Blog catch ups overlooking holy island

Hymn to the tune of I vow to thee my country (Despite using Jerusalem words) And did those feet in present times Walk upon England green? And were the saints of years gone past On Oswald's pathway seen? And did those pylons jauntily March across England's land? And is this better than the nuclear Power station planned? And did those Aircraft noisily Flying past to deafen me Care at all about the impact Of sound upon this tree? I cannot fight the battle That we are meant to fight But this I know, and truly My God is power and might. This verse written as I was walking from Rothbury to Newton on the moor, just as more,news was breaking about,Hinkley Point. at some point verse 2 to follow

REFLECTIONS BY A FRUSTRATED PILGRIM – THE MORE SPIRITUAL ONE

My apologies for what could be a longer blog – but here goes …

(who is to say what is “real” and what is “spiritual” – what indeed is truth?)

The last day I was walking I felt I had something to say based on Henri Nouwen’s book “The way of the heart”, an old book of his written in 1981 on “desert spirituality and contemporary ministry”.

He quotes a story from the Desert Fathers (pointing out then that there were desert mothers as well) about Abba Arsenius who heard a voice (from the Lord) saying:

“Arsenius, flee, be silent, pray always …”

and uses this as a basis for “desert spirituality”. He interprets these three instructions as a need for solitude, silence and continual prayer.

In looking at the first, solitude, he has a chapter headed “The compulsive Minister” in which he talks about the danger (for a minister/priest) of being sucked into society’s values. He says this:

[“Just look for a moment at our daily routine. In general we are very busy people. We have many meetings to attend, many visits to make, many services to lead. Our calendars are filled with appointments, our days and weeks are filled with engagements, and our years filled with plans and projects. There is seldom a period in which we do not know what to do, and we move through life in such a distracted way that we do not even take the time and rest to wonder if any of the things we think, say or do are WORTH [his italics] thinking, saying or doing. We simply go along with the “musts” and “oughts” that have been handed on to us, and we live with them as if they were authentic translations of the Gospel of the Lord. People must be motivated to come to church, youth must be entertained, money must be raised, and above all, everyone must be happy.

Moreover, we ought to be on good terms with the church and civil authorities; we ought to be liked, or at least respected, by a fair majority of our parishioners; … and we ought to have enough vacation and salary to live a comfortable life. Thus we are busy people like all other busy people, rewarded with the rewards we give to busy people.]

A long quote – written from a Catholic priest’s perspective, but very clearly indicating the dangers clergy and others face. (words to our PCCs too, and all in active lay ministry). He says “horrendously secular our ministerial lives tend to be.” Why is this so? Because our very identity is at stake.

He quotes Thomas Merton saying that our self (or rather “false-self”) is fabricated by “social compulsions” and narrows them down to anger and greed, claiming that the first, anger, is close to “a professional vice in the contemporary ministry”

He finishes this chapter by saying “it is not our so strange that Anthony considered it a spiritual disaster to meet passively the tenets and values of their society”,

and then uses this later as a basis for our need for solitude and silence (together, I presume, with continual prayer).

This was written in 1981, but speaks to me with a fresh voice today.

However, I’m uncomfortable with it and almost disagree in parts (with Henri Nouwen!?!), but recognise the dangers of accepting society’s values. [Ironically, as I am writing this Daff is watching “Neighbours” where a priest is breaking his dog-collar in half].

Before I left for pilgrimage I was much taken with a short article Kenneth Cross (an Exmoor Deanery priest) has written about the danger of the “churchified” language we sometimes use. Others as well as him have criticised the church using management techniques and their language. We have to guard against this when talking about vision and mission and yet this is not an excuse not to do it.

We live in difficult times – but so have Christians always in a sense.

I’ve said enough – for now. …

I need to continue to think about the need to be in the world and out of the world.

REFLECTIONS BY A FRUSTRATED PILGRIM – THE MORE FACTUAL ONE

Well, it’s happened again. Pilgrimage suspended. This time it’s my health, not Daff’s. Sunstroke or a virus. Fortunately, we staying at Olga’s friend, Maureen, whose allowing me to recover.

 

My last walking day* was one of two when I was without my camera phone (temporarily mislaid!). However, I can clearly remember my excitement at leaving Durham (technically Gateshead) to enter Northumberland. Self-styled “land of the borders”.

 

*[Before my last walking day, I’d walked from Durham to Lanchester, and from there to Leadgate (not Consett) – both nights staying with a young(er) couple – Hannah and David – both ordained. They trained at Cuddeston at the same time as Liz Mortimer. It was great to attend services led by both of them and to see what life was like in an ex-mining community.]

 

I walked to Heddon-on-the-wall via a lovely church dedicated to St. Oswin (look him up), which was so peaceful and prayerful. Daff saw me walking along the road and beeped at me (a first) – so we stopped in the pub there.

 

She’d been to “Heavenfield” almost by chance – about 10/15 miles away. I said I really wanted to go there. So, after warning Maureen we’d be a little late, we went there.

 

A small church, like Stoke Pero (in Porlock Parish) – in the middle of a field. It had the base of a cross, the original of which was meant to be sixth century.

 

This is where King Oswald was victorious in battle after a vision promising him success

(nb not many saints were warrior kings – but he was).

 

The significance for me is that I’ll be joining Oswald’s way which goes from Heaven’s Gate to Lindisfarne.

 

In the planning stages I’d looked at this walk and decided it started just a little too far west for me. Hence me picking it up later. So it was great to travel there – if only by motorised transport.

BLOG 4 DURHAM

(with apologies to Ian Adams)

I have in mind a journey

north-east from the south-west,

  with humility,

  with strength,

whose course calms the human breast.

I have in mind an island

gazing at the north-east,

  with humility,  

  with strength,

whose soul calms ev'ry beast

I have in mind some saints

whose lives come out from the sea,

  with humility, 

  with strength,

pure and simple and holy.

I have in mind a cathedral

rising from out of the sea

  with humility, 

  with strength,

whose soul makes music, calms me.

I have in mind a church

in a parish near the sea,

  with humility,

  with strength,

whose mission is yet to be.

I have in mind a man

walking behind the Lord

  with humility,

  with strength,

God's name by him adored.

I have in mind a woman

whose man is walking behind,

  with humility,

  with strength,

to see what he can find.

I have in mind a believer,

praying through the night,

  with humility

  with strength,

as they lose the sight …

  of the journey

  of the island

  of the saints

  of the cathedral

  of the woman

  of the man

and give up their spirit

- but gain their due birthright

Durham onwards Blog 2/3

Uprootedness or Rootedness – that is the question?

In the outdoor performance of Kynren much was made of Shakespeare supposedly meeting Queen Elizabeth I in Durham – any quotes were mis-appropriated - or just appropriated, so I feel able to misquote.

Iam Adam, of Cave,Refectory, Road, says this in

“Stay Somewhere”* (see end)

In my journey I often feel I am doing the opposite – leaving too soon. I must get on, I feel myself saying (eg this morning to Daff – we need to leave). I often just get to know people and then have to depart.

However, also, I often can rest - as long as I care to - in a church or a pub, cafe or park bench – in a sense time is my own guardian.

In both staying and moving on the can be “rootedness” (and uprootedness if we let it); I guess the difference is an attitude of mind, our approach to time.

I deliberately lingered in a pub garden writing this – drinking soft drinks in the heat – to try and express my thoughts; but to push the boundaries – longer than I imagine will be comfortable. It's my “imagining” that's the key issue here; maybe I'll do the course in

Imagination, Theology and Culture after all next year, rather than the one on spirituality (MAs part-time in Sarum) – who knows.

Keep those imagination juices flowing!

*
• Stay somewhere
• Remain in one place
  for longer than you imagine will be comfortable
• Stay there for whatever length of time that will be more than you would choose
• Give yourself to the place and to the moment.

(from Cave, Refectory Road, quoting “Stay somewhere”)

Durham Blog 2

I do not know what to write – and I don't seem to be able to write poetry.

I was overwhelmed in the cathedral by sensation, spectacle and the sacred. I am ready to leave now, but a little of my heart is there (to misquote Ann Spence).

“Kynren” has to be seen to be believed (google it if you've never heard of it) – it explained the history of two places I'd been to - Stamford Bridge and Neville's Cross.

So does the cathedral (have to be seen to be believed) - with quiet Bede and reverential Cuthbert – as I have already said, very moving.

Our hospitality here has been great too – we have been allowed to get on with things, and enjoy the “northern experience”.

But I am ready to leave – having read about Bede and Cuthbert and Aidan amongst others – I feel I am being immersed in the northern Celtic Saints.

I'll finish this blog with a version of Celtic night prayer (slightly adapted):

Take my beginnings: and bless their completion.

Take my striving: and soften my need.

Take my journey: and lead me deeper –

and lead me onward. Amen.

Durham onwards Blog 1/3

(a version of Psalm 120 – to the tune of “In Christ Alone” - I hope it works)

In my distress, I cry to God

that he may answer me.

Deliver me, O Lord my God,

from lies and a deceitful tongue.

What shall be done

and given to you

Deceitful tongue

and lying lips

A warrior's sling

and sharp arrows

(and) glowing coals of the broom tree.

O woe is me, and all my kin

Those who live in the land of sin

In Kedar's tents, and in Meshech

amongst those who hate peace.

I am for peace, they are for war,

They are for war, I am for peace

But when I speak, I am for peace

(for) too long I have dwelt in war.