As week one of an exploration of a few of the Psalms, and under the heading "all creation worships God?" this is the creative writing that emerged for this morning's service... (Advance posted to appear when we are at church!!)

The author of Luke tells us that as Jesus rode into Jerusalem and was approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying,

‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!’

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, ‘Teacher, order your disciples to stop.’ He answered, ‘I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.’

Stones, rocks, boulders, pebbles…

We come in all shapes and sizes

And are born – if we may use such a word – in different ways:

Spewed forth from the molten heart of a volcano

Squeezed beneath the surface of the earth

Or the product of centuries of sedimentation…

Silently, we observe all human life.

Silently, we are used, and abused, in the cause of human life.

Flints struck to create a spark to light a fire

Stones sharpened for use as tools… and as weapons…

Polished and cut to ornament human bodies… or the floors of palaces…

Used as slingshot to maim or kill

Quarried and fashioned into regular blocks

And built in dwellings for humans… or for deities…

Gathered into circles to contain fires

Or built into walls to protect sheep and cattle… or exclude entire nations…

Pebbles joyfully skimmed across the surface of a river

Or thrown angrily, deep into the depths of the sea…

Silently we watch… silently we listen…

Silently we delight… silently we despair…

Just below the threshold of human hearing.

Just beyond the comprehension of those whose lives we share,

We too, utter prayers and praises to the one in whom we have our being

For the hurt we have caused, in natural disaster and in human activity, Lord, have mercy

For the joys we have brought, in the natural environment and in human endeavour, Lord we praise you

That your promises be fulfilled, that all will be made anew in your Kingdom of Shalom, Lord we beseech you

God, rock of ages, hear our prayer. Amen.

So, I did it!  I gathered up all the 'new with tags' and 'never played with' teddies and packed them into bags ready to be sent off to charity, where they can bring smiles and laughter to small people, or hear the secrets of children and adults, or generally just be loved.

Over the years they have sat on my spare bed or on top of the wardrobe looking down on me, they have brought me lots of pleasure, but now it is time to say 'farewell' to them and send them off to new lives.

I've also contacted Tools With A Mission to collect my old sewing machine and some computer peripherals, and gone so far as to list my E-piano on Ebay (pointless it gathering dust on my living room when someone could enjoy playing it).

This clearing out exercise continues to be healthy and helpful - and if nothing else will free up space in my over-stuffed flat!!

So, bears (and other cuddlies):

Go ye into Charitable Purposes, bringing smiles and cuddles to children and, behold, their love will make you very real, even to the end of time. (with apologies to JC according to Matthew.)

I am privileged to have in my congregation someone who is a living legend. Wherever you go in Glasgow, people will speak of "Miss Allan's Meeting" which has, in various forms and in different locations run for longer than I have been alive!!

Today is her 99th birthday. She plans to wear her red cardi (I have on a red blouse in her honour, hope she'll forgive me that it's not a clerical shirt!) and is looking forward to cake.

This afternoon, I will be there at FF, the latest incarnation of the meeting, privileged to be sharing with some of the 'least of these' whom she has loved and encouraged for more than half a century. Then I'll call by to spend a few minutes with her on this auspicious day.

This song from Celtic Connections was used at the service last Sunday evening, and is well worth listening to.

I could, on reflection, have chosen to use it this Sunday, as something 'creative', but I remembered it only after I had written my own first draft (which I won't be singing!).  Small spoiler alert: not a traditional sermon this week!

A long time ago now, I wrote a piece of theological reflection on the topic of theological reflection and chose to use as metaphors assorted images from the world of optics and vision.  It seemed to appeal to the person who marked it, sparking her own suggestions of additional metaphors.

The title of my essay was Seigel in Speigel - the mirror in the mirror - and I pondered the idea of the inifinity of reflections that arise between two parallal mirrors.

At one level this is quite a healthy and helpful image, because it's a reminder that reflection is never a finished product, that there are always more reflections being formed (or capable of being formed).

At another level, it's a troubling image, because it recongises the potential for over-reflection, of potentially becoming trapped between the mirrors, endlessly watching the reflections increase in number, maybe without ever quite seeing whatever it was that was sought, and unable to let go and move on.

Over the last couple of days, topics such as reflection, self-awareness and personality have all been signfiicant in important conversations, and that's been good.  It has also given me a huge amount to think about in relation to myself, especially how I see, or feel about, myself and how others perceive me. I think the swan image is helpful - seemingly 'together' and gliding along (not sure I actually glide but never mind) whilst underneath the feet are paddling hard... All my life some people have assumed that I am confident because I am competent, whilst the inner story is that my lack of confidence leaves me constantly questioning my competence.  This makes me wonder how inaccurately I read other people based on my own inaccurate, biased or even 'projected' perceptions.

Hmm, lots to ponder - but I'll try not to 'over-reflect' :-)