Seeker

I like apples. I don't like the way they quickly discolour when you cut one up. If you are sharing food at a picnic it is better to give the whole apple to someone and not try to keep pieces back for yourself. Even if you did think to bring a knife.  Mandarin oranges are different from apples. They  divide easily into segments. They are good for sharing at picnics or for savouring slowly, one segment at a time. If I have an orange I can choose to give someone else just one segment if I'm mean, more if I'm more generous.  Back in May this year, during a retreat in the Galilee region of Israel, Bishop John Pritchard took our group to the archaeological site of ancient Caesarea Philippi . It is at one of the sources of the Jordan River at the foot of Mount Hermon. This is the place where Jesus asked his disciples his crucial question, 'who do you say that I am?' ( See Mark 8: 27 - 38 for one version of the story). What has that got to do with oranges or app...

In 'Taking flight: A Book of Story Meditations' by Anthony de Mello is this story: "As the master grew old and infirm, the disciples begged him not to die. Said the master, “If I did not go, how would you ever see?” “What is it we fail to see when you are with us?” they asked. But the master would not say.   When the moment of his death was near, they said, “What is it we will see when you are gone?” With a twinkle in his eye, the master said, “All I did was sit on the riverbank handing out river water. After I’m gone, I trust you will notice the river.” I could point up the moral of this story or give you my interpretation, but often it is better to let  a story speak for itself. I wonder what it says to you? Image Credit: Pixabay, CCO License, Public domain 

St Cuthbert's 'Journey' Cuthbert is one of the most popular saints of Britain. Today is St Cuthbert's Day. Cuthbert travelled a lot - mostly by boat or on foot. In this image of a bronze statue in Millenium Square, Durham, his body is being carried by monks on one of several post-mortem journeys, before his mortal remains finally came to rest and stay in Durham. Cuthbert was born around 640 in the Scottish lowlands (then part of the Northumbrian Kingdom ). As a child he had a vision and decided to dedicate his life to God. He became a monk at Melrose Abbey. From there he began missionary work, which he continued from Lindisfarne where he became abbot. He became a bishop in 685 and continued travelling and preaching, walking all over the rough hills of his diocese, spending time as a hermit on Farne Island in between. On 20 March 687 he died in his hermit cell on Inner Farne Island and was buried in Lindisfarne. Due to Viking invasions and threats, his remai...

Happy New Year to you all! This is the time when many people make resolutions, or at least fantasy wish lists of what they want to change about themselves or the world in this new year. I've actually made one, but won't announce it here. Most such resolutions fail and wishes turn out to be fantasies after all. There is something very seductive in the idea of being able to turn over a new leaf, make a new start, throw out the old and bring in the new.  What if we could learn to live each moment and relish its pregnant possibilities for change? Henri Nouwen wrote about living spiritually in the present in his book, 'Here and Now: Living in the Spirit'. Here's a short extract which seems especially applicable at the start of a new year, or any new moment: "A new beginning! We must learn to live each day, each hour, yes, each minute as a new beginning, as a unique opportunity to make everything new. Imagine that we could live each moment as a moment pregna...

What is Advent about? It's counter-cultural, but one of the things Advent is about is waiting in silence. Waiting is easier or harder if you have some idea of what is likely to happen next. The waiting of pregnancy for example is affected by the expectation of a child to be born. I remember the first time I was taken to a London theatre for a Christmas pantomime. The best moment for me wasn't the performance, but the moment just before, when the theatre went dark and all was silent expectation of the yet-to-be-experienced joys I'd been promised. Frederick Buechner , an American author, retired Presbyterian minister and university teacher, relates that sort of feeling to Advent. Buechner describes Advent so much better than me:  "The house lights go off and the footlights come on. Even the chattiest stop chattering as they wait in the darkness for the curtain to rise. In the orchestra pit, the violin bows are poised. The conductor has raised his baton.   I...

Are you 'spiritual but not religious'? This phrase is a  cliché that  describes a significant trend in self-identity. The trouble with the idea of 'being religious' is that it has become associated with all the ways we humans can make religion bad: things like hypocrisy, oppression, abuse, control, misogyny, closed minds, hatred of those of different beliefs, spiritual blindness. Because of such things, to be called 'religious' can feel like a criticism - a bad thing to be. To be called 'spiritual' sounds like a compliment - a good thing to be. It's not surprising that 'spiritual but not religious' (SBNR) has a Facebook page .   I've taken a look. The page invites you to 'like' it if you "believe that spirituality can exist outside of organised religion".  The focus of the page is on "sharing a sense of wonder and the rapture of being alive". Recent posts on the page follow the theme of ...

How do you feel about the word 'awesome'? I'm thinking of its frequent use as an adjective, attached to almost anything someone likes, enjoys or admires. I dislike the way that 'awesome' has become downgraded, because I think that, for most people, truly 'awesome' experiences are rare. I mean those experiences which  leave us awestruck, brought to our knees in silent wonder or paralysing fear, or prostrate on the ground, completely overwhelmed. Such moments may be absolutely dreadful, such as for the citizens of Hiroshima on 6 August 1945. They may be deeply emotional such as when a marathon winner collapses on the ground at the finish and hears the roar of the crowd. They may be of huge excitement and relief such as for the NASA scientist when the robot Curiosity landed on Mars earlier today. They may be moments of spiritual illumination, such as can happen as we gaze at a beautiful landscape or painting or are moved by great music. All that is awe...

morgueFile Free photo Early this morning I saw a spectacular sunrise that transformed the appearance of the frosty fields and hedges that not so long before had been in darkness. In a way this was an ordinary experience. Sunrise happens daily even when we don't notice or can't see it. Today I really noticed it - a glimpse of glory. If only I could be more attentive every day to seeing what's there.  The poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote this "Earth's crammed with heaven,    And every common bush afire with God; But only he who sees, takes off his shoes. The rest sit round it, and pick blackberries." The gospel  reading for this Sunday, in the Common Worship Lectionary, is Mark's account of the Transfiguration of Jesus (Mark 9: 2-9) . This mysterious event opens a window on another dimension, a deeper reality, revealing Jesus of Nazareth bathed in God-light. His close friends  Peter, James and John were led by Jesus on a night-hike up a...

Why do people read blogs more in 'working hours' and less at other times? What does this say about the implicit spirituality of blogs? Should blogs be attentive to the working lives of its readers? If more blog readers are women (which may not be true) is blogging an art that has a more female spirituality? What is blog spirituality? All these questions were raised yesterday by The Vernacular Vicar in his post Blogging, Women and Spirituality . (Whoops: just noticed his post was a year ago! Oh well, better late than never.) Rather than a brief comment on his blog post, I plan a fuller response in a series of posts. This one has some first thoughts on his last question, what is blog spirituality? What is Blog Spirituality? The question needs at least a PhD dissertation to do it justice, so it may be foolish to attempt an answer in a short post, even limiting it to a Christian spirituality of blog-writing by Christians. Firstly - some definitions: What is a blog? ...

In the Church of England calendar, today commemorates Julian of Norwich, Spiritual Writer,. She died about 1417 and is said to be the first woman to write a book in English. Her book 'Revelations of Divine Love' are meditations on her visions of Christ's passion that she experienced during her severe illness. They acknowledge the reality of suffering and express deep trust in the power of God's love to transform. The Julian Centre website  has a photo of the 'Julian Door'. I think it is the entrance to her hermitage cell which was destroyed at the Reformation but later rebuilt. The door is half open, giving a glimpse into the cell. I've always been attracted to pictures of doors or gates half-open, especially when looking from darkness to light. I think they evoke a sense of possibilities beyond where I now stand. Half-open doors also represent choice. Should I step through this entrance or not? What might happen if I do? Will I step aside from...