No Turning Back!

In these times of political unrest and upheaval, and apparently irrevocable change, my thoughts turn to a piece I wrote under this heading many years ago.  I had just replaced the van that I used for my work.  I had covered over 141,000 miles in the old one, a Renault, and in that time I’d got to know its foibles, reluctances and shortcomings very well.  At the time I was writing, I was getting used to its replacement, the first of a sequence of Vauxhalls that I would drive for the next ten years. 

Whenever you change from one vehicle to another, you notice the differences between the two and I found myself thinking, ‘I used to have room there for such and such,’ or, ‘this is awkward; it wasn’t so much trouble before.’  But I soon realised that there were reasons for things working the way they did, and benefits that accompanied those apparent ‘quirks’.  I found that, to get the best out of the new van, I had to follow the intentions of the manufacturers, and do things their way ... revising my own habits as necessary.

St. Paul found that the people of Corinth had much the same problem regarding this new religion he had foisted upon them.  Corinth was a busy commercial hub in the ancient world; a major seaport and trade centre, it was the most important place in Achaia.  Like any cosmopolitan city,  it had become the focus of a variety of cultures and a wide mix of beliefs and moral attitudes.  The new converts to Christianity were trying to combine their new faith with all the ways of life and pagan rituals they’d been used to.

Paul addressed some of these matters in a letter to them, pointing out that, although they had been ‘washed … sanctified … justified’ (II Cor.6:11), in many ways their behaviour was no different from what it had been before.  In other words, they hadn’t learned the rules of the new management; they were still trying to work the old system, or in the terms that I was thinking then, still trying to use the old van.

Forgive me for making a reference here to my own background in a farming community.  From time to time notices would appear in the local paper about a forthcoming ‘Drawing Match’.  Competitors would try to plough (or draw) a furrow across the field as nearly straight as possible, and winners might expect to deviate by only millimetres over a distance of several hundred metres!  This recollection illustrates a very telling comment that Jesus made when it came to following the ‘Way’, as the early church was known.

Someone had undertaken boldly to follow Him wherever he might go.  Jesus’ response to him hinted at some of the difficulties this might entail.  He invited others to follow Him, who offered family excuses for hesitation or delay.  He told them “No one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62).  His hearers would understand the importance of looking forward when ploughing; they could also relate such an attitude to the need to keep focussed on the way ahead if they were going to change the course of their lives.

We would do well to follow the same principle: if we adopt the ‘Jesus label’ for ourselves, we must apply it to every part of our lives, not contrive some adaptation to accommodate some of the more tasty elements of a past life.

Those Returning ...

We’ve recently been studying in church the book of Nehemiah, who was called out by God from His people who were exiled in Babylon.  He sought the permission of the King and, with his blessing, returned to Jerusalem with the aim of rebuilding the city.  Nehemiah and the group who went with him faced all kinds of opposition, every stage of which, we found, had lessons for our lives in the 21st century.  Once their mammoth task had been completed, Ezra the priest read the words of the Law to the people (Nehemiah 8:1-9), who then realised just how far their former behaviour had fallen short of what God required.

The re-establishment of a way of life and forms of worship and devotion last practised nearly a century and a half earlier was a staggering achievement and, while not forgetting their shame and regret at this latest discovery, Nehemiah told them to go and celebrate this special day (8:10).

We are living through a whole season of special days and commemorations just now.  2016 alone is a year of important centenaries and, with 70th or 75th anniversaries of important events in WW2 intermingled with these, we’re on something of an emotional roller-coaster.  To those who were involved, whether directly or indirectly, they bring deeply-felt emotions.

Many other events are cause for annual remembrance.  I’ve heard it said – and have no reason to disbelieve it – that the first year after a bereavement is the worst, as the date of each happy occasion passes in the knowledge that it is now remembered alone.  I attended a funeral service last week, and I expect that that widow will follow the same emotional cycle.

Not all such events are sad ones, of course, although they’re often times of heightened emotion.  Many, though, are times of farewell.  Some communities are subject to constant change, seeing newcomers arriving to take the place of others who have left or passed on.  Examples that come to mind include mission stations, military bases, prisons ... and church families.  At this time of year, it is quite possible to see deacons being priested, ordinands being created deacon, and new vocations preparing to begin training ... and all within the same congregation!

Now that the exam season is over, and the end of the school year is nigh, the memories of many of us turn to our own schooldays, or those of our children.  Something brought to mind the other day a hymn that we sang at the end of each school year.  Written by Henry James Buckoll (1803-1871), the words run as follows:

Lord, dismiss us with Thy blessing,
Thanks for mercies past receive;
Pardon all, their faults confessing;
Time that’s lost may all retrieve;
May Thy children
Ne’er again Thy Spirit grieve.

Let Thy father-hand be shielding
All who here shall meet no more;
May their seed-time past be yielding
Year by year a richer store;
Those returning,
Make more faithful than before.

That final plea, ‘for those returning’ brings us back to those people who heard Ezra reading from the Law.  They were reminded how sinful they and their ancestors had been; in the words of St Paul – echoed in the lines of that hymn – how far they had “grieved the holy Spirit of God.” (Ephesians 4:30.)   Some of the pupils singing that line might have had similar feelings as they would shortly take home reports revealing lower that ideal grades.  They might echo that plea to be made more faithful than before!  The people of Judah certainly did (Nehemiah 10:30ff.).

The latter verse of the hymn has always been the more poignant and personal to me.  It heralded goodbyes for only a few weeks for ‘those returning’; for others, on their last day within these walls, it offered a prayer for their protection and that they would make good use of all they had learned as they moved to career or university.  For some of them it would be the last time they would see each other for perhaps fifty years or more, or until someone should organise a reunion; for some the farewell would be forever.

Is this a time of poignant farewell for you?  What are your prayers just now?

A Stitch in Time

Most of us spend a good part of our lives watching TV or listening to the radio.  Often the programmes that we enjoy are interrupted by advertising.  At the end of June, the time is coming when we will see advertisements for department stores, which may well begin, “School’s out!”.  Such an announcement will be followed up by the invitation to “do your ‘back to school’ shopping now, so you can holiday with peace of mind.”

Last time I saw such an advert, my mind went back to my days as a parent of young children and, with some cynicism, I told the screen, “not if the little perishers grow in the meantime!”  To buy clothes in June, only to find by late August that they’re too small, would be folly indeed, and far from giving peace of mind.

How typical this is of our whole lifestyle in the 21st century.  We try to pull things out of season, whether shopping for certain goods before we really need them, treating children as ‘little adults’, or simply wanting fresh fruit and vegetables on our shelves all the year round.  The success of these strategies is only ever partial; at best it’s only short-term, and it can often be completely transitory or illusory.

Many centuries ago, a philosopher wrote, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, KJV).  There is a right time for every aspect of life, and the writer tells us that this was part of God’s plan.  All the topics covered by the succeeding verses are appropriate at certain times.  The secret to finding peace – and with it, satisfaction – is to discover, accept and conform to God’s timing for them.  If we follow this, all well and good; if not, we shouldn’t be surprised when things go wrong,

Whether it is buying too soon for a new school year, seeking produce that has ripened on the other side of the world, or making a major purchase on credit before we can properly afford it, we do these things at our own peril.  Often the repercussions of our actions impinge upon the lives of others as well as, or instead of ourselves, and it’s only after suffering the consequences, directly or indirectly, large or small, that we can look back and see the error of our ways.

In due time, says the philosopher, God will judge everything: good or bad (v.17).  It’s a warning we would do well to heed – even though it was made so long ago – because (to paraphrase his words) “what goes around, comes around” (v.15).

Cluttered

I think my beard must be over thirty years old, maybe a little more.  I’ll never forget my astonishment when the lady in the works canteen told me that it made me look younger!  I didn’t believe her then and, however many times I’ve thought of it since, I still don’t understand what she meant.

One thing I do recognise, though, is the need to keep it trimmed and tidy ... and that’s not just for appearance’s sake.  I remember a time when I acceded to a request to stop shaving and let it grow down my throat, and a time when I just didn’t bother to trim it at all, wondering just how long it would grow.  There have also been times when I’ve gone for ages without having a haircut.

In each case, there was a sense of being uncomfortable, feeling scruffy ... almost unwelcome in 'polite' company, like a tramp.  Eventually, what some would call common sense prevailed, and, instead of the untidyness, I knew the refreshment of being neatly trimmed again, a positive feeling of being crisp.  It was as if my cutting edge had been restored and I could once more command the world around me; I was ready again to tackle whatever life would throw at me.

I think there’s a strong parallel between these experiences and losing contact with God.  I’ve been fortunate that that’s something I’ve never known.  There were times when I rebelled – who hasn’t? – but it was a rebellion against a church, or a way of worship, or some aspect of discipline with which I disagreed; never against God Himself.

Rebellion isn’t the only cause of loss of contact with God, though.  Two particular parables that Jesus told come to mind.  These can both be found in Matthew’s gospel, chapter 13.  First, there was the story of seed sown in four types of soil, representing four different responses to the Good News of salvation that Jesus brought and taught.  One of these was the seed that was sown among thorns.  He explained that “the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.” (v.22).

In the second parable, good seed was sown and started to grow; then weeds appeared around it, their tendrils becoming so entangled with the wheat that to pull them out would endanger the wheat as well (vv.22-29).  It is good for Christians to be involved with the world around us.  But there is always the risk that our involvement with those interests apart from our faith can eat into our lives to the extent that our attendance at church (where we can receive teaching, enjoy fellowship and where our spiritual store can be replenished) becomes intermittent.  Life gets to a stage where our daily pattern of personal prayer and Bible reading is threatened ... or perhaps never happens at all. 

Unless we take matters into our own hands, responding to God’s never-failing call,  or asking for a friend to pray for us, the result can simply be that God is squeezed out completely.  Remember that He doesn’t force Himself upon us: “I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door ...” (Rev. 3:20).  It’s for us to respond to His call.  If we choose not to do so, the loss – and the responsibility for it – is our own.

Next time you see a man with a beard, be it a ‘full set’ or just designer stubble, remember the story of my scruffiness; remember what it stood for in this posting, and ask yourself, “Is there some clutter in my life that needs to be tidied up or cleared away?”

Corners

GPS navigation systems don’t know everything, whatever we might think.  There’s a roundabout near my home that has four exits, albeit not evenly spaced; one goes into the town, one out, and the other two around it in opposite directions.  There is also the entrance to a private house which opens onto the roundabout at one of the larger spaces between the conventional exits.  SatNav shows this as a conventional five-exit roundabout.  And I’ve lost count of the presumably regular crossroads that I’ve driven up to, thinking as I approach that it’s only a T-junction.  Only when I’m right up to it can I see that it’s actually a staggered crossroads, and the ‘forward’ road is some distance either to the right or left.

Sometimes life itself seems to be a sequence of staggered junctions.  I well remember a friend and former colleague who, on the brink of moving to another part of the country, had to cancel all her plans because of a last minute glitch in the purchase of her new home.  Instead of bidding her a fond farewell, I found myself helping her to move from her now sold home to a short-term rent in another nearby town.  

Often, as life unfolds, one thing or another isn’t quite right.  When the right opening is there, we have other commitments; by the time we have released the necessary funds, the deadline for an investment opportunity has passed; or we may see the ideal vacancy ... but just don’t have the aptitude the advertiser is looking for.  I call it the polythene bag syndrome.  As you flatten one corner, a pocket of air bulges up at another corner; it seems it will never be completely flat. 

Somehow in life our skills and resources and the demands and openings for them never seem to match up perfectly.  We can only take heart from Paul’s words in the letter to the Romans, “All that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into His plans.” (Rom. 8:28, Living Bible).

One advantage of the staggered junction is that we are able to see, at a more leisurely pace, two sides of that charming cottage on the corner, and its delightful garden, instead of just the front gate had we passed it by at speed on a straight road.

And talking of corner sites:

Do you know what's around the next corner for you?

Bellropes for Breakfast?

The butter was on the toast, but there was no marmalade; the jar had been emptied yesterday.  As I reached for a new one, I thought about what was on my plate.  On its own, toast is uninviting; buttered toast is far more appetising.  But toast with butter and a spread – be it jam, marmalade or something else – is complete.  With no spread, or no butter, it only partially satisfies.

The new jar popped open, and I wondered where this thought might lead me.  The obvious first analogy was the Trinity, the triune God at the very heart of our faith; but I quickly saw that this parallel is false.  This doctrine is an explanation of three facets of one Being, whereas the trinity on the breakfast plate is three totally separate items brought together to make a greater whole.

Some days later, with this problem still floating around my head, I found myself ‘on the end of a rope’, as I often put it.  As a bell-ringer, I’m familiar with ropes, their purpose, structure and strength, but rarely when ringing do I think of these things.  To use a comparison often used when teaching people to ring, I’m more concerned with steering the car than the construction of the engine!  But on this occasion, I was aware of the rope in my hands, and the fact that its strength is partly due to being made of three strands.

I recalled a sermon I’d heard at the wedding of a bell-ringer many years ago.  The priest had taken as his text “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” (Ecclesiastes 4:12).  He quoted this verse to make his talk personal to the couple before him and then broadened his theme using the three preceding verses.  It’s a fast-moving passage, embracing the financial benefits of working together, the helping and caring aspects of having a partner to look after you and the heating properties of sharing a bed, before moving on to introduce a third party.  In the context of the wedding, the trio were identified as husband, wife and God and, thereafter, the conclusion of the sermon was self-evident.

As ever in these pieces, I try to relate the everyday to the spiritual; today there are two links for you to latch on to.  Many in the western world begin the day with breakfast and, whether you have three or more cooked items on a plate, or buttered toast with some spread, I’m sure you can see the parallel with adding a divine Third Party to your normal consideration of teamwork.  And although there may be few bell-ringers reading this, many of you will have heard bells and have perhaps realised that many bells are sounded by means of pulling a rope ... often a rope of three strands!

Who’s the third party in your life?

For or Against?

Occasionally you can remember a dream quite clearly because it conveys to you an important message.  This one of mine goes back many years, but its message is so relevant today.

I was questioning a selection of local dignitaries as part of the preparation for a ‘Brains Trust’ performance where one of the panellists would be {Mr. ‘X’}, a local politician.  Two of the questions were these: “Would you like to meet {Mr. ‘X’}?” and “Would you be prepared to talk to him about the deputy-master relationship?”  I hadn’t heard the expression ‘deputy-master relationship’ prior to this dream but I think its meaning is obvious.

Most people I’d asked had readily answered ‘yes’ to both questions.  One man responded aggressively to the first question: “No, I don’t want to meet him, I don’t particularly like the man.”  Then to the second came a blunt and very forceful “No.”  I pointed out that everyone else had said ‘yes’ quite willingly.  He realised that his manner belied some foreknowledge of the celebrity and explained - off the record - why he had refused.

“A few years ago,” he began, “I was standing in for my boss at an important meeting.  One of the matters being discussed was a new scheme put forward by your celebrity.  I was in favour of it and, knowing this, he was confident that, with my support, it would be approved.  However, I was aware that my boss disagreed with the proposal so, since I was deputising for him and not attending the meeting in my own right, I spoke in opposition to the motion and voted against it.  The matter was dropped and, as a result, the man lost popularity and quite a bit of money.  He’s never forgiven me.”

It could happen anywhere.  Life is full of situations where there are conflicting pressures, what are popularly called ‘difficult decisions’.  Some, like public spending cuts or remaining in the EU, are resolved at a single stroke affecting the whole nation.  Others, like choosing between going to church and relaxing in the garden, or between paying our tithe and buying those smart new shoes, are matters for the individual.  I make a personal decision which, although perhaps swayed by what my neighbour might say or do, will affect only me.  I can do what is easy, what fits in with my personal interests or desires, or I can opt for what, in my heart of hearts, I know to be the right thing to do.  In one case my life might be easier, or more enjoyable; in the other, I might be uncomfortable, ridiculed or even persecuted, but I should have an easy conscience to rest on.

As he followed in the footsteps of ‘Moses, the servant of the Lord’ (Joshua 1:1), Joshua had to make many difficult decisions and was sometimes uncertain whether the people would respect and be led by him as they had Moses.  Perhaps one of the greatest decision he made is recorded in Joshua 24:14-15, “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

May God guide the decisions you have to make today.