So, do I write another blog?
Is there anybody out there who would read it? Or benefit from it? Who do I let know about it, and how? And why? There must be as much that as unseen and unread in the world as there is that is seen and read. Does that make it of any less value? I guess if our ultimate audience is God himself, sometimes all that matters is that it is ultimately done for his glory, whether seen or unseen, read or unread. I guess that one of my problems is that when life gets tricky, I like to process stuff in writing, with the increasing risk that, at some point, some of that unfolding process will end up being let loose on an unsuspecting public. And for me, that moment has surely come. Recently, I came across a wonderful and moving ‘lockdown’ version of ‘Mad World’ performed by Curt Smith (of Tears for Fears) and his daughter. Here it is: https://youtu.be/NEpfvTdR5-U In part, it reminded me of the first time I attempted a blog on this website – you may even be able to find it somewhere embedded in the Archives. This might even be a link to it (2 Jan 17 – 3 Apr 17): https://thecairninnscourt.weebly.com/phils-new-blog/archives/01-2017 It is perhaps important to emphasise, in such challenging times, that the song (for me, at least) actually captures a strong note of hope and optimism … expressed by Roland Orzabal in the following way: ‘some of the most dramatic dreams we have … release the most … tension … so we can have this ridiculous dream ... and wake up feeling a lot better. So “the dreams in which I’m dying are the best I ever had” doesn’t [necessarily] mean ‘I can’t wait to die’”: https://youtu.be/kdCLnwIkkps ‘Mad World’ is an important song for me in that it helps me reflect on the sense of dissonance that I often feel between the kind of ‘work in progress’, ‘still broken’ parts of me (and the world around me) and the lingering sense of unresolvedness associated with them; and the parts of my life where I have seen God work in incredibly miraculous and restorative ways. ********** Strangely, perhaps, another recent song that has encouraged me in a comparable way is Elle Limebear and Sarah’s version of an amazing Hillsong song with incredibly profound lyrics (written I believe by Chris Davenport, Benjamin Hastings and Ben Tan). A sequoia, by the way, is a giant redwood tree. This is the song: https://youtu.be/9RkMYPglTvE And these are the full lyrics, which are worth spending some time reflecting on, particularly in this season of Advent: Like the frost on a rose Winter comes for us all Oh how nature acquaints us With the nature of patience Like a seed in the snow I’ve been buried to grow For Your promise is loyal From seed to sequoia I know Though the winter is long even richer The harvest it brings Though my waiting prolongs even greater Your promise for me like a seed I believe that my season will come Lord I think of Your love Like the low winter sun As I gaze I am blinded In the light of Your brightness Like a fire to the snow I’m renewed in Your warmth Melt the ice of this wild soul Till the barren is beautiful I can see the promise I can see the future You’re the God of seasons I’m just in the winter If all I know of harvest Is that it’s worth my patience Then if You’re not done working God I’m not done waiting You can see my promise Even in the winter Cause You’re the God of greatness Even in a manger For all I know of seasons Is that You take Your time You could have saved us in a second Instead You sent a child And when I finally see my tree Still I believe there’s a season to come Like a seed You were sown For the sake of us all From Bethlehem’s soil Grew Calvary’s sequoia (c) 2020 Provident Label Group LLC, a division of Sony Music Entertainment ********** Finally, I had the unexpected privilege of training for ministry In Bristol in parallel with my nephew, Chris Harwood (me at Bristol Baptist College, Chris at Trinity) and was intrigued to discover that Chris has recently released a series of booklets about New Monasticism from his family’s hospitality house in Cumbria. These are really worth checking out, and cover: Hospitality, Simplicity, Peace, Resistance & Prayer, as well as an Introductory booklet. They are all available to download via this link: https://www.godforall.org.uk/new-monasticism/ ... and some words of encouragement from Isaiah 55: 10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
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December 2020
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