Today was care Home Chaplaincy Day, and I have to admit I really had to psyche myself up to go... it was a cold (and eventually drizzly) morning and I really wasn't in the best frame of empathic mind/heart.  Still, I pulled myself together, reminded myself it wasn't about me, and off I set.

As I arrived and signed in, the receptionist asked my name.  Do you remember S, she asked?  She, I said, A's son, how is he? He left these calendars for 'the minister' and it must be you, you were the ine who visited his mum. She died a few months ago.  I was fond of her.  In a way, I miss her.  And today, when I needed a little bit of a lift, there was a gift from her son.

Since my last visit a full half dozen people of those I visited have 'been promoted to glory,' and new ones have taken most, though not all, of their places. A's former room, full last time, is now empty again.

I had some jolly chats with new-to-me people, was told not to bother by another, and caught up with a few of my regulars.

In the end, it was a good morning, charactersied by grace, and once more humbling.

There is no greater love than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. John 15:13

Military and civilian
Volunteer and conscript
All faiths and none
'Good' ideology or 'bad'
'Us' and 'them'
Freedom fighters
Injustice challengers
Peace seekers
Peace keepers
Peace makers

Lest we forget - and in forgetting are doomed to repeat the worst of which we are capable.

Not my handiwork, an image found online of three poppies

Red for Remembrance

White for peace

Purple for animals in the service of humans during conflict

Whichever, if any, you choose to wear, or not to wear, it's important that we don't forget but instead allow the remembering to inform our today, and to shape the tomorrow for those who come after us..

I came across this poem/prayer which I think is worth pondering...

Lord, we give you thanks for the gift of tears:

For tears of grief, redeeming our mourning from despair;

For tears of anger, awakening our thirst for justice;

For tears of laughter, celebrating our joy in living.

May the light of Christ shining through our tears

Become a rainbow of your promise,

Shedding colours of your love's bright presence

In your grieving, struggling, laughing world.

(Author unknown)

The Baptist Assembly in Scotland, celebrating 150 years of the BUS is now over.  It was a good to days, some real highlights, no horrendously low spots, and, amusingly a fake cake.

When we arrived the cake was proudly on show, a centrpiece that i assumed, wrongly, would be ceremonially cut at some point.  It wasn't.  When everyone was packing up at the ned, there it was, slightly bashed and still uncut.  'Oh, it's not real,' I was told, 'it's a polystyrene block covered in icing'.  There had been real cake, gluten free so suitable for most people to enjoy (thoguh not vegans or dairy intolerant folk) though I found it overly sweet and the artificial cream cloying.  I am spoiled - no-one makes a cake like our N!  There could be, as someone said to me, a sermon in that, but thaty's never been the way my mind works.

Thankfully the fake cake and the cloying artificial cream did not any any way symbolise the two days, which, for the most part were really enjoyable.

Some highlights...

On Friday, a panel of very senior leaders from BMS World Mission, EBF, BUGB and BUW answered honestly and opening questions about sprituality, disicpleship and self-care.  It was truly wonderful, as they spoke in ways that resonated with real people.

On Saturday, someone had created the most beautiful 24/7 style interactive prayer space.  I loved it and spent almost an hour enjoying and praying in ways that suit me.

Also on Saturday were some excellent short talks by folk from the Scottish Bible Society, Scottish Baptist College and Strathclyde University.  Really interesting and relevant, wide ranging to cover topics such as mental health, singleness, cosmology mission and reading the Bible!

There are always very precious moments - the welcoming of newly accredited ministers always takes me bck to my two 'handshakes' in BUGB and BUS, and rmeinds me who and what I am in this crazy Baptist context.

Lastly, on Saturday evening, Lynne Green, General Secretary of BUGB invited BUS women ministers  to dinner.  As we sat mucnhing pizza in a restaurant in Motherwell, stories were shared, ideas were sparked and connections made.

It was a good Assembly.  I am glad I went.  I am proud of my delegates who engaged even with the stuff that really isn't 'them'. I feel encouraged and content.