world is really like in its structure and long-evolving history. This constrains what religion can say where it speaks of that world as God’s creation. He is clearly a patient God who works through process and not by magic. Men of science can receive from religion a deeper understanding than could be obtained from science alone. The physical world’s deep mathematical intelligibility (signs of the Mind behind it) and finely tuned fruitfulness (expressive of divine purpose) are reflections of the fact that it is a creation.” ~ John Polkinghorne, Theoretical Physicist and Ordained Anglican Priest.

“When we consider what religion is for mankind, and what science is, it is no exaggeration to say that the future course of history depends upon the decision of this generation as to the relations between them.” ~ Alfred North Whitehead, Philosopher

“At an altitude of more than 150 miles over the Indian Ocean, I had faith and thanked God for the privilege of being on the space flight. Our launch team had faith in God, in the hardware we had developed and in each other. As we learn more about the universe we gain greater faith in the work of the Supreme Architect. Upon contemplating the complex workings of millions of planetary bodies – and the unknown immensity of the universe – we realise what a fantastic miracle it all is, including our little earth.” ~ Gordon Cooper, Astronaut.