sometimes so is it on earth. If anyone I've met embodies the hospitality of the gospels it is Mike and Rose Riddell. A sojourn with them is always a blessed time when one feels loved and affirmed, and empowered to dream dreams and live the creative life. Tonight we had a truly incarnational meal - them,me and the Dr of Higgins.
It was incarnational - food and conversation being the very stuff of life itself and we shared stories of sorrow and laughter , shared dreams and talked about what the life more abundant that Jesus promised us might look like. One thing Mike said was that he thought I was becoming more comfortable in my own skin. I think he is right and even in the few short weeks here I have felt comfortable with the life choices I've made and confirmed in giving up the job and finding time to dream it all up again. There is an old aboriginal proverb that says "He who stops dreaming is truly lost." I think i was on the way to being lost in the job I was doing and had almost stopped dreaming but now it is back and I'm feeling good.
We talked also about celebrity and how ordinary lives get lost and devalued. Every day I'm learning a little to live the Buechner Quote above - because all moments are key moments and life itself is Grace.
We also realised that though it was Gareth who introduced me to Mike 4 years ago, that it was my organising of a bus to greenbelt 10 years ago which had allowed Gareth to first meet Mike. We were all part of the fabric of each other.
Sitting by the Riddells swimming pool with a glass of whiskey was like a little taste of eternity. Receiving Grace and being empowered to go out and share that Grace with others. A glimpse of who I want to be and a little taste of heaven here in Middle earth. Tomorrow its on to Australia to catch up with old friends and family. In the meantime let me leave you with the words of New Zealand poet James K Baxter.
Miracles are needed
Miracles of nourishment
Miracles of sharing
Miracles of healing
But as we may suppose that
the age of miracles is past,
though sudden miracles
surround us like blackberries
in the bushes in autumn !
JKB
This week I've enjoyed the miracle of friendship , hospitality and Grace and I thank God that I'm alive.
blessings
m
3 comments:
i was with ye all - love and beer to the fab 4 xx
thanks for that mark. it is funny, today i was thinking seriously that i might stop teaching sometime. not in that 'oh god i hate this job' that you sometimes get. more in the 'ok, i don't know what else i could do but i don't think i want to do this anymore'...
the teaching part of teaching is great but most of the rest of it is some kind of nonsense...
but anyway. bills to pay and toddlers to feed etc. can't just jack it all in on a whim. still, nice to read your thoughts and i'm glad you're getting some good dreaming out there.
Cool - I gave up checking your blog since the trail seemed to have gone dead. Good to hear from you and to know that the journey is fruitful!! Keep travelling - it's the journey not the destination which is of most value.
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