Thoughts on Community

simplicity book image

Yesterday we had our annual community meeting.  We reviewed the good, as well as some disappointments, experienced last year and made plans for the year ahead.  One of our number, Sue May, has been reading Richard Rohr’s book ‘Simplicity’ and she shared some of her thoughts on what she learned of community from her reading.

1. Others can get through to me – I can get out of myself.

2. Not a special kind of structure – but a network of relationships.

3. Relationships between the established church and the ‘base community’.

4. Both are needed, established church has history and communities have vibrancy and honesty.

5. Advocating living on the edge, holding both together but holding things lightly.

6. Act of faith is to give away what we don’t yet have. For example, healing when we aren’t healed, love when we struggle with bitterness or unforgiveness, compassion when we struggle with pride.

cross

The cross is an excellent reminder of our posture and orientation. To look up and fix our eyes on Jesus, with our feet rooted in the soil of ordinary life. Reaching out in one direction to institutional church and in the other to community on the edges.

Faith in Hindsight

Stan origami

A five year old dies from meningitis

A young woman commits suicide within hours of being released from hospital

The blog of a young man suffering from severe depression

A young mother miscarries

Loss

Stress

Grief

Tragedy

Heartbreak

WHERE IS GOD?

THIS CARING,LOVING GOD?

Verses quoted by well-meaning but un-empathetic people

Become a weight round my neck

Adding to my misery and despair

I don’t see him Not even a glimmer

In the deep dark pit of

WHY?

It is only as I come out

Of the darkness of despair

That I begin to see

That God has not left me

And in hindsight

I see the provision

Growth

Change

Hope

Strength

For that deep dark chapter in my life

And my faith deepens

And I can say

GOD, YOU WERE THERE!

YOU ARE WITH ME!

YOU DO CARE!

Hindsight Gives me the strength

To hold on

When life gets tough

Bible verses only become real to me

As I live out the ups and downs of life

These are the verses I can hang onto

Strengthening my faith

AND I KNOW YOU ARE STILL GOD!

Carol Clack, 21st January 2015

Spend! Spend! Spend!

sales shopping

One minute everywhere, the next gone.
The shops adorned with decorations and full of seasonal song
Full of everything one must have for the perfect Christmas
Spend!
SPEND!
                    SPEND!
Black Friday
Manic Monday
Cyber Monday
Special offers
Spend!
SPEND!
                    SPEND!
Retailers desperate that we spend
And buy everything
From mince pies to turkey and all the trimmings
To tablets, kindles and complete entertainment systems
So that you need not miss the unmissable
To that furniture you must have before Christmas
Spend!
SPEND!
                   SPEND!
Retailers caught
Emptying stores of Christmas cheer
Before Christmas Day
So the Sales
Can begin
Spend!
SPEND!
                   SPEND!
As mince pies go out
Hot cross buns and chocolate eggs enter
For…..
EASTER!

by Carol Clack,
January 2015