This could be quite expensive! February 19, 2007
Posted by rupertward in Lent, money, Poor, Prayer.8 comments
Lent is almost upon us, starting on Wednesday 21st February. For many years I haven’t been that engaged with the historical Christian festivals, but recently I have began to appreciate the rhythm of the year, times of feasting and fasting and prayer … or that is the intention anyway!
So in approaching this Lent I have been pondering what I might do. The problem (for me at any rate) is that I am not very good at following through on my resolutions. Every advent I intend to take time to reflect each day on the meaning of Christmas, but fail miserably. By New Year, I have realised that those resolutions only lead to a greater sense of guilt when yet again they don’t last that long. So the thought of being more focused in prayer for 40 days seems a massive mountain to climb.
There are a couple of good posts worth recommending: Maggi Dawn has a short useful reminder of what Lent is all about. Bruce Stanley has some interesting thoughts on “Friends, God and Enemies” at embody. But that all seems a bit like setting myself up for a fall. I need something that will remind me of the Lent, but something that I can commit to, and catch up with, if a day or two (or three or four) turn out busier than expected.
So then I came across this from Christian Aid, called “Counting your Blessings”. The idea is that you give money each day, to remind ourselves that we have so much in the West, and many in this world of ours have so little [Molly has taken this idea rather further than I am suggesting on her 30 days of nothing]. So for example, on Wednesday I am told: “Every year 1.6 million of the world’s poorest people die from respiratory infections, aggravated by smoke from open fires in their homes. Give 5p for every radiator in your home, and 10p for every fireplace.“
On Monday 12th March: “Nearly one-third of the world’s population is ‘off-grid’ – living without an electricity supply. Give 5p for every plug socket in your home.”
And on Thursday 22nd March: “In some countries, the media is strictly monitored and shows very limited and biased news. Give 20p if you bought a newspaper today and 10p for every time you caught the radio or TV news.“
You total up each day, and then at the end of Lent you have an amount to give (to Christian Aid of course). Given how many power sockets we have and what a news junkie I am, this could be an expensive Lent. I think I might have to give up chocolate after all to pay for it all …
Let me know what you are intending on doing?
Imaginative Contemplation November 27, 2006
Posted by rupertward in Bible, Books, Contemplation, Prayer.2 comments
On Sunday, we tried a bit of imaginative contemplation using the parable of the tenants (Lk 20). Following on from the 5 Act theory on NT Wright, or the 6 act adaptation I suggested in another blog, I wanted to help us become part of the parable, to be part of the story, that would help us as we live out the 5th Act now. So often as I have meditated on the Bible, it has been like watching a movie … I have observed the action from a distance. Here I wanted us to take it further, and be one of the characters in the story. To feel, hear, taste, see, touch … to experience it. And see what emerges: of who God is to us, or who we are. It worked really well, and the feedback was fantastic (at least I think so!). So encouraging to see how people saw themselves as part of the story, and what was revealed in that process.
I love what Margaret Silf says, in her book, Taste and See …
Imagination is a God given gateway to prayer, a place where I meet God in ways my busy conscious mind cannot interfere.
She goes on to give some ways in which we can use our imagination with the gospel stories or (if we adapt slightly) with the parables:
Using our imagination.
What can you see, hear, smell, taste, feel?
What is the weather like? Warm, cold, windy, peaceful, wet, dry?
What seems to be happening in the scene? Who is there? Anyone you recognise?
What kind of ‘atmosphere’ does the scene suggest? Inviting, threatening, vibrant, solemn?
Does any particular part of the scene attract your attention more than the remainder?
Entering the action
Where do you find yourself? Perhaps you one of the crowd, or one of the disciples? Perhaps you feel like an outsider looking in, or perhaps you identity with the person being healed or challenged, or invited into a new relationship with Jesus? Don’t make any judgements, or try to force yourself to be where you think you ought to be. The power of this kind of prayer is in being you really find yourself, and letting the Gospel light shine on that place.
How are you feeling about what is happening in your scene? Disturbed? Attracted? Curious? Afraid? Eager?
Do you feel drawn to speak with anyone there? What do you feel you want to say? What do you feel is being said to you? Can you enter into a conversation with Jesus?
If you noticed, earlier, that on part of the scene drew you more powerfully than any other, let yourself follow that drawing now. In your imagination, go that part of the scene. Without forcing anything against your inclination, just see what it is in that part of the scene is attracting you.
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