I’ve not had negative feedback on any of my variations of facial hair over the decades – starting with my clean cut afro in the 60’s, through to full face Ned Kelly and my current Colonel Sanders. Who would have thought prickle faced preachers to be such an interesting ecclesiastical subject for scrutiny.
Vocational Wisdom
My peers agreed it would be an excellent focus for our small discussion group – Living the Questions: Essays Inspired by the Work and Life of Parker J. Palmer, Sam M. Intrator (ed.), (Jossey-Bass, 2005).
I had not previously heard of Parker J Palmer, but was attracted to his deliciously alliterative name. Google led me to discover that he is a sociologist/educator of significant standing across a multi-discipline spectrum. Many human services workers – teachers, lecturers, sports coaches, community workers, religious leaders – have benefited from his service of leading them to nurture and trust their deeper wisdom in the unique expressions of their calling.
This collection of essays seeks not to fete the life work of Palmer, but to extend the conversation stimulated by his skilful prodding.
Reluctant in attempting to trap Parker Palmer’s thinking in a reductionist “dot point summary”, the editor Sam M. Intrator nevertheless grasps the nettle, which is helpful to new initiates such as myself.
He thus summarises the body of work that inspires this collection of essays:
- All human activity emerges from our inwardness, for better or worse. As we work and live, we project the condition of our souls onto our relationships. Sustaining good relationships among those with whom we work and live requires self-knowledge of our inner terrain.
- There are pedagogies and ways of knowing that can invite and welcome the soul and heal the person. For Parker, being a writer who honors the sacred and being a teacher whose practice invites the soul into circles of trust are important life callings.
- The route to enduring social change runs through individuals who join together after making a decision to live with integrity and wholeness. Despite his affection for the monastic life, Parker is a man of action who calls on us to understand the dynamics of social movements and participate in “right action.”
I find this very inviting. Vocation ceases to be moulded in terms of career path and becomes integrated withe expressions of the inner self, something that became increasingly important for me as self-awareness came more and more to the fore in my day to day dealings.
I look forward to reading and pondering the essays.
Wetlands on a wet day
Great to be able to step out of the office for an hour and go for a stroll through the Herdsman wetlands – especially when it’s raining!
Becoming a People of Grace and Welcome to All
Becoming a People of Grace and Welcome to All.
This statement by one stream of our American counterparts could well be embraced by us here at Wembley Downs.
Behold, the six types of atheists – CNN Belief Blog – CNN.com Blogs
A fascinating, if brief taxonomy, that surely has counterparts amongst the vast spectrum of theists. Although running the usual risk of “boxing” people in rather than focusing on engagement in open conversations, such categorising can, ironically, help guard against simplistic assumptions.
Behold, the six types of atheists – CNN Belief Blog – CNN.com Blogs.
When churches confer nationally – NCCA 8th Forum
Theologies confessed conservative and progressive views.
Ancestries bore Asian, Anglo-Saxon, Indigenous and Middle Eastern perspectives.
Close to one hundred delegates gathered from city and country, together with observers and invited guests.
Daily worship drew on the full range of traditions present and held all together.
Conversations were honest, bold and respectful, enabling discernment between converging positions and a mutual holding of divergent viewpoints.
This eclectic gathering of leaders from Anglican, Churches of Christ, Lutheran, Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Uniting Church and other Christian bodies set the agenda for the next three years of the National Council of Churches in Australia.
Amongst some significant decisions were:
- the addition of the priority of peacemaking as a core ecumenical activity
- support for the recognition of indigenous peoples in the Australian Constitution
- the launch of a combined churches Refugee Action task force
- support and cooperation for the Royal Commission into institutional sexual abuse and support for continuing work in establishing accountability, safety, welcome and healing in general church life.
- ongoing work in talking with stakeholders and government in working towards a peaceful solution re Palestine-Israel
These few details will be filled out as fuller reports appear on the NCCA site.
I attended this forum wearing four hats: a Churches of Christ delegate, state Council of Churches observer, minister of a local church that has been driven by a strong ecumenical vision and a wondering pilgrim. It was a delight to discover I could wear them all at the same time. It was with some parochial pride that I listened to the words of Dr Michael Kinnamon, keynote speaker and prominent ecumenical and Disciples leader, as he succinctly and eloquently summed up the opportunities and challenges for churches working, speaking and being one today. Far too many thoughts to jot down here as I wait to fly out to Adelaide – but watch this space!
The Final day arrived!! After a harrowing day on Thursday…the 13kms paddled on Friday was a different story with light winds and milpond conditions as Des made it to Clayton with only 23kms to go!! it was great to share an encouraging phone call from IGF Chief Admin John Paul and The Amazing Irene Gleeson… Dinner at ‘Sails on Clayton’ (you’ve gotta try it) Des was ready for the final challenge.
He couldn’t have asked for better weather conditions as he followed the markers through the last part of the lake as it once again narrowed into the river and then the Murray Mouth.
He was overwhelmed as he came under the Hindmarsh Bridge at Goolwa cheered on by a boat load of strangers. As he came up towards the jetty he could see his grandson waiting “Puppa is coming in a boat, maybe, somewhere”, other supporters and …wait…. that’s…
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See a wrong and right it
My brother-in-law, Des, is preparing a 665km kayak trip down the River Murray. It’s not just his love of kayaking that prompts this venture; there’s been a fire in his belly ever since he visited Kitgum, Uganda, with my sister Janet, who had previously delivered relief to the school and orphanage there, a place of refuge and rehabilitation for many orphaned by AIDS and war. A number of the children there are previous child soldiers.
So Des has initiated a sponsored fund-raising trip for the foundation that runs the village. Details are at http://www.irenegleesonfoundation.com/content/events/gjj8i0
I reflect on this as I prepare tomorrow’s message on The Power of Lament. The passage is Luke 13:31-35 where Jesus laments over Jerusalem. He recognises the short fallings of places of power that are meant to be places of healing. The imprints of rejected and murdered prophets and sages are here, and their ghosts continue to cry out the summons to healing, wholeness and peace. Jesus will be the next to meet his end, but he embraces his path willingly, for his end is not defeat, but teleos, accomplishment.
Jerusalem can be a symbol for wherever we are. We are called to embrace the pain of the world, but not in defeat. We engage suffering, not in self-indulgence, but in purposefulness. It is to accomplish expression of the shalom of which the prophets spoke and which Jesus achieved in completeness.
I suspect this is something of the drive behind what Des is attempting. May we all have occasion to reflect and respond similarly where we see opportunity.
Spam barrage
Anybody else getting a spam barrage bypassing the WordPress filters lately? One even found a screen name I use elsewhere to appear legitimate, but the other tell tale signs were there – careless spelling, random phrases, no relationship to the original post content.
Rethinking The Wedding at Cana
The hall mark of the first sign in John’s gospel – the wedding at Cana where the wine ran out and Jesus , seemingly reluctantly, changed copious amounts of water into the best wine ever – is a celebration of abundance. The fourth gospel sets the scene: the coming of the Divine and Human One is against the background of community celebration, even transforming a mundane panic event (“there’s no more wine”) into a surprising expression of the messianic banquet (“the best wine saved for last”). The point is not the mechanics of the transmogrification, but the launch of Jesus’ public ministry in the context of kin, friends and familiar community, announcing the flavour of the fulness of celebration he means to inject into the quality of ordinary living. The story is thick with layers of meaning., but this is the salutary starting point. How good it was this morning to have Kath & Ray, two of our exemplary diamonds, celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary against the background of this reading.
Exploring the abundance and joy of the first sign in John’s gospel with Ray and Kath’s 6oth wedding anniversary added some zip to this morning’s service!
Wondering Pilgrim 