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CREATING COMMUNITIES OF WHOLENESS WITH CHRIST AT THE CENTRE
Blog Archives: April 2008 - March 2008 - February 2008 - January 2008 - December 2007 - November 2007 - October 2007 - September 2007 - August 2007 - July 2007 - June 2007 - May 2007 - April 2007 - March 2007 - February 2007 - January 2007 - December 2006 - November 2006 - October 2006 - September 2006
30th June, 9.55pm
After writing an open letter to Gordon Brown in the Swindon Evening Advertiser calling on him, among other things, to recognise the 'War on Terror' for what it is - a construct to keep us afraid and let our politicians do almost anything - I took a few very deep breaths when I heard the news of the attempted attacks in London and Glasgow. But in the article I acknowledged the threat from al-Qaeda and its affiliates, the threats that we have faced and will continue to face. But the constant stress on 'a global war on terror' seems designed to keep us apart, content to allow our civil liberties to be taken away, and stop us talking, because we don't understand and are afraid.
In an issue of the 'West Wing' broadcast soon after 9.11 Josh Lyman, the White House Deputy Chief of Staff is talking to a group of students and asks them to fill in the gaps of the following statement: 'al-Qaeda is to Islam what ... is to Christianity'. The West Wing students give a number of options to fill in the gap - the answer is 'al-Qaeda is to Islam what Klu Klux Klan is to Christianity'. It makes you think. But until we begin to recognise that and most importantly until we begin to talk together, the terror inspired by the war of terror and the war on terror will continue.
As a note on the last post, I'm grateful that Gordon Brown in his response to the attacks has so far refrained from new legislation. We don't need yet more legislation, we need to use the laws we already have, get rid of some [28 days of detention and security orders], remember that the end never justifies the means, and we need to talk to each other. That's what it means to celebrate and be proud of our country and our democracy.
21st June, 9.58pm
After a tragic and almost miraculous day [words simply do not express it] at Redoaks I got home completely drained, made the calls I had to make, went to sleep for 12 minutes [yes I did count - or at least my alarm clock did], cooked tea and spent time with the children, and then rather than facing the grant application sorted the website - with the expert and excellent help of our web-designer. So this blog is no longer the length of a marathon, and if you want to see previous months you can simply click on the links. You can also now download our Annual Report here as a pdf. Having learnt these new skills I just need to remember them now! And I still need to complete the grant form!
Looking back a bit though its one of the amazing privileges of this job to be there when people mourn, to sit with them, listen to them, pray with them, laugh with them. We all deal with shock, grief and trauma in so many different ways, and each person needs a different response at a different time; but however hard it is, however little you can do to help [and words really do become useless at time], its an amazing privilege to be there.
19th June, 9.20pm
I've been silent for a while now, but I'd forgotten how exhausting it is having a baby, and its not just about the hours of sleep lost [Jane's been doing most of that] its getting used to being 6. I got home last night at about 9pm after a Governors meeting that had gone on far too long [but since I was chairing the meeting I can hardly complain!] to hear delicate sound of screaming emerging from our bedroom window. It had been going on since a few minutes after I left the house at 6.45 so it was definitely my turn. Some one handed typing, a bottle and a back episode of the 'West Wing' later Kathryn was flopsy and ready for bed. But so much for my evening at by desk.
However, having said that, one of the few really bad aspects of this job is the overwhelming temptation [which again tonight I've succumbed to] to get back after an evening meeting [two of them tonight] and start work again. And surely it better to be with Kathryn and all of you at my desk. Tonight she's quiet so my desk wins. But since she's not always quiet I'm currently about a week behind on my work schedule.
It a rough life having your dad as a Vicar - and not just for Kathryn. Anna was climbing on the gym equipment at St Francis on Sunday when she suddenly heard me, and heard me over the PA, asking her to get down 'NOW'.
And one final thought for now. I've no idea about anyone else, but I'm sick and tired to hearing Fatah described as moderates with whom we can deal and Hamas as terrorists who [unlike Sinn Fein we will not touch with a barge-pole]. Stupid they may both be and its easy enough to write a 'plague on both your houses' bolg. But, however little we like it, Hamas one an election and Fatah lost - mainly due to their rampant corruption. And the US, UK, EU and Russia promising to fund and deal with Fatah now is bizarre and wrong and will only lead to more bloodshed and division. Its a question that's rarely asked but how do we respond to a coup by an elected government? That's what we've recently seen in Palestine.
4th June, 11pm
I was still sending e mails at 12.20 last night and then Kathryn decided to wake up every two hours or so. And, having sent mid-week, I now need to update the website - but as the PCC kindly told me 'Its all self inflicted' It is indeed.
Last night after a great meal and meeting, I had to write the HomeChurch Group notes. In some ways I could have done without the work, especially at that time of night. But it was one of the most satisfying pieces of theology that I've done for years. I've sometimes felt as is there's nothing more to learn about the parable of the prodigal son, I've spent so long with it an know it so well. But last night I saw it in a significantly new way. click here to see the discussion notes.
We've got ants in the kitchen and the only way that I can find to stop up their holes is with bits of plastic bags. They can work their way though everything else, wood, glue, polly-filler, but plastic bags defeat them. What does this say about our use of said bags and their frequent consignment to landfill sites?
3rd June, 10.24pm
We were out in Old Town last night, a group of guys from the parish, first Italian and then MacKenzies. Aside from feeling old generally I realised that in the middle of a pub that felt as if it was packed with young single people without a care or responsibility in the world [as if, but its amazing how powerful the illusion can be] we had spent the last fifteen minutes talking exclusively about our children, the times they wake up, the times they sleep, what they have done at what ages. It was bizarre and magnificently out of place.
Work, school, early morning runs and all the rest start again tomorrow. A normal week, except that normality is now different because we are 6 not 5. We'll see how it goes.
BLOGGERS NOTE
You'll notice in this blog that I use clauses and sub clauses and square brackets and lots of other grammatical aberrations! Also that I can't spell. Jane sometimes compares my sentence structure to St Paul, going on and on and on... I'm afraid that you're going to have to live with it. I try to edit it all out when I'm writing for print, but I'm going to indulge myself here.