Most years, I undertake a personal charity fund-raiser.  This year I have decided to do a physical challenge, which will mean attempting to do 24 sits ups (proper ones, which I find really difficult to do) every day of December up to Christmas Eve.  I have been practicing, and with a bit of foot anchoring (which I am assured is legitimate) I can certainly get to a dozen.

Cancer Support Scotland (Tak Tent) offers mental health and well-being support for anyone affected by cancer, whether a personal diagnosis or that of a family member. I make no secret of the fact that the triple-whammy of chemical (induced by chemotherapy and hormone therapy), surgical (due to the side effects of the hormone therapy) and age-related (inevitable!) menopause messed with my mental health.  Although I was able to access other sources of support, others are not so fortunate, and organisations such as this are a real lifeline.

I know that money is tight and there are oodles of causes to support, but if you would like to make a small donation, click here for the link...

One of the Advent books I am working with this year is 'Music of Eternity' a relatively academic/theological, yet equally thoughtful/spiritual book that is new this year.  It is inspired by the writings of Evelyn Underhill an Anglo-Catholic mystic.  Many of my Baptist minister friends are also reading this book - so I wonder what that says!

Anyway, here is a tiny quote from today's chapter (chapter 2 'The Mighty Symphony of God') and a few thoughts of my own...

"So many Christians are like deaf people at a concert.  They study the programme carefully, believe every statement made in it, speak respectfully of the music, but only really hear a phrase now and again. So they have no notion of the mighty symphony that fills the universe, to which our lives are destined to make their tiny contribution, the self-expression of the eternal God."  (Page 15)

I understand what is being said here, and I think the point that Christians often know a lot about their faith, and can make the right noises, but sometimes it doesn't draw us in, as we might wish, is well made.

However...

The 'deaf person at a concert' comparison grated harshly, and I have to remind myself that Underhill lived in a very different age (1875 - 1941) when to be deaf, or to have a hearing impairment was viewed very differently. 

And anyway, even the book using Underhill's work was published before those of us in the UK could witness the incredible dance on BBC Strictly Come Dancing in which deaf actor Rose and her partner included a section of silence in tribute to the deaf community.  

You don't have to hear with your ears in order to hear with your heart... perhaps some of us as hearing Christians might learn from Rose, and others, how to hear differently, and perhaps more deeply, the music of eternity.

My prayer for today:

God whose music is sometimes best heard in the sound of sheer silence, teach me to listen with my heart for your rhythms of grace and eternal harmonies. Amen 

I would be quite surprised if anyone still reads this blog - it is now two months since my last post, and people have far better things to do that check back at inactive websites.

But it's Advent, the time of physical and spiritual preparation for Christmas, so I will get my act together and post some things here, rather than elsewhere.

The old Anglican collect prayer for the Sunday before Advent says "Stir up, we beseech thee, O Lord, the wills of they faithful people".

My parents (and especially my Mum) would sometimes tell us to 'stir your stumps', meaning 'get moving'.

So I am stirring my stumps, this Advent, so share some of the reading and reflecting that I will be undertaking.  The photo hints at some of what I'll be using/doing - more to follow in the days ahead!

Thank you for dropping by - may you find your own Advent blessings along the way.

Twelve years ago today I officially began work at The Gathering Place in Glasgow (the induction service followed a few days later).  Sixteen years ago, I began blogging, when it was very much the 'in thing' with ministers.

Those years (12 and 16) have certainly flown past and what a lot we have shared along the way.

I am looking forward to Sunday, when we wil renew our Community Covenant, break bread and connect together over Zoom.

The pandemic seaosn has been long, and one of the realities of taking care of the chuirch social media presence is that this old blog has been very neglected.

So, if you are still hanging on in there after all this time - a big thank you, your quiet support and encouragement has been, and is, much appreciated.

As we move on into autumn, and then to Advent, I will endeavour to post more frequently - there is CoP26 and there is Advent, so lots to share.

Last Sunday was the Four Nations' Climate Sunday Service held in Glasgow Cathedral.  I was privileged to be one of those chosen to lead the intercessory prayers - the words I was given were beautiful, and it was a real honour to pray them...

Teach us, Lord God, how to care for your earth, which you have lent to the human race.  Help us to see what each of us can do in our local environment, and never let us underestimate the work of our neighbours, which may appear small, but still contirubtes to a global reconciliation with nature.

You can read a report on the service by clicking HERE