Who would want to? The Hebrew prophet Hosea – that’s who! Initially, he nurses the pain of anger when Gomer leaves him for a polyamorous dalliance with others. The patriarchal law of his time and place would have allowed his claim on her life. Instead, we see a tender wooing back, prompted by an insightContinue reading “Wooing the one who jilted you …”
Author Archives: wonderingpilgrim
Marriage in the air…
News programs highlight that yesterday, the first Monday after New Year’s Day, is the day that typically peaks for relationship breakdown and in particular marriage separation and demands for divorce. Today is the first day that same-sex couples are able to legally tie the knot under Australian law. Synchronistically, today’s set text is from the Hebrew prophetContinue reading “Marriage in the air…”
That strange in between time when Epiphany bursts forth
Some call it the silly season. Its those first few weeks of a southern hemisphere January. The office is quiet. I’m at work making use of the downtime from the regular weekly program to engage in some tidying up and planning for what must take place in my final six months here – and beyond. There isContinue reading “That strange in between time when Epiphany bursts forth”
… increased in human favour..
continuing transition to retirement Seeking human favour always carried amber warning lights in my ministerial formation. We’ve seen too many examples of fall from grace in the political arena – and church leadership ain’t far from politics! Yet Luke’s gospel speaks approvingly of Jesus increasing in human favour. As an Enneagram Six, I am naturallyContinue reading “… increased in human favour..”
… increased in favour with God…
… continuing transition into retirement thoughts … Everyone thinks clergy have some secret hotline to God. How does a retiring one increase a state that is already deemed to be “perfect?” Let’s lay that myth to rest. To borrow from D T Niles’ aphorism, I have always seen ministry as “one poor beggar sharing with another whereContinue reading “… increased in favour with God…”
… increased in stature…
… continuing transition into retirement thoughts … Stature – now there’s a giggle. The transition has been lifelong – from the skinny, gawky unco-ordinated youth to what I overheard someone describing as that “round little man.” It seems my stature increase has been outward in all the wrong places rather than upward. Daily moderate exerciseContinue reading “… increased in stature…”
…increased in wisdom…
… continuing thoughts on transition from full-time work to retirement. Even as I downsize the library I have collected and maintained over several decades of ministry, I contemplate how I will maintain an inquisitive and searching mind that is keen, not only to store information, but apply an accumulation of knowledge and experience in that uniqueContinue reading “…increased in wisdom…”
2018 – a time of transition begins
Yes, this is the year that will see me cease earning and have Jenny and I living off savings for the rest of our natural life. My life as an earner began as a skinny bespectacled 13 year old selling iced finger buns door to door in Adelaide’s northern suburbs. I would arise earlyContinue reading “2018 – a time of transition begins”
Tradition
At its best, tradition is like a tall sailing ship, navigating the uncharted narrow shoals of postmodern times. Its cargo is the virtues and values that create civilisation. From time to time, its crew has found it necessary to discard outdated, redundant and no longer serviceable jetsam. To navigate unknown shallow waters, the art of “kedging”Continue reading “Tradition”
Fragrance
Because of the fragrance of your good ointments your name is as ointment poured forth … Song of Solomon 1:3 Across the spectrum of Christian spiritual tradition, from the sacramental to the puritan, fragrance has described the beauty and intimacy of connection with the Divine. I recall in 1991, visiting the shrine of the FeedingContinue reading “Fragrance”
Wondering Pilgrim 