On Saturday I admired the art work painted onto a bridge over the M1 as we by-passed Luton. The bridge was not very pretty, and the graffiti was well executed. Symmetrical, and pleasing.
What do you think of Helch taking liberties on our motorway system? My thought is that his contribution is a gift to us. No one paid him. To quote Anthony Gormley (sculptor) "Art has to change things, and if it was immediately acceptable it would not be doing the job."
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Credit: the New York Times
Is there a crisis in children's mental health in the UK?
Here are my thoughts.
Having working in the field of children's mental health since 1994, I would say that the crisis is more about the systems, than the children.
It's always been a mixed expereince for children in the UK. For some it's the cliche "happiest days of your life". For others its a challenge every day that can ease off aged about 16 to 18, when the culture of concentrating of people born up 12 months apart dilutes, and normal life approches.
For me the main priorities are:-
The wellbeing of parents/carers is key. Parents and carers provide the sure foundation from which children view the world. It stats with pregnancy, the first 3 month, six months, three years, five years. These are key. If I can think back into the cloud of unknowing which is my early childhood, and feel ok, then probably it's all be good. If I have a sense of unease, forboding, and insecurity, then the early years may have affected by security. I think it is good to try to sort this out as children become adults, becasue it helps us make sense of why we feel the way we do, and to get an understanding of why our gut reations operate as they do. It is said that these early years are key to a good senses of self esteem. I think there is room for a lot of variety in parenting styles. Over protective to 'les a faire', are both fine within their limits. These styles are also cultural, with some cultures allowing three year olds to wander the streets, while others will not really allow children to cry.
How parents/carers are doing is so important. Where do we get an opportunity to check these things out? How are my personal relationships going? Is my work satifying, paid appropriately? Am I being bullied or harrased? Do I feel secure? Is my health ok? Is our accommodation adiquate? Are we able to express ourselves, and celebrate life? Am I fulfilled and appriciated?
Surestart centres in the past offered a universal positive health promotion model, with a universalist arroch that assumed that everyone needs something encouraging and sociable. As the days of austerity kicked in, the model moved back to the targeted approoach where the idea was than most people are basically fine, and can get what they need from within their communities. Society had to deal with the few 'troubled families', and thousands of pounds were pumped into them.
The challenge has always been, when does the 'state' interviene? The concept of 'early intervetion' has not been lost. The idea here is to try to catch people before they fall. When they fall, they aquire a heap of more problems (expesive problems too.)
But it is easiest to help people who want to be helped. Is the help that is being offered appropriate? A bit like 'a pill for every ill', do we believe in our medcine, but others are not so sure about it.
For me, the target age group is 11 to 16 year olds. These are the years when children expereince puberty. Their self confidence and worth takes a hit. Schools become bigger. The institution pushs conformity.
On their own, children feel powerless. they have to do what they are told most of the time. Adults say children have all the power, but in actual fact, they have very little. They learn to assert themselves for their own safety.
The big issues we discuss are:-
Mobile phones and access to the internet.
Adults and children know that these devices are their to make money. They play with your mind as you play with their games. Both parents/carers and child need to face up to the impact of phones with society as a whole. I left my phone behind when on holiday. I learned what it is like to be without a phone for a week. I've got it back and realsie that I have learnt nothing.
Parents/Carers are the people most likely to buy the phone, pay for the internet, and be able to oberve their children's behaviours. What about ground rules from the start? In the UK we live with the ubicuity of alcohol. I ask parents, would you allow your child to keep a bottle of vodka in their bedroom? Why allow them to be unsafe with a phone? Adults/ Society as a whole need to take the lead and protect children from addiction, dependance and the systemic effects of 'the mob'. I have seen children who show me their phone screans. Someone in a chat says something nasty about them. Thats hard. But then it is 'liked' by 100's of people from 'the mob'. This is bullying. Bullying is injustice plus endorsement.
Self harm, low mood and dispair.
Interestingly, I have noted that less teenagers appear to get drunk than previously. More use self harm (which is cheaper). Both can be used to dull the emptiness of low mood. For me, all teenagers should belong to gangs. In a gang I feel that I am someone. On my own I am a nobody. It does not particulatly matter if my gang does good things, or bad things. I am part of it, and like a flock of birds, we follow collectively. I suggest 'better to have gangs that are doing good things'. So lets stimulate and promote groups for young people to have fun, find identity and use their creativity. Good gangs can be found...
As a society let's promote and fund these groups to. They all need a degree of survalance to ensure they are safe. This means youth work, which has taken a terrible hit through aucterity, needs to come back up the priority list. But also lets move away from individual work to group work, which I think is more sustainable and profitable.
What is the solution?
It starts with ideas. It needs leaders, stratagists, and people who can be bothered. We need to find them and bring them out into the fore, where they can be heard. We need to find the young people with ideas and passion, and link them up with allies in the adult word who can support them. I want all young people to be allowed to dream dreams. I want them to go on international exchanges. To try new things, to expereince different cultures, and to take healthy and affirming risks. These risks could be- camping out in small groups on your own, trying a new sport like skiing, or ice hockey. Staying with families in different county, and attending their educational establishments. Attending different religious acts of worship. Felling what it is like to be a minotiy (disability, sexuality, race.) Working and making some money. setting up projects and initiatives, such as careing for the young or the old, keeping the street clean, helping a park or a library to function well.
Strategy and planning is often some of the cheapest solutions about. We also need a great priority to be given to the wellbeing of people who mix and work with children. I am thinking of secondary schools in particular, which need to be joyful, safe and creative places. Schools can provide alternative care and support to children who do not have their basic needs met.
I think that public health campaige called five steps to promopt mental wellbeing has got it right. These should be at the heart of our schools and society.
Finally, what about spritiual health? For me, a faith in a caring and all powerful creator is vital. It's a mature relationship, one where I do not expect the other to do what I want, but an very grateful when this does happen. Faith offeres children a sense of direction and purpose when approcching the ertnity of adult exisitance. Faith enables children to stand back from the presures and assumptions of the 'norm' (I should look like this, behave like this, achieve this). Our secular society has not quite outlawed faith in schools. Although I am not a fasn of faith schools, I think they have a minorty role in showing that establishement that faith is part of life too.
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Sargy Mann 2007
My thoughts are prompted by the gift of Christopher Ash’s (2025) book, “Not Old, Not Young, Not Done” from my Giodparents.
I largly agree with you Christopher's sentiments, and have my own thoughts to
offer from his prompting.
The book highlights themes that I might be experiencing as a 60 year old.
If you have children, they are now likely to be independent and not living at home.
You may well have elderly parents who may need support. You may be a carer.
You may have an opportunity to slow down, and may need to, because your health might not be what it was once, with more frequent visits to the doctor on the cards. However, some people are not able to 'slow down' because their situation does not allow it for financial reasons.
The dilemmas of this “Age” are,
Whether to move nearer to you children or aging relative? This may disrupt your networks, of friends, associations, work and responsibilities you already have.
Your opportunity to serve the Lord may change.
My thought is that there is nothing like knowing guidance from your creator, who can help you make these (often binary) descissions.
Exhortations
Look after your relationships, especially with your spouse, if you have one. Never take it for granted.
You may be at the height of youtr knowledge in certain areas. You may have skills that are still valuable. The challenge is to balance these priorities, and make sure your direction is clear (rather than drifting).
What I would like to add….
It may be that things have drifted along - home,
relationships, finances.
Here is an opportunity to sharpen up. It's a bit like moving house, where you have an opportunity to make judgements about all your possiessions. What is going well
and what might be improved?
At 60. It is likely to you may have experienced a tragedy,
trauma or loss. Do you have an
opportunity to do something about this? Is it a load, or a stress, that you carry? Knowing that we all have choices is a powerful thing.
Losses might be-
At 60 you may have more time to be more creative. Make, write, paint, play music. I think that it's important to maintain creative persuits, just as it is important to be outside in a natural environment regularly.
What do I do?
I remember that my father died unexpectently at 66. I will try to live every year and day like my last.
I will invest in my relationhsip with my spouce, and friends. I can, so I will.
I will enjoy using some of the skills and knowledge I have accured in my own city to see whether it is of use to the carers of people with mental illness. I aim to see 35 families in the first year, and to get a funding base to enable me to employ others, to support a carers network.
What about the picture at the start of this chat?
The Attenborough Centre for Arts and disability had an exhibition for the artist called
Sargy Mann, who in 2005 went completely blind.
He continued to paint, and his new art was amazing.
May I also be able to produce art when my facalties start failing me.
This is a conundrum. One very sick man, who grew up in a war torn country, takes out his rage and destructive evil intent on two innocent Jewish men.
This is not just another random tragic act of sickness and depravity. It sits within the context of a horrific international conflict.
The man comes from a war torn country to the UK, which from colonial days was seen as a refuge. We can only imagine his childhood, and the impact of mental illness, and the response to his aggression, and probable negative experiences as unwell black man. (would a white attacker be kicked in the head when down on the ground?)
The context is terrible. A war in Iran and Lebanon. This follow years of the metaphorical repeated 'stabbing' of the dead body of Gaza by Israel. Any visible Jew walking the streets will fear the easy and cowardly retribution that might come their way because of this. Just a 5% chance that I might be targeted (so that's 95% that I'm safe) is enough to send fear through a whole community. The probability is low, but the consequence is deadly. The risk equation, probability x impact = level of risk puts it high.
Many Jewish people see the 'Stop the War' Collision as not being sympathetic to their plight. Even if the majority of protesters are law abiding citizens, who respect our multi-cultural Britain, (and some orthodox Jews have been seen in the stop the war protests too.) These marches do not reduce the risk of inciting the sick and the fanatical to lash out at the innocent British Jew.
Just as Palestinians who are attacked in the West Bank by aggressive Israeli settlers feel the Israeli police turn a blind eye, so too people in this county fear that the police response is not enough.
The challenge we are faced with is, how can 'stop the war' also mean protect all lives? As has been pointed out on the radio, the answer is time and again we must condemn violence and breaches of human rights whenever we see them, even if this seems obvious.
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| Happy Easter - and Birthday Frances! |
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| Heaven's Gates by Marco Brambilla |
21 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21
We all know that when we see Creation, we see the immense handiwork of the Creator. It cannot be copied. Everything is so vivid, amazing, three dimensional, multi sensory. This to me is heaven. But it was also Eden.
We will return to the future.
PRAYER: Where you are, there is beauty. We stand amazed. Your people will be part of this beauty.
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| Corpus Hypercubus, by Salvador Dali Credit: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit NIV Titus 3:5
Not the cross. Such an ugly thing. Anything but a cross. In the west we have got used to it. What if it was an electric chair? Or the guillotine. A symbol of faith? But we are forced to watch; pushed up against the bars. We must see, we must put our fingers in the flesh wound. We must hear the groans, and the last gasp of oxygen. We must feel the silence, the despair and the deep pain in the pit of our stomach. There is no alternative. We must be brave.
PRAYER: Help us through this day. When we suffer with you. When we suffer with all we love. May we stay a wake and be there with you as you die.
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| Ghent Altarpiece |
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” John 1
Enter our man. We are up against tyranny and injustice. Our man enters as a lamb. A lamb threatens no one. A lamb is innocence itself. Where is the power in a lamb?
Our man is far more than a lamb. He is also 'the Lion of Judah'. He is the ancient of days. He is the first and the last. He is the prince of peace.
Jesus comes with authority and truth. Nothing can stand against the truth. The truth comes with righteousness and love. This provides life to the truth.
Jesus is cut down. He is taken advantage of. He is slaughtered. But the truth prevails, and rises up. It is not defeated. It lives forever.
PRAYER: We join you as lambs. Children of the living God. Without power, but surrounded by your power.
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| Proshitapatika Nayika, The National Museum, New Delhi. |
4 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!
I love the irony that in order for St Paul to be in a position where he could support the fledgling church appropriately, he had to be sent to Rome. He moved from the relative back water, troubled and unsettled 'Judea' to the centre of the known world in the West. Unfortunately the budget did not extend to putting him up in Caesar's palace, so he was housed for many years in his dungeon. As with the whole project, it appears that putting up with suffering is an important element to creating the power. Softies and cowards need not apply.
So in chains, Paul writes wonderful letter. In this one he addresses a tiff. Tiffs can get out of hand. Please, let's not be silly. It's not a surprise that these letters were treasured and kept. But is it a miracle that they survived, because they are very old.
PRAYER: Thank you to everyone who has suffered for the sake of the Lord. May I be prepared to be one of them.
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| By Joy Labinjo Cebit i-d.co |
21 Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Gentile woman who lived there came to him, pleading, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! For my daughter is possessed by a demon that torments her severely.”
23 But Jesus gave her no reply, not even a word. Then his disciples urged him to send her away. “Tell her to go away,” they said. “She is bothering us with all her begging.”
24 Then Jesus said to the woman, “I was sent only to help God’s lost sheep—the people of Israel.”
25 But she came and worshiped him, pleading again, “Lord, help me!”
26 Jesus responded, “It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.”
27 She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their masters’ table.”
28 “Dear woman,” Jesus said to her, “your faith is great. Your request is granted.” And her daughter was instantly healed.
Almost all religions in the world are culturally specific. They relate to one ethnicity, in one location. This is how Judaism was, until it was turned on it's head by Jesus. A few days ago I was chatting to my Zimbabwean colleague and friend about how she observed communion when she was growing up in a community without bread or wine. I think of the many thousands of people who existed before the stories of Genesis and Eden came to be written. We who are gentiles know that we are the little dogs that are able to eat under the table of the chosen. All our needs are met, and we are included in the promise of greater things to come.
PRAYER: Thank you for choosing me to be your friend. Thank you for your righteousness given to me.
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| A 700 year old Torah called the Rothschild Pentateuch Getty Museum |
Even in post Christian Europe, the Jews are very important. Since the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70, the Jewish people have been dispersed over many continents. Even distant England has had a Jewish community for over a thousand years. I think this is one of the reason politics with Israel is complicated. Israel has been discussed in our synagogues and churches for a very long time. And the social politics is complex, full of guilt, shame and confusion. It is said that the record in the New testament is also difficult. What do we make of this?
25 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, 26 and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written:
he will turn
godlessness away from Jacob.
27 And this is my covenant with them
when I take away
their sins.”
PRAYER: We continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and the Creators willing come for the Jewish people.
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| St Catherine's Monastery Sinai |
In the present of Jesus I fall on my knees. Here is my story. (Clink on the word story, for err, the story.)
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| Snake invades great moments by snakeartist.com Credit: Bored Panda |
5 Paul shook the snake into the fire and wasn’t harmed. 6 The people were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly drop dead. But after they had waited a long time and saw nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
It must be that human beings are intrinsically vulnerable to superstition and fear. We understand where an inherent fear of snakes and spiders might come from. The people of Malta could tell there was something special about Paul and his friends. I think there are good or Godly spirits, neutral spirits, and evil spirits. Superstition and fear are in the latter category, and stifle life in all it's fullness. Paul walked with his Creator. He did not escape hardship and was ultimately stoned to death by a crowd. But just as with Jesus, not until a great purpose had been achieved, to which we are all eternally grateful.
PRAYER: My life is not filled with random chance because I walk with you.
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| We learnt that when Native Americans went to war, they dressed not in protective armour, but in their best clothes, so that they would be ready to meet the Great Spirit. They went to war ready to die. |
"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain". Philippians 1:21 (ESV)
“All real living is meeting,” so says Martin Buber in 'I and Thou'. I agree. Real life is found in our relationships. Our relationship with our creator, with ourselves and with our sister/brother. Other relationships are important too; with our world, with nature, with community, nation, universe.
But true freedom to 'live' comes when we have no fear of death. Then we are truly free to live.
Another wonderful quote from Buber....
“I do not accept any absolute formulas for living. No
preconceived code can see ahead to everything that can happen in a man's life.
As we live, we grow and our beliefs change. They must change. So I think we
should live with this constant discovery. We should be open to this adventure
in heightened awareness of living. We should stake our whole existence on our
willingness to explore and experience.”
I think of my wonderful daughter who when challenged by her philosophy teacher at school to raise a hand if they were prepared for what they believe to be challenged by the subject, put up her hand. "With Jesus I can go anywhere safely" she said.
PRAYER: We walk out into the world holding tight to you, and can face anything.
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| Doctor's waiting room by LS Lowry The Lowry - Salford Quays |
Within British culture, some sort of waiting has to be included in the afterlife. But I think we will all wake on the one day, the day of new life, when there will be a "Take Two". This time we will be filled with the Sprit of the Creator from the start, and will have no inclination to harm anyone, or to be selfish. Our inclination will be to love, care, protect, honour and worship.
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https://stpaulcenter.com/posts/5-bible-passages-which-point-to-purgatory |
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| Saint Jerome writing - Caravaggio Credit: Wikipedia- Galleria Borghese |
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45 Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” |
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| Kiss of Judas (1304–1306), fresco by Giotto, Scrovegni Chapel, Padua, Italy |
47 While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” Luke 22
Have you ever experienced betrayal? I can't say that I have, but I can imagine it is like a knife entering the heart. The closer the trust, the deeper the pain. Jesus was ready for this one. Did that help? Peter's weakness was nothing compare to betrayal synonymous with murder. And yet Jesus did not allow Judas' behaviour to dictate his own. He remained true to Judas.
PRAYER: May you never doubt me. Help me to remain true and courageous to the last.
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| Credit:arabnews.com |
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I work in a café in a Palestinian town called Nablus. Although our premises is near the religious site called Jacobs Well, we are not really for the adventurous American and Korean tourists who are willing to contend with check points and security to see their beloved biblical sites. Ours is more for 'local women and their children'; a get-away or oasis in the sunny prison of the West Bank. It was the hottest part of the day when a young smart Jewish man slipped in and sat down at a lone table. The café was empty; our lot tend to head off for a snooze by now. I was on my own, clearing up from the morning. I hesitated for a few minutes before approaching his table. "Some mineral water please" he asked politely. And he looked me straight in the eye. That's disconcerting, we don't normally do that in our religion. It's quite a taboo. I gave him a funny look, but he went on to say, "if only you knew the water
I can give to you...." I said
"looks like you have nothing with you." And under my breath, "you'd better have
money" - we are used to Jews taking liberties round here. "The very best water comes from
Jacob's well," I offer, something of topical interest. We are all united in the greatness of our
forefather Jacob. We're not that
different really. The man again looks
at me and he says, "Jacob's well is special,
but it will never satisfy you for long.
The water I have to offer is for eternal life." Wow- blow me
away- you don't hear that said in this old joint every day. "Hey
man", say I, "you are truly deep.
I like your drift." He
says "Why don't I talk with your husband. (I guess he knows we can't be
seen talking like this. Thank heavens
no one's come in so far. "I've
got no husband" I protest, presenting a provocative smile. "Yes" he says, "I know. Your boyfriend has only just moved in with
you. You deserve better than those
five guys who use you and let you down."
My blood ran cold. That was
very close to the bone. "You are
a strange man" I say. "A
clairvoyant, or a mystic?" (We get lot of religious cranks round
here.) "So our prophet says
worship on a Friday, but you lot choose Saturday- Why's that?" The man turns
and says, "The time is coming when days of
the week won't matter a jot. We will
all worship the Creator face to face."
My whole being is trembling. I
feel surges of emotion, I can't tell you how alive I feel. "We both believe that someone is
coming to show us the face of the Creator." I say. "I've come to you today to do
just that." He picked up his ice-chilled bottle, dropped two shekels on the table, and I never saw him again. I rushed out after him in a daze. My sister saw me and came over quite concerned. "I've just met a man who knew everything about me," I said. My sister stroked my cheek. "There, there Sis" she says. She knows my problem with men. I notice her darting look up to the hot sun. |
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| The wilderness in Israel |
37 The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. 3 He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”
I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.”
4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath[a] enter you, and you will come to life. 6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.
9 Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.
11 Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. Ezekiel 37
Prayer: Keep the flame of hope alive in us. That dry bones would rattle and rise up.
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| Maynard Dixon Young University Museum of Art Credit: moastore.byu.edu |
And he lifted up his eyes to his disciples and said,
because yours is
the kingdom of God.
21 Blessed are those who are hungry now,
because you will
be satisfied.
Blessed are those who weep now,
Because you will
laugh.
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| By Petrine Kent Credit: petrinakent.com |
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be
comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will
inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
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| The Council by TJ Cunningham Credit: cunninghamfineart.com |
Yesterday I heard a tribute to the Rev Jesse Jackson who has recently died. He was exulting a congregation, making them know that each one of them mattered. He ran through a detailed list, "if you are prisoner, if you are young, if you live on an housing project, if you were born into a family that could not care for you." He went on and on. The list became a poem.
Each one of us matters. We matter to our creator.
PRAYER: We are all known. We all matter to you. We praise you and thank you that we are seen and loved.
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| Hiking c 1936 by James Walker Tucker Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle Upon Tyne |
5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. Matthew 10
My saying is that you only need one good friend, and all the others are a bonus. Jesus has 12 chosen male friends. He asked his friends to work with him. Freely receive, freely give. We are also called friends, and take part in the experiencing experience of wonder and discovery. With Jesus anything is possible.
PRAYER: May I aways know that with you, anything is possible.
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| "Nagara Māryām" Credit: British Museum Oriental Department. |
Both gender and race appear to be a problem for us humans. Jesus is born into this world. But his mother has been chosen. Mary is someone who appears to have incredible insight and fortitude. She is aware of the how crazy it is that she is the one foretold. She is aware that the answer to the problems of Israel (and the world) comes in humility, vulnerability and poverty.
Jesus is the one to turn the whole world upside down.
47 “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, 48 for he has
looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations
will call me blessed; 49 for he who
is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 And his
mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51 He has
shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the
thoughts of their hearts; 52 he has
brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; 53 he has
filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. 54 He has
helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, 55 as he
spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
Luke 1 |
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| The outdoor wedding dance by Pieter Brueghel the younger Credit: Sotheby's (for sale - £800,000-1200000) |
But amazing things do happen, and the story below brought a bit of peace and joy for an instant in time to one couple and more importantly their families.
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2 On the
third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was
there. 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. 3 When the
wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And
Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not
yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” |
