At last night's service, one of the questions posed was along the lines of 'what is the difference between "whistling in the dark" and "singing in the wilderness"?'

It's a really good question.  In the small group I was part of, we tried to define 'whistling in the dark,' an expression with which not all were familiar.  Opinions ranged from the very literal, recalling how in times of literal darkness as a child singing or whistling had been a means of generating courage ("whenever I feel afraid, I hold my head erect, and whistle a happy tune, so no-one will suspect I'm afraid...") via a kind of fake or baseless confidence, to a sense of futility ('whistling in the dark' not so different from 'whistling in the wind').  However we understood it, there was a sense that it most probably did not, or could not, really inspire courage or hope or whatever it was we felt we needed.

Singing in the wilderness, by contrast is motivated by hope, by a sense that this is not all there is, that we will, eventually, reach the other side.  It has a quality of defiance, determination and tenacity.  Rather than singing to drive out fear, we sing to bolster courage.  In instead of evading despair, we foster hope.

I think that there is probably another difference.  Whistling in the dark tends to be a solo enterprise, something we do when we are on our own (or feel we are).  Singing in the wilderness can, and often does, have a corporate edge to it.  Yomping songs, campfire songs... these are shared with others.

Whether it is private whistling or corporate singing, I guess there is a choice about what it is we express, and how or why that is.

I know a few people who have found themselves cast into wilderness places recently, and it is no small undertaking to sing in the wilderness - far easier to succumb to despair or bitterness, anger or fear, hopelessness or even aggression.   But the songs of the wilderness, so often in the minor key, and aching in their honesty are beautiful and hope-filled, if only we have the courage to join in and the ears to hear.

This week the focus shifts to ecological issues...

Adults

The world’s poorest people are on the frontline of our changing climate – and they’re suffering first
and hardest.

Give 50p for each light turned on unnecessarily in your home and 20p for every electrical appliance left on standby.

When we were growing up there two things my Dad was very strict on - keepng doors closed, and swtiching off lights when you left a room.  The motivation wasn't ecological but a blend of practical (to keep the warmth in) and financial (to keep costs down).  Unplugging the television at night was also one of his 'things', a safety conern that seems to have long since disappeared.  So the prospect of leaving a light on 'unecessarily' is one I find hard to relate to; I am more likely to sit I the half dark than the opposite.  And the only thing I could leave on 'standby' is my televsion, which I don't.

In good conscience, I can give myself a 'cheap' day.

Oh, and in the words of my dad, "were you you born in a field?  Shut the door! We're not heating the whole of [town/village/city] you know"

My pledge

Today - zero, just some memories

Total - Total - £23.85, five prayers, one rant, one memory and one e-petition signed

500 days to the Glasgow Commonwealth games...  it's hard to believe it's 12 years since the equivalent countdown to Manchester 2002.  I hope I enjoy this one as much - I'm sure I will.

Laetere Sunday, Rose Sunday, Mothering Sunday, Mothers' Day... one Sunday, many names.  And so my challenge to choose a hymn from BPW to share.

On the grounds that this Sunday is the 'day off' from Lent I have extended my scope to include the subject index in the back of the hymnbook, and even to the small selection for Mothering Sunday.  In the end I opted for this one (BPW 500) which seems the most fitting...

Lord of the home, your only Son

Received a mother's tender love;

And from an earthly father won

His vision of your home above.

Help us, O Lord, our homes to make

Your Holy Spirt's dwelling place;

Our hands and hearts' devotion tell,

May faithful lives your glory show.

Pray we that all who with us dwell,

Your love and joy and peace may know;

And while our lips your praises tell,

May faithful lives your glory show.

Teach us to keep our homes so fair,

That were our Lord a child once more,

He might be glad our hearth to share,

And find a welcome at our door.

Lord, may your Spirirt sanctify

Each household duty we fulfil,

May we our Master glorify

In glad obedience to your will.

Albert F Bayly (c) OUP

I like the image of our homes being a place where the child-Christ, the boy Jesus, would  be glad to live - I likee it, and it challenges me.

Adults

Afghanistan, has received a loom from Christian Aid partner RAADA to enable her to make an income from her skill at weaving traditional Afghan rugs. It takes her about 3 months to finish a carpet which she sells for about US$60. The carpets are made from wool from her own animals, and the extra income means she has more money for her family.

Give thanks for mothers and carers throughout the world who work hard to look after their families.
Visit christianaid.org.uk/motheringsunday for a thought-provoking Mothering Sunday church service plan, featuring more on Golbibi.

Children

Golbibi Kohsani, has two children and lives in Afghanistan. A war in Afghanistan has left many people poor, especially women. Christian Aid, through a local organisation called RAADA, has given Golbibi a loom – a machine for making rugs and carpets. Golbibi uses wool from her sheep to make rugs, which she sells to make more money to help look after her family. Write a prayer on another sheet of paper to say thanks for women and carers all over the world who work so hard to care for children.

Mothers and carers... looking after their families... OK, you know what's coming next - my semantics check.  'Mother' may be definable, even if it is sometimes prefaced by words such as grand, step, foster, birth or adoptive but 'carer'... do we include midwives and community nurses?  nursery nurses and teachers?  baby-sitters and child-minders? siblings? cousins? leaders of clubs and organisations? where does 'family' end and 'community' or 'society' begin?  Or is that, really, the point?

And care is not 'just' about infants and children... what of care for those who are unwell, or have disabilities, or who are elrderly or dying?  Even those who have died?  home helps and health care assitants? welfare rights advisers and counsellors? hospices and undertakers?  Once yoyu begin to think, the list gets longer and longer...

Thank you God who can been known as family or community

And is more than either or both

For those whose care,

In the context of family

And lived within some expression of community

Has enriched my life

And which enriches the lives of others

It is too difficult to define

Or confine

Those who have cared

Do care

Will care

For 'me and mine'

To 'we'

To blood

To kin

To any group

Or purpose.

So, thank you God for

All who care

Nurture

Protect

Heal

Teach

Love

Female and male

Old and young

Chosen or enforced

Trained or untrained

Paid or unpaid

For agencies and societies

For structures and guidelines

For all who have cared

Do care

And will care

Amen

My pledge

Today - one prayer

Total - £23.85, five prayers, one rant and one e-petition signed