Freedom

I’ve just come back from a fabulous holiday in the Eastern USA going as far north as Portland, Maine, south as far as Washington DC and including 13 States.

It has been lovely, made especially so because of the time we’ve spent together as a family.

It’s also had its emotional places which have caused me to reflect deeply; the Korean and Vietnam war memorials, Arlington cemetery, 9/11 memorials at Ground zero and the Pentagon, and of course the Freedom Tower or One World Trade Center.

I reflected on the meaning of these places – great commitment and great sacrifice and yet at the same time ultimately lives wasted through the greed for power in many different forms.

Two days before we left there was more violence in the town of Charlottesville, Virginia, where intolerance and fascism reared its ugly head. White supremacists, every bit as extreme as those who carried out the 9/11 attacks, caused 3 deaths and 19 injured. And the President failed to send a clear message condemning them.

As I look back at all my photos of Downtown Manhattan, I see the Freedom tower standing out, reflecting the light and shining above the sky line.

My hope and prayer is that this beacon might inspire all who see it to work for love and peace, not hate and war. I pray that we would remember these words from scripture …

Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining.

1Peter 4:8-9

Called and Kept

I am coming to the end of what seems like a long journey towards ordained ministry in the Baptist Church of Great Britain. A month ago, my college went on a 24 hour retreat together where we spent time thinking about what it meant for each of us to be called and kept by Christ.My reflection and response was to create a picture… (See end of post for artwork info)

  
  
  
Although for me, my reflection was particularly about what it means to be called to ordained ministry, all those who believe in Christ are called and kept. 

My picture shows a representation of the risen Christ, a human yet divine figure, who cherishes a heart in his arms. The heart is patched to show that it has scars, it has been broken and patched up and that some pieces have fallen away. The lamb at the bottom of the picture illustrates the sacrifice that Jesus made in order to catch the pieces of our hearts and bring them to himself.

For all those who follow Jesus, we are called to enter into the same sacrifice and the same response to love, affirm and cherish the hearts of others. My call to ministry has meant sacrifice in many areas of my life but through it all I have been kept by Jesus. I have been vulnerable and my heart has been exposed to knocks and hurts but Jesus has faithfully patched it up and continues to hold me close.

My calling is to love and affirm God’s people – that everyone has value in God’s eyes. My sacrifice is to be vulnerable, to be open to being hurt, and to continue to be vulnerable no matter what. My identity is in Christ, where I know I am beloved and kept safe.

Do you love and affirm everyone as God does?

Are you prepared to witness to Jesus’ sacrifice by being vulnerable?

Do you know how much you are beloved by God and kept safe for Jesus?

… Then may mercy, peace and love, be yours in abundance…

“To those who are called, who are beloved in God the Father and kept safe for Jesus Christ: may mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.” Jude 1:1b-2

The artwork
The blue and purple background was painted using water soluble felt pens – just cheap children’s ones – and then painting over them with a brush loaded with water. The colours are vivid and vibrant and the paint effect is like that of chromatography. I then cut out and collaged the rays around the head and the pieces of the heart from paper that I’d painted using ordinary watercolours. The remainder of the painting used watercolours, coloured pencils and felt pens including the lettering which I drew freehand then painted. Finally I picked out details using a fine liner pen.

Peace

Where do you find peace for your soul?
I love the seaside. I know it’s November and most of us are experiencing cold and rain tucked up at home rather than warm, sunny days at the beach.
I was looking through my art journal and came across these two paintings, one from summer 2013 and one from this summer.

It’s nice to look at them and recall being there … Hearing the crash of the waves … Smelling the seaweed … Feeling the sun and the sea breeze on my face. I was on holiday. I didn’t have to think about work, or chores, or my never-ending ‘to do’ list. I could relax and enjoy being there, in the moment, feeling at one with the world and completely at peace.

It’s good to have places we can go that we can relax and be refreshed and find an inner peace. But what is more important is to be able to feel peace, wherever we are and in whatever we do. And that’s why, for me, I find my ultimate peace in God.

God understands my earthly experience because he experienced it himself in human form as Jesus, and yet he also transcends that earthly experience, allowing me to connect through the Spirit with the God who created everything. This is what gives me peace..

…peace because I know I am not alone …

“the peace of God which passes all understanding”. Philippians 4:7

… peace because I know God loves me …

” ‘Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,’ says the LORD, who has compassion on you.” Isaiah 54:10