Well, we've continued to meet approximately twice monthly, although with a month break over Easter during which all the group attended a Passover meal alongside some 40+ others of all ages - a great time of celebration and food.
One of our number has embarked upon a two year working trip with VSO to Cameroon and in the weeks prior to departure she was able to share in the group some of the hurt experienced via friends and family who questioned her decision to go.
'How could she leave her twin granddaughters aged 1 and grandson aged 4 and a daughter-in-law who could do with help?' ' Was it not fulfilling enough to have a husband and family here?' 'What about the dangers and risks involved with nursing AIDS sufferers?' 'What's wrong with Britain anyway...'
All serious questions, but no real understanding of her need to do this, as part of her life's journey. Our roles so often impose cultural restrictions that can stifle 'the abundant life'.
As a group, we hope to keep in touch with her once she can establish a blog or email; interestingly, although for the purposes of the MA this blog concludes and is presented shortly, all the women want to keep on meeting together and taking the spirituality discussions further.
It is just possible that we are in the beginnings of an emerging church conversation. I find that thought both stimulating and exciting. So watch this space - there may be more posts in future!
Sunday, 4 May 2008
Tuesday, 12 February 2008
It's good to be alive
Yes, it is good to be alive! I'm writing on a beautiful, crisp, sunny February day, reflecting upon a stunning evening light that flooded into our west-facing window yesterday afternoon which re-awakened the long since abondoned pastels artist in me. It did not, however, cause me to rush to the attic and find materials to try to capture it - why? because our women's group is back (by popular demand!) and I needed to be in the kitchen to cook for it. In actual fact two of us met back in Novemeber on cushions by candlelight in the other's sitting room while her young twins slept above us: sharing food, life and hopes... a beautiful and deeply spiritual evening. And three of us in January in my kitchen, a time to share each other's life stories and spiritual journeys thus far...
Last night we were six, which is very apposite as that's what the kitchen table seats! Christmas is over, the rush forgotten and time for women to think about themselves once more, hence the request to meet up again. As all but two had met each other at previous meals, there was an immediate sense of knowing and being known and there was a lot of catching up on families etc., but I'm learning to pray silently for the conversation to change and wait.
less than 2 minutes later (and after an hour's talk), the chat suddenly took on a much deeper focus as ways of engaging in spirituality were shared. Buddhism is the flavour of the moment as our local women's Buddhist retreat centre had attracted three to weekend meditation retreats/open days. On to re-incarnation equals 'resurrection of the body' discussions and I am learning the fruit of patience - part of me longs to dive into the conversation, instead I listen and wait... and eventually one asks what I believe. Again, I'm learning to be guided by the Spirit and not be didactic. Just one brief comment from me prompts a real interest in hearing about the Judao/Christian/Muslim alternative of one life to be lived. then, 'well, what happens when we die?' and on we go...
Last week but one I spent in Bedford helping my elder daughter prepare for her annual dance show - (this year on a grand scale in a real theatre with hundreds of costumes made by - yes me! ) But I also got out on 2 occasions to meet friends for coffee/lunch. With one, a hilarious time as we reflected upon death, iminent in his case and a slower one in my own, the attitudes and 'helpful' comments made by Christians who mean well(!) and the realisation that, yes, both of us actually do believe all we've professed all these years. salutory. sitting in a cafe, laughing and chatting openly about the coming chemo, time scales, families and faith - I was suddenly aware of the scandelized and fearful glances a couple sitting at the next table, partially behind a screen, were furtively making at me - they couldn't see my friend - so I took to glancing in the mirror above my friend's head and yes! the staff were listening in too! reflecting on it, it seems so sad that death is not to be mentioned - almost a supersticious sense that if it is resolutely pushed away it will not happen to one.
and yet, underneath is that fear and questioning - as our women's group needed to talk about last night.
the second outing, for lunch with friends I've known for over 25 years since our children were small, was poingnant - they too face early death, but not of themselves but their three sons - now aged 27;30 and 32. this time its MD and as a family they've carried this knowledge since the guys were in their early teens. They hold on to faith in a loving Creator God but its so hard to be helpless when you long to be doing something to make things better for those you love. very selflessly, they stay out of their single men's lives unless sought out for respite from lives lived to the full, and it reminded me forcefully of Jesus' heart cry for Jerusalem as a hen longing to gather her chicks under the protection of her wings, and yet holding back and allowing free choice to go its own way.
someone once said 'death is the only certainty we have in life' and I'm beginning to see that maybe we need to give folk safe space to allow them to bring out their fears - even if they don't join us on a journey in following Jesus at this point in their lives - and perhaps that's behind my vision to offer this kitchen table meeting space to a disparite group of busy women who are arriving hungry for more than bread...
Last night we were six, which is very apposite as that's what the kitchen table seats! Christmas is over, the rush forgotten and time for women to think about themselves once more, hence the request to meet up again. As all but two had met each other at previous meals, there was an immediate sense of knowing and being known and there was a lot of catching up on families etc., but I'm learning to pray silently for the conversation to change and wait.
less than 2 minutes later (and after an hour's talk), the chat suddenly took on a much deeper focus as ways of engaging in spirituality were shared. Buddhism is the flavour of the moment as our local women's Buddhist retreat centre had attracted three to weekend meditation retreats/open days. On to re-incarnation equals 'resurrection of the body' discussions and I am learning the fruit of patience - part of me longs to dive into the conversation, instead I listen and wait... and eventually one asks what I believe. Again, I'm learning to be guided by the Spirit and not be didactic. Just one brief comment from me prompts a real interest in hearing about the Judao/Christian/Muslim alternative of one life to be lived. then, 'well, what happens when we die?' and on we go...
Last week but one I spent in Bedford helping my elder daughter prepare for her annual dance show - (this year on a grand scale in a real theatre with hundreds of costumes made by - yes me! ) But I also got out on 2 occasions to meet friends for coffee/lunch. With one, a hilarious time as we reflected upon death, iminent in his case and a slower one in my own, the attitudes and 'helpful' comments made by Christians who mean well(!) and the realisation that, yes, both of us actually do believe all we've professed all these years. salutory. sitting in a cafe, laughing and chatting openly about the coming chemo, time scales, families and faith - I was suddenly aware of the scandelized and fearful glances a couple sitting at the next table, partially behind a screen, were furtively making at me - they couldn't see my friend - so I took to glancing in the mirror above my friend's head and yes! the staff were listening in too! reflecting on it, it seems so sad that death is not to be mentioned - almost a supersticious sense that if it is resolutely pushed away it will not happen to one.
and yet, underneath is that fear and questioning - as our women's group needed to talk about last night.
the second outing, for lunch with friends I've known for over 25 years since our children were small, was poingnant - they too face early death, but not of themselves but their three sons - now aged 27;30 and 32. this time its MD and as a family they've carried this knowledge since the guys were in their early teens. They hold on to faith in a loving Creator God but its so hard to be helpless when you long to be doing something to make things better for those you love. very selflessly, they stay out of their single men's lives unless sought out for respite from lives lived to the full, and it reminded me forcefully of Jesus' heart cry for Jerusalem as a hen longing to gather her chicks under the protection of her wings, and yet holding back and allowing free choice to go its own way.
someone once said 'death is the only certainty we have in life' and I'm beginning to see that maybe we need to give folk safe space to allow them to bring out their fears - even if they don't join us on a journey in following Jesus at this point in their lives - and perhaps that's behind my vision to offer this kitchen table meeting space to a disparite group of busy women who are arriving hungry for more than bread...
Monday, 5 November 2007
we didn't meet
well, it is Monday 5th November and once again life intervenes: only one of the fluid group was able to make it tonight and so we cancelled, rather than become a duologue! As I have had a streaming cold for over a week, this is not so unwelcome although I'd rather meet than not.
Once again, it causes me to reflect on how frenetic women's lives can be juggling home, work, parenting, community and leisure interests. Is it any wonder that the spiritual life can lay dormant for years - and when a yearning is awakened there's no time left in the week to pause and explore it! Interestingly, three of the women who originally expressed a real desire to pause and do just that have found they are too busy to come!
today I've been reading McLaren's More Ready Than You Realize, Evangelism in the Postmodern Matrix ( Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002).
Set in bite-size pieces, it traces the spiritual conversations McLaren held with a casually met person, 'Alice', via email.
Principally, the book challenges Christians to take up opportunities to journey with spiritual seekers: at their pace; listening to their story, sharing one's own and then sharing God's story; being a servant; and demonstrating authentic lifestyle as part of a community of likeminded believers.
He draws a distinction between the modern church's fascination with results based upon firm propositions (apologetics leads to 'conversions') and the need to respond to the postmodern thinker's desire to explore beyond logic and incorporate beauty and mystery...
There follows a brief section on the history of Enlightenment thought and the church's fascination with foundationalism - perhaps superfluous in the context of this book, but overall his thoughts are usefully summarised in the final two chapters and the whole enhanced by an insightful seven-part Bible study on disciple making in the appendices.
Opinion: A thought provoking, easy to read and digest addition to a 21st century evangelist's library.
Once again, it causes me to reflect on how frenetic women's lives can be juggling home, work, parenting, community and leisure interests. Is it any wonder that the spiritual life can lay dormant for years - and when a yearning is awakened there's no time left in the week to pause and explore it! Interestingly, three of the women who originally expressed a real desire to pause and do just that have found they are too busy to come!
today I've been reading McLaren's More Ready Than You Realize, Evangelism in the Postmodern Matrix ( Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002).
Set in bite-size pieces, it traces the spiritual conversations McLaren held with a casually met person, 'Alice', via email.
Principally, the book challenges Christians to take up opportunities to journey with spiritual seekers: at their pace; listening to their story, sharing one's own and then sharing God's story; being a servant; and demonstrating authentic lifestyle as part of a community of likeminded believers.
He draws a distinction between the modern church's fascination with results based upon firm propositions (apologetics leads to 'conversions') and the need to respond to the postmodern thinker's desire to explore beyond logic and incorporate beauty and mystery...
There follows a brief section on the history of Enlightenment thought and the church's fascination with foundationalism - perhaps superfluous in the context of this book, but overall his thoughts are usefully summarised in the final two chapters and the whole enhanced by an insightful seven-part Bible study on disciple making in the appendices.
Opinion: A thought provoking, easy to read and digest addition to a 21st century evangelist's library.
Tuesday, 25 September 2007
first reflections
18th sept.
day after 1st meeting
an initial reflection:
it takes urgent necessity to bring about action to clear my kitchen! - how easily I find ' ministry' uses all my time and enables me to put off housework!
How often do I put things off until almost zero hour? answer: mmm, frequently!
How easily life intervenes and stops us from doing what we want/intend – on the day, 3 women were unable to make it because of family/acute illness.
How very little can act as a catylist: the most casual invitation led to 1 attending & her hearing one phrase led on to sharing on a deep level.
Partaking in the missio Dei is so relaxed: allowing God to lead and simply co-operating with Him instead of forging ahead with plans, details, etc. - wow! why did we get so into precision campaign mentality in the 80s and 90s?
Wednesday, 12 September 2007
Spirituality and Women
As part of my MA in Emerging Church, I am pioneering an emerging conversation entitled, 'Spirituality and Women'.
Starting Monday 13th September, a few women will share their thoughts on their identity as women and experiences of spirituality around a table over supper in my kitchen - and we'll see where it takes us.
Why? because frequently women (temporarily?) find their self sub-sumed into their role as partner; mother; work colleague - and there's a longing to re-discover their own identity.
Sound familiar?
The projected idea is to meet twice a month, but this is fluid depending upon members' response, so watch this space.
I'll be keeping a blog of reflections on the process over the coming months and welcome comments and contributions from the group and anyone who's interested...
Wednesday, 24 January 2007
first thoughts
isn't it exciting when you overcome your reluctance to engage with something entirely new, and despite intitial set backs through lack of confidence and skills - in this instance technological ones - persevere and win through!
well, earlier tonight I would not have believed I''d be able or even want to write this, and yet, here I am and it feels good.
If anyone out there is into emerging church and is interested in a conversation - especially about the place of children & minstry in emerging spirituality, then great to hear from you.
well, earlier tonight I would not have believed I''d be able or even want to write this, and yet, here I am and it feels good.
If anyone out there is into emerging church and is interested in a conversation - especially about the place of children & minstry in emerging spirituality, then great to hear from you.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)