This morning's guest preacher used John 11:55 - 12:8 as his text.  What he said was quite wide ranging but among other things he noted that there were three main characters: Jesus, Judas and Mary.  One of the things I wound up pondering was the juxtaposition of Mary (good) and Judas (bad).

The Fourth Gospel shows pretty clear evidence of dualism with such contrasts as above/below, light/dark, etc.  My understanding is that the dualism of the time would have allied 'good' with 'male' and 'bad' with 'female' in which case this story becomes more than a little subversive.  Interesting.

The preacher also mentioned that 'some people' try to rehabilitate Judas and I have to confess to being someone who would love to.  I found myself recalling how he is sometimes called 'the son of perdition' (lostness) and began thinking about all times the word 'lost' gets used in the gospels inrelation to Jesus mission ...

I would dispute the preacher's claim that the same annointing story appears in all four gospels; as I understand it most commentators would recognise at least two stories - different women, different parts of Jesus anointed (head or feet).  But then how many times do I make claims that others would dispute?

Above all, the sermon made me think, and that has to be a good thing.

It's funny how sometimes you hear something new (to you anyway) and then it keeps popping up all over the place.  Recently in a conversation about 'one song to the tune of another' someone mentioned singing Amazing Grace to the tune of the House of the Rising Sun.  Today I heard it on the radio... and it keeps being mentioned.

I found a version of it here, accompanied by images that juxtapose KJV texts with images of 'the House of the Rising Sun'.  There is a poignancy and profundity to setting words about 'grace' to a tune associated with a song about 'failure and regret'.  See what you think

... and very large, and glowingly golden, and extremely beautiful.

Yesterday I heard on the radio that the moon would unusually large last night because it was especially close to earth and also full.  It was a very cloudy night but the moon deigned to peep out briefly in all its shiny loveliness.

I love to look at the moon.  To do so connects me with my own past and with the ancients who also gazed in wonder at this orb in the sky.  It connects me with people I know and love in other places on this strange and wonderful planet we call home.  And it connects me with the future, when, long after I am forgotten, new generations will look skywards and see its simple beauty.

All of which reminds me of a rather twee Sunday school song of yesteryear...

I love the sun

It shines on me

God made the sun

And God made me

I love the stars

They twinkle on me

God made the stars

And God made me

I love the rain

It splashes round me

God made the rain

And God made me

I love the wind

It blows round me

God made the wind

And God made me

I love the birds

They sing to me

God made the birds

And God made me

Gwen F. Smith

To which I'll add...

I love the moon

In its beauteous mystery

God made the moon

And God made me

Of course I don't think many under fives would know what 'beauteous mystery' mean in words but they'd sure as anything get the concept.

I have set myself a challenge... to complete the half marathon walk called Shine Glasgow to raise money for research into breast cancer.  Having learned how to put a widget on my blog you can sponsor me directly if that is something you'd like to do.  The walk is not until September - ages away - so I have plenty of time to build up strength and stamina before then.  If and when I reach/exceed the target I will just revise it upwards!

Shine is an event organised by Cancer Research UK, and I am pleased to support this UK wide charity.  At a later date I would also like to do something for local initiatives and have a few tentative ideas to be explored in due course.  When that happens I'll be backwith my begging bowl.

This morning I went along, for the first time, to an Active ABC exercise class.  I wasn't entirely sure what to expect, other than that we would all be 'in the same boat' of having been treated for breast cancer.

It was a fun class.  Not an easy class, it had a full range of cardiovascular and strength/condition exercises, albeit selected to suitable for people who may have had major surgery as recently as six weeks ago (like me!) or who were mid chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

There were eight of us aged from, erm, me to about 70... the instructor said that it is hard to recruit younger women, not because they are more active but because a lot of the publicity photos show only older women (apart from where they show instructors).

After a good warm-up and low-impact workout we were put into pairs for the focused exercises.  I was impressed that the instructor has sussed my ability level really quickly and paired me with the only other person for whom exercise was already part of her life.  The exercises were gently challenging and gave me a lot more confidence to use my 'affected' arm normally, albeit avoiding heavy lifting.  To be handed a 1kg weight to use was surprising; discovering I could do so completely pain free was a delight.  Once we had done the whole circuit of exercises there was a cool down session and then a much appreciated cuppa and a biscuit (that's my kind of exercise class!).

This class - and those at other locations - began to encourage people to healthier lifestyles.  Apparently there is now numerical evidence to show that regular exercise measurably reduces the risk of cancer recurring (though clearly doesn't stop it arising in the first place!).  Surprising then that funding for this programme may not be renewed when its current two year budget concludes.

I had a fun morning, and have been warned by the instructor I won't be able to move tomorrow!  If the only benefits are those of having fun and gaining a bit more confidence to use my arm normally, then I reckon the class is worthwhile and funding ought to be extended to give others the same opportunity.