TEAR

I thought by the time I got to this post many others would have already written about the TEAR conference but it seems that no. So that’s good I will be being original. Although it also means that I can not just refer to other blogs for more info.

I enjoyed the conference very much. In my role as nominator I have been hearing sermons from different ministers around the place and some (one in particular) have been absoloutely appaling so I was feeling somewhat starved of inspiration. There was plenty at TEAR though. It was really good to connect with all the people who remind me that there is hope for a better world. People who show me (by the lives they live) that God is in the world and that he does hear the cries of the poor and will answer them.

Love your enemies

At the intersection where Bridge Rd meets Parramatta Rd there is a massive advertisement for the NAB that says in giant letters “Know your enemies.” It goes on to say in slightly smaller letters that this is how one succeeds in business. It made me realise that Jesus statement about loving your enemies, that scandalised people 2000 years, is as radical now as it was then. In todays world where everyone is striving for more money, more power, more fame the idea of “love your enemies” is still incredibly counter cultural. Yet how much I would rather succeed at that, succeed at love, at life, at truth than in business.

My two cents worth

I am reading a book at the moment called “God’s Politics, how the right it got it wrong and the left didn’t get it”. I have to say none of it is that new and it is a little bit repetitive at times but it is interesting enough and I am enjoying it. When you only ever hear Christianity and politics together when it pro Bush it fills me with a little bit of hope (not a heap but a little is all you need) to know that there are prominent American, Christian leaders who are fighting for the core moral issues of poverty and war. In fact it was written in 2004 and the author was already quoting Barak Obama.

So in that spirit congratulations Barak Obama. I have to say I don’t really know much and I was quite excited about the idea of a woman president but from everything I have heard you do seem like a pretty inspiring man really who is interested in change and trying to engage in a more bipartisan style of politics in order to get some things done.

Pentecost

Today is Pentescost. This is the communion we hadin church. I thought I’d share:

“O Eternal Wisdom,
We praise you and give you thanks,
for, as you revealed yourself of old
in fore and storm and precious law,
so you did not leave your followers comfortless,
but cam upon them
in thunder, wind and flame,
filling them with power,
and making them thirst with longing
to utter your incontainable word.

And now, you have poured out your spirit
upon all flesh
that your sons and daughters may prophesy,
that old and young share a vision
and even the slaves find a voice.
Therefor,
with Elizabeth who prophesied your birth,
Mary who sang for the poor,
Martha who confessed you as the Chrsit,
the women who announced you
risen from the dead,
and with every nameless prophet
who heard your call and inspired your people,
we praise you saying
Holy, holy, holy,
God of power and might
heaven and earth are full of your glory
hosanna in the highest

Blessed in our brother Jesus,
who comes behind the doors we have closed,
and breathes on our fear his fearful peace;
who, on the night he was betrayed,
took bread, gave thanks, broke it, and said:
‘This is my body, which is for you.
Do this in rememberance of me.’

In the same way he took the cup, saying:
‘This cup is the new convenant in my blood.
Do this whenever you drink it,
to remember me.’
We remember Christ’s death;
we procalim Christ’s resurrection;
we await Christ’s coming in glory’

Come now, spirit of intergrity,
of tenderness, judgement and dance;
touch our speechlessness,
kindle out longing,
reach into our silence,
and fire our word with your truth;
that each may hear their own language,
the mighty works of God.”

By Janet Morley, from all my desires.

Internet and Phone

After two days of unpleasant conversation with Optus I finally have a phone and internet and thus am able to make my first post out of Glebe. Horay. It is still in Tom’s name unfortunately and Tom has had his own unpleasant conversations but hopefully that too will be sorted out soon.

Seems like a good time to say all good in our new home. I really like the house, far, far more than I thought I would. In fact even the outdoor toilet which I was a bit anxiuos about has become a blessing in disguise. Someone painted it purple which is a very significant colour for me. Since reading the book “The Colour Purple” the colour purple has always been a reminder to me of God’s generosity and I have come to believe that we will answer for all the blesssings we were given that we did not appreciate. So when I am on the toilet, in the cold or the rain and wanting to feel sorry for myself there is the purple to remind me to give thanks instead.

It is also good for Martin and I to have a bit more space. After a five years of living with others in different communities I think it was time. I have a feeling our days of community are not entirely over but it is good to get some time now on our own for now.

I am not doing very well at feeling at peace within the chaos. In fact I feel very much not at peace. Although last night I stayed at Jane, John and Hannah’s house and waking up and looking up at the bush I had a moment of peace.

The move.

I really dislike moving. It totally is one of the most stressful, chaotic, unpleasant not too mention dusty experiences. So as you can imagine I am not really looking forward to this weekend and the process of doing just that. And I am especially not looking forward to the fact that I have to do it all again the weekend after that, as we will be living out of boxes at Ryan and Matt’s house for a week before our new place become available.

However last night at my small group we were talking about peace. Mostly about world peace and peace from conflict but we also got on to the topic of inner peace. We were talking about people we know who can be in the midst of total chaos and confusion but still somehow hold on to peace. I am aiming to be like that. Just to try and accept that life will be a little chaotic for a week or so but that’s okay.

I have also been thinking a lot about what they call “stop gap housing”. They talk about this all the time here at Vinnies and it refers to people in a state of secondary homelessness, those staying with relatives and friends as they have nowhere else to go. People who permantly live out of boxes in this state of chaos. They estimate that there are 50 000 people living like this in Australia and I guess I will be one of them for a week and I am very grateful that it is just a week and then I will have my own home. That’s what I will be concentrating on.

Back in June 2007, I wrote a post about a website called “What is Stephen Harper reading?” Yann Martel, a Canadian author is sending a book to the PM Stephen Harper each fortnight in an effort to encourage his stillness. On the site you can read the letter that accompanies each book. The letters he writes and the descriptions of the book are fantastic. He has such a unique way of looking at things. It is very inspiring. I don’t know if he has succeeded with the PM but he has certainly encouraged my stillness. And one of my first resolutions for this year is to try to be even stiller. Anyway, here is a quote from one of his letters:

“The great thing about reading books is that it makes us better than cats. Cats are said to have nine lives. What is that compared to the girl, boy, man, woman who reads books? A book read is a life added to one’s own. So it takes only nine books to make cats look at you with envy.

And I’m not talking here only of “good” books. Any book—trash to classic—makes us live the life of another person, injects us with the wisdom and folly of their years. When we’ve read the last page of a book, we know more, either in the form of raw knowledge—the name of a gun, perhaps—or in the form of greater understanding. The worth of these vicarious lives is not to be underestimated. There’s nothing sadder—or sometimes more dangerous—than the person who has lived only his or her single, narrow life, unenlightened by the experience, real or invented, of others.”

Gratefullness

I’m reading the Psalms at the moment which have me thinking much about gratefullness. I have been praying to God that I could be more grateful and each day I am trying to be more conscious of all the things I have to be grateful for.

I was reminded of this today. Last night I came home from community dinner and in conversation with Tom realised that we had people coming over for the next three nights and then on Saturday night I have Christmas dinner with my Sydney family and then off to Tamworth where I am sure there will be lots of family gatherings and celebrations. Last night all this was seeming a little overwhelming but then today I had a phone call from someone in our program. She was feeling incredibly anxious and depressed and thinking about going into hospital. For her Christmas is difficult time as it is reminder of the friends and family she doesn’t have. She said to me. “I am very sure that we were not made to be alone.” All of a sudden I felt very grateful about all the social gatherings I have had this past week and have coming up and I gave thanks.

Teapot

This is a story for all the tea/teapot lovers, mainly Jemma Castle and my mum who first introduced me to teapots.

Last week I bought a teapot from the St Vincent de Paul. It was $2 which I thought was a bit of bargain but the volunteer didn’t seem to agree with me. She asked, “what do you want that for?” I told her I wanted to to make tea. She appeard somewhat perplexed and said, “well you can have it for a $1″. I only had a $2 coin so I gave her that and said I was happy to pay two.

So I took my new/old teapot and began my journey home. I was still pretty chuffed with my purchase, even if the woman didn’t share my enthusiasm. I had not requested a bag so had to walk all through Chatswood carrying my teapot, for the world to see. And then on the train it sat perched in my lap while I read my book. I admit I may have looked a little bit silly and I was feeling starting to feel somewhat embarassed when people started to look at me and my teapot but I was suprised at how suprised people seemed to be. It was as if they had never seen a teapot before.

I guess in this day and age where everything is so efficient and quick and busy is our mantra teapots must be out. I mean if one wishes to make tea with a teapot they must first boil the water (preferably from cold) and then pour it over the tea leaves. Then cover it with a cosy and wait for a couple of minutes for it to brew. Finally it is ready for pouring. Then if one wishes to truly enjoy their tea they must stop what they are doing, sit down and drink. It is true this takes much more time than having a tea bag but I am grateful for that. I am grateful that everything good is not necessarily efficient. I am grateful for this daily reminder to stop, to take a rest, and enjoy the simple things that God has given us.