Church and State

"Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction." Blaise Pascal.

For Willow

Your big in Nashville !

Jetlagged but Glad

I'm back in the homeland - slept for 13 hours last night. Tired but happy after the cycle trip and then the good people of Nashvegas - they make my soul feel good every time. more later after some more sleep.

blessings

100 Days

Myths and Truth ? with a quote for papa Chambers

Myths and Stories have always been important to me. The best definition of myth came from a teacher friend of mine who asked her class to write an explanation of what a myth was. One little girl came up with the answer....... Myths may not be true on the outside but they are true on the inside !

I've never heard better and in my current post-evangelical attempt at faith it helps me in my reading of the Bible to still access truth within the words without having to contort like crazy to make every syllable be the literal word of God.

So a year or so ago I was in Edinburgh at the book festival with Nick , Ali and Gail. We all squeezed into one of the tents to hear Jeanette Winterson speak about her latest book - Weight . Its part of the Canongate series of established authors retelling ancient myths. This particular one is the story of Atlas and Heracles. Winterson is a brilliant public speaker in her bluff northern way and made some extremely profound points. She even inspired me enough to buy the book but its taken me the best part of a year to pick it up and it was worth the wait.

Its a book I would describe as quietly profound in the midst of her trademark storytelling. It mixes the myth with some biographical stuff about her own upbringing by adoptive pentecostal parents in the north of england.

Loved it - would recommend it - click on the post title to go to her website where you will also find some provocative articles as well as all her books. I'll leave you with the 2 quotes from the book which stopped me in my tracks and demanded that i read them again allowing the meaning to sink in.

"My mother said we all have our cross to bear. She paraded hers like a medieval martyr,notched,gouged,bleeding. She Believed in Christ , but not in his cross bearing qualities. She seemed to forget that he had borne the cross so that we dont have to. Is life a gift or a burden ?

and

"Breathe in. Breathe Out. Oxygen is carcinogenic and likely puts a limit on our life span. It would be unwise though, to try to extend life by not breathing at all."

blessings

mark

And so its over

The Guys cycled hundreds of miles , Allen and I drove about 3000 miles and tens of thousands of pounds has been raised for the biggest faith based regeneration project in Ireland. It was exhausting , exhilirating and in a quiet way quite profound. We learned how and how not to exist as a community , how to look after and support each other and how to achieve more than we thought we could. Its been an honour and a privielege to be involved. Here are a few random photos - click on the post heading to go to glenns blog for many more . Thanks to everyone for their support , sponsorship and interest. I'm now in Nashville where I intend to sleep until my name changes to Rip van Father.

Blessings

Click here for some video of the tour so far

HI Guys ,

A little of what we have done over the last few days. Tomorrow we head for Florida.

m

More Cycling Photos from Day1-4

ARE U SURE THIS IS THE ROAD ?



THE BEST LAID PLANS OF MICE AND GLENN ........


QUICK GET THE BIKES ON THE CAR, I HEAR BANJO MUSIC !


ONE MAN AND HIS MARS BAR


WE HAVE A VAN METER DOWN


SERMON FROM THE ALMOST REV HAMILTON


Today we head for Atlanta - more adventures and photos will follow !

CYCLING BLOG CLICK HERE

OK the cycling madness is well under way - Day 4 was the toughest so far - 86 miles on the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina. 80 degrees fahrenheit and so many hills. The guys did incredibly well - this is the team at the very top of the parkway having cycled 73 miles and ascended more than 5000 feet. I'm very proud of them all. Click on the link above for our official blog and of course its all for a good cause - East Belfast Mission and there is of course still time to donate.

www.justgiving.com/markmccleary

blessings

m

Free at Last Free Free Free

This is my first day of Unemployment. As of Midnight I'm no longer employed by a large media corporation. It was a pretty good ten year relationship we had - with the ups and downs of any relationship. Perks were some good travel , getting into places I never could as a member of the public , meeting Prime Ministers , Presidents and Royalty and a few great sport freebies. There was also danger , riots , wars etc and seeing the best and worst that humanity has to offer. All in all its been a great ride ...met some amazing people , had fun but there comes a time when you need to move on for the good of your soul. And so we have agreed to go our own ways and hopefully still be friends at the end of it.

And so I am a free man - no regrets though a strange feeling that I'm losing part of what has been my identity for almost a third of my life.

On the train into Philly and discussing with Lee - what should my answer be now when folks that I meet at a party or whatever ask that perennial question - So what do you do ?

Answers on a postcard please ..... best answer will be used for the summer.

Blessings of the unemployed upon you.

m