Today's walk was exceedingly wet and windy... so, after reaching the top of the first hill, and munching some lunch, we turned back because to have continued would have been plain daft. Not exactly fun, but a useful final training walk ready for the weekend. As is the way of these things, just as we got back to the car, the cloud lifted and we finally saw the hills! None of which is the serendipity.

I travelled up by train and somewhere along the way the dolphin key-ring on my bootbag fell off. This was a shame, but I thought no more about it. As it happened I'd also had a take-away coffee and left the empty cup on the train. So, the day passed, and I got into a train home, and found myself back in the same seat on the same train (I knew this because the paper cup was still where I'd left it! So much for cleaning of trains) ... and there on floor was my key-ring! Serendipity? Seems like it to me.

Yesterday was one of those golden days that come along now and then.  It was - for me - an ordinary working day, yet it was just great from start to end.  Much of it was spent researching and choosing hymns for our upcoming harvest service which, because there was no real urgency, I could take at a leisurely pace and play around with the order more than I sometimes do.  I went home for my 'break' with a sense of accomplishment. 

After tea it was back to church for our Monday Funday quiz night.  There were 16 or 17 of us there and a great time was had by all.  I played the part of 'pointless assistant' (score keeper) and we were entertained by rounds on the history of our church, name that carol tune, name that hymn, Biblical arithmetic, whose pet?, who am I? pointless knowledge and - the piece de resistance - 'would I lie to you?'  Gales of laughter swept through the room as various folk demonstrated their ability to spin a good yarn (especially the one about the nativity set knitted from leftover yarn and the one about the ballet lessons with Sascha Popov...)

All in all, a grand day.

Today I am heading off to meet a friend to be 'dragged up and down some hills' in final preparation for Ben Nevis this weekend.  I really hope the weather improves between now and then, though having looked at the forecast, it is far better there than here.  The organisation of this adventure has been meticulous - with mountain guides and medics on hand to ensure the 'shepherd and the ninety-nine', as I have mischievously named the 100 walkers, get up and down safely.  No adventure is risk free, and sadly in recent weeks someone fell to their death from Ben Nevis, but if nothing else the last couple of years have taught me to carpe diem - seize the day.  I have friends who have successfully and safely climbed Ben Nevis on a whim and I like to think I am a sufficiently experienced hill-walker not to take undue risks (plus anyone who knows my irrational fear of edges will know I am VERY cautious at times).

So, a soggy and blustery day in prospect - but hopefully good fun too.

When I was a ministerial student we were introduced to the Gospel in Solentiname - a Latin American peasant reading of scripture.  Today as I was playing 'pick the hymns' for our harvest service (in two weeks time) I found one or two items of Nicaraguan origin, one from the 'Misa Popular Nicaraguenese'.  When I Googled that, I found something else, La Misa Campesina - the Peasant Mass, also from Nicaragua and released as a recording in 1979.

Here is the Credo, as reproduced on that fount of all dodgy references, Wikipedia:

I believe in you, comrade,

Christ man, Christ worker,

victor over death.

With your great sacrifice

you made new people

for liberation.

You are risen

in every arm outstretched

to defend the people

against the exploitation of rulers;

you are alive and present in the hut,

in the factory, in the school.

I believe in your ceaseless struggle,

I believe in your resurrection

And here is the Gloria.  It is very much of its time, but still worth a listen. 

Today I came across a free online Myers Briggs type-indicator (hyphenation mine as otherwise it's ambiguous!) test.  It confirmed that despite all the last few years have sent my way, and despite the fact that I am now more of the sieze-the-day mentality than I used to be, I am still an ISTJ.

Way back, when I was at college, a vicar did 'formal' MBTI tets for us and announced quite pointedly words to the effect that 'ISTJs are not ideally suited to be ministers'.  Pah!  Actually my ISTJ-ness has been well employed this past almost a decade, so I reckon God probably makes some pretty good calls.

You can find it here

Other personality tests are available and none should be taken too seriously!

This morning we thought about 'gentle wisdom' as per James 3/4, and I noted that it is not the existence of structures and systems which is critiqued by the above/below comparison  but instead the values that drive or underlie those systems.  I'm quite impressed that I managed to quote the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Walter Wink and Julian of Norwich all in the same sermon... and that's three more quotes than I'd normally use!

This evening we were looking at some 'creation time' themes recognising the orderliness of creation and the challenges and tensions of good stewardship alongside the power we have in the wealthy north west of the globe.  Questions about food miles and renewable energy, about fairtrade and local sourcing are really important, and really complex.

So, two services and two clearly inter-related themes... that God is a God of order, and that we need real 'wisdom from above' to live well in the complex world of which we are part.  Perhaps a less blatant connection than some Sundays of late, but it's still there.

A quiet week in prospect, as I have next Sunday 'off' so I am looking forward to doing some reading and reflecting (plus the inevitable interruptions which are the real ministry).