Liverpool Anglican Cathedral

I spent Saturday at the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral for my second quiet day on the run, last week being at Pennant Malangell.

Our day was split up into times of teaching and times of quite. Two of the quite times where meditative walks. The third walk was on my way from the Cathedral into Liverpool City Centre.

The first walk was a guided meditation round the Cathedral itself looking at some of the features and thinking how they may relate to God. There were hundreds of tourist in every nook and cranny of that large building but what struck me we the way in which all visitors are forbidden to get neat to the high altar. Now I know this is normal for most churches that are open to the public and I understand the reason why, but at that moment the image seemed to be a metaphor  for much more – it was if we were saying to people “this is as far as you are coming to God and no further.”

The day was warm and sunny and yet in the Cathedral it was cool and dark. As I looked at the towering thick walls I couldn’t help but think that what we had created was a mausoleum for God – a place where he could dwell safe from the evils of the outside, being protected by the thick, fortress-like walls.

My second walk  could not have been a bigger contrast. This time I walked in St. James’ Garden, a one time burial ground for the rich and important of Liverpool. Here the sun shone, the birds sang and the wild-flowers bloomed. People were walking about or sitting enjoying the day and suddenly I realised that this place of death was in fact a place of life. It seemed here God was near in a way that he had been missing from the inside.

The final walk was into town and on into the main shopping area. Recession of not people were scurrying here and there with shopping bags or sitting outside the multitude of bars that now grace our town. In the main pedestrian walk a solitary man stud with his placard inviting people to repent. In his hand was a bunch of tracts which nobody took.  Where as God in this situation?

The truth is God was there in all of my walks, what changed was my perception of his presence.  The question is: how how do we get others to perceive the presence of God in whatever path he may choose them to walk. 

A survey carried out by Tesco mobile amongst 4,000 people puts the iPhone in the top ten of the most important inventions ever launched. Yes, that’s all inventions ever!  The iPhone came in at No.8 and  the Internet, Computers and Telephones at 4, 5 and 6.  Things we in the West find essential like painkillers and flushing toilets were way down.

Now I take such surveys with the proverbial ‘pinch of salt’, but what is interesting is that the iPhone was the only brand name to be mentioned. The silly thing is one could hardly call the iPhone an invention, it is simply another incarnation of something that was already around. 

I am not singling out the iPhone for criticism but it seems to me that it represents a perfect example of advertising combined with the mass hysteria of consumerism making people feel that this is the one thing that I have to possess – something that will change my life for good. So, every year the faithful wait expectantly for their saviour, Steve Jobs, to announce the latest incarnation of his device and millions flock to the stores to buy this ‘must have’ product.

For someone like me a smartphone is a Godsend. Being dyslexic means I have something in my pocket that can keep me organised and on track, but would I place it in a list as one of the most important inventions ever? I think not. Surely important inventions are the ones that have the potential to benefit all of humankind and not the few who can make it down to the nearest Apple Store or wherever.

But there is some good news on our list – at least the wheel made it to No.1

Prayer

Tertiaries seek to live in an atmosphere of praise and prayer. We aim to be constantly aware of God’s presence, so that we may indeed pray without ceasing. Our ever deepening devotion to the indwelling Christ is a source of strength and joy. It is Christ’s love that inspires us to service, and strengthens us for sacrifice.

Study

As well as the devotional study of Scripture, we all recognize our Christian responsibility to pursue other branches of study, both sacred and secular. In particular, some of us accept the duty of contributing, through research and writing, to a better understanding of the church’s mission in the world: the application of Christian principles to the use and distribution of wealth; questions concerning justice and peace; and of all other questions concerning the life of faith.

Work

Tertiaries endeavor to serve others in active work. We try to find expression for each of the three aims of the Order in our lives, and whenever possible actively help others who are engaged in similar work. The chief form of service which we have to offer is to reflect the love of Christ, who, in his beauty and power, is the inspiration and joy of our lives.

Now I’m a great one for To-do lists and I would go as far as saying I find it very difficult to function without one to keep me on track, so this morning I decided that I would reorganise my list under the above heading.  Oh dear, it seems as if WORK has taken over!

Further reflection lead me to conclude that things were not as bad as I first thought, I did pray and I did study, and although the balance would still be in favour of work if I included these things on my list, the fact that they were not there and not prioritised with the rest of the stuff seems to be saying I am not giving them their due. It seems that prayer and study have been relegated to those things I fit in when the rest of the list is neatly ticked off.

So time to overhaul the list and put in and prioritise those things that should be there.

I suspect I am not alone.

This month sees the celebration of two Celtic Saints, David (our patron) on the 1^st March and Patrick on the 17^th. Both of these Saints lived in dangerous times; the old order and stability of the Roman Empire had given way to anarchy and the rise of tribal ‘War Lords’. New invaders in the form of Angles, Saxons and Jutes were arriving on the scene. Patrick, who may have been Welsh, was captured in his youth by Irish pirates who were making the most of our undefended waters. To be a Christian at that time singled you out as someone different in a world of competing pagan religions.

The Oritory at Glendalough

Despite all the danger and opposition David, Patrick and others were able to establish monastic settlements. These monasteries were nothing like those great stone ruins we visit today. The church was often small and made of wood and around it grew up all the buildings needed for community life. There was accommodation, kitchens, schools, libraries and workshops representing many different trades. In reality they had become villages, but villages with a difference, unlike the villages around they had a heart – the Church in which prayers were said regularly throughout the day.

Talking with many people I sense that many people today believe that we are living in dangerous times. I’m not sure how true that may be but there is certainly taking place a breakdown in structures that for many years have underpinned our society. Saying you are a Christian is more and more placing yourself in a minority. A worker with British Airways was suspended for wearing a cross, a long serving nurse was suspended for offering to pray with patient. We have more an more people listening to  the ravings of the likes or Richard Dawkins who has a pathological hatred of  Christians. We have the National Secular Society which would like to see all religion confined behind the door of Churches, Mosques, Synagogues and the like. True, in this country are not yet in fear of their lives but in certain circumstances life can be made difficult for anyone professing their faith.

I started by saying we are celebrating two Celtic Saints this month, but there is one more celebration; this month St. David’s is 70 years old. In 1940, one of the darkest periods of the Second World War, the church opened its doors for the first time to the people of the parish and has been ministering ever since.

The Church at the centre of the Celtic Monastery offered stability and comfort to the people. It was here prayers were said not just for themselves but the whole of the community and the surrounding countryside. That’s how I see St. David’s – at the centre of our community offering stability in a word that has changed much since its doors were first opened those seventy years ago. It is a place where prayers are said each week for all of the parish and its inhabitants.

Hopefully, like those Churches established by David and Patrick we are at the heart of our community. Their Churches were not the domain of a few monks but were open for all the people, men and women, boys and girls, Christian and Pagan. I would like to think we are the same, open to all, whether you are a person of faith or none.

One last character of Celtic Monasteries is their ability to grow whilst maintaining the stability the people desired and that is our challenge at St. David’s as we face the next few years. It is not something we can do alone, we need God, but we need the whole of the community and ultimately that means you.

Robin Hood Tax Website

It  was written by Saint John of the Cross, a Carmelite priest in the 16th century, describing his mystical development.

The modern extract below is just the first part of this poem. It narrates the journey of the soul from her bodily home to her union with God. It happens during the night, which represents the hardships and difficulties she meets in detachment from the world and reaching the light of the union with the Creator.

The poem was adapted by Loreena McKennet on her album The Mask and the Mirror and it is that version whose words are below.

Upon a darkened night
the flame of love was burning in my breast
And by a lantern bright
I fled my house while all in quiet rest

Shrouded by the night
And by the secret stair I quickly fled
The veil concealed my eyes
while all within lay quiet as the dead

Oh night thou was my guide
of night more loving than the rising sun
Oh night that joined the lover
to the beloved one
transforming each of them into the other

Upon that misty night
in secrecy, beyond such mortal sight
Without a guide or light
than that which burned so deeply in my heart

That fire t’was led me on
and shone more bright than of the midday sun
To where he waited still
it was a place where no one else could come.

Within my pounding heart
which kept itself entirely for him
He fell into his sleep
beneath the cedars all my love I gave

From o’er the fortress walls
the wind would his hair against his brow
And with its smoothest hand
caressed my every sense it would allow

I lost myself to him
and laid my face upon my lover’s breast
And care and grief grew dim
as in the morning’s mist became the light
There they dimmed amongst the lilies fair
there they dimmed amongst the lilies fair
there they dimmed amongst the lilies fair

Many years ago I remember taking the Myers- Brigs Personality Indicator Test and remember being classed as INTJ. Without going into too much detail it meant that I was in the 50.7% of the population that are introverted. Whereas Extroverts get their main source of energy from external sources, such as being with people, Introverts get their energy from within. I have to admit that I did not give it much thought until recently. Being stubborn, I find that when God wants me to take notice he often brings things along in threes.

At the beginning of October at our Franciscan meeting we once again undertook the Myers-Brigs test this was quickly followed by being reminded of the importance of personality type on a course for Spiritual Directors I am presently attending. As part of that course we have to look at ourselves and I began to see that my own type was important in how I dealt with others. Finally, two weeks ago I was away looking at Fresh Expressions with Ray Simpson of the Community of Aidan and Hilda; again personality type was mentioned and it seemed that most of us on the course were firmly in the Introvert category despite being leaders. God was definitely saying something!

Doing some research I came across the blog of Adam McHugh. On his blog Adam describes himself as “an ordained Presbyterian minister, a spiritual director, and an introvert. He has served at Presbyterian churches, as a hospice and hospital chaplain, and as campus staff with Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship.“ 

Adam has just published a book called Introverts in the Church as I turned the pages and read of his experiences I realised that he could just as easily be talking about me. But it is not only me, it is all the others who suffer in silence in our Churches that have taken on an extroverted culture. It explains why my own Church is picking up people from the surrounding parishes, all of which have an extroverted form of worship: there are few other places for them to go.

As an example of how introverts may feel this Sunday past I was helping facilitate our Annual Reader Training Day. It was hard work with a myriad of things to do to help things run smoothly. At the end of the day was a Communion Service – a time to relax and enjoy God’s presence. But for me it was the opposite worshipping in an extroverted style with loud hymns made me want to be somewhere else. I would have rather sat quietly in some Chapel even if it meant missing out on Communion.That which should have refreshed did exactly the opposite.

Now don’t get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with extroverted forms of worship. At Pentecost I enjoyed a praise service which was very extrovert. But there is a growing tendency, especially in my own Deanery, to see extroverted forms of service as the Christian norm. I’ve heard it said that if you don’t like the worship there must be something wrong with you – or even worse – you cannot be a Christian. I know for a fact that in some circles I am ’suspect.’

Of course, this attitude does not appear everywhere but it does raise some questions. If our population is split roughly 50-50 between extroverts and introverts, who do we cater for in our services?. If we think lively services is the way to go we may well be excluding half the population. The same goes if our only services are only quiet and devotional. Ideally we should offer both.

I’ve not yet finished reading the book and I certainly have not got all my thoughts in order. What I do feel is that God has put my feet on a new and exciting path. I’ve got a lot of exploring to do.

The Introverted Church Blog

Adam McHugh on Twitter

Introverts in the Church

INTJ Personality Type (Which seems amazingly accurate in my case)

The Allerton Oak

The Allerton Oak is said to be over 1000 years old and the place where the ancient Court for the area met.

It is precious but precarious. Propped up and fenced off it is kept going by advice from a host of experts including Kew Gardens. How much longer it survives no one can be sure.

Oak Sapling

Signs of new life. A new Oak that with care will live in a world remarkably different from that of Allerton.

Important as the old oak is its time is limited. We need to be planting new – not just one but many – in those areas in which they will do the most good.

As Christians do we spend too much of our time defending the old and not enough nurturing the new?

Medieval Illumination displaying the seasons

September is one of those turning points in the year. The holidays are over, the children are returning to school and the days are getting noticeably shorter.

Today, we are somewhat isolated from the changing seasons. Our supermarkets have the same produce all the year round and central heating and electricity ensure that we are protected from the cold and failing light. Throughout history, this was not the case. During September, there was still crops and produce to be gathered in and preparations had to be made for winter. Tradition held that all crops should be gathered by Michaelmas on the 29th. In some parts of the country, it is still traditional not to pick blackberries after that date.) On Michaelmas day people feasted on goose, paid their debts and gave thanks to God his gifts. Some of that tradition continues with Harvest Festival, which this year is on the 11th October at my own church, St. David’s Childwall.

As intimated, modern life has, to a great extent, isolated us from the seasons. It may be argued that this is a good thing – but is it? In ironing out the high and low points of the year have we denied ourselves the feeling of oneness with the earth and our sense of dependency on God?

Of course, we cannot go back, nor would I argue we should. What we can do is create for ourselves an environment in which we once again enjoy each season for what it is. That means getting out of our centrally heated homes and enjoying what our gardens, parks and countryside have to offer. It means taking time to stand and stare at the ever changing beauty around us. It also means taking time to celebrate, not just at Christmas, but also at other times during the year. There are lots of festivals out there that make a good excuse for a party!

When we become attuned  to the seasons it somehow seems that our spirit is enlivened. That is something we should seek to nurture. One way of doing just that is to take time to get away somewhere quiet, just for a few hours, where there is no pressure, nothing to distract and where you can just ‘drink in’ the atmosphere around you. If you are unable do that it is quite possible to do so at home. Firstly, find somewhere quiet and take the phone off the hook. Secondly, find an object on which you can focus (a picture or candle is good) and place it in front of an upright chair. Thirdly, sit upright with your feet on the ground and your hands lightly on you lap. Fourthly, breathe normally, but become aware of your breathing and focus on it. Lastly, take a simple word (something like ‘love’ or ‘Jesus’) and as you breathe out say the word slowly and quietly. At first you will find your thoughts will wander – acknowledge them and then use your word as a focus to bring you back. Just ten minutes a day like this will actually prove beneficial in reducing some of the stress of modern life and reducing your blood pressure – so there are medical benefits as well as spiritual!

Brian Patten

On Sunday just past I returned to my old childhood stomping ground. I am Chaplain to the Picton Scout Association and it was the annual parade for St. George. Inevitably, I met up with some people from my past and we spent a little time reminiscing about our time both in the Scouts and our old school. 

I was one of those people who never did any good in exams (especially the 11 plus) and so ended up at a Secondary Modern School. It was the best thing to happen to me because there I came under the influence of my English teacher, Mr.Sutcliffe.

Harry (Eric) was a larger than life character who gave to me a love of books and a love of music, both which are with me to this day. Even more important, he helped me to develop an enquiring mind and the sense that life was an adventure provided you were prepared to take risks. All of this seems a million miles away from the modern trend to wrap children in cotton wool.

Everyone seemed to love ‘Sooty’, as he was called. When a retirement  reunion was held ex-pupils travelled from all over the UK  just to attend.

One of  Sooty’s pupils was the Liverpool Poet, Brian Patten, who was a year ahead of me. I’m sure Brian would be the first to admit that his love of writing could be traced back to those days in Mr. Sutcliffe’s class.

When he was about to leave school at 15 there was a visit from the Careers Service. It seems that each boy got a good couple of minutes to discuss their future. Brian said he wanted to be a writer. “You can’t do that”, said the advisor, “You have not got any exams.” Well Brian went on to be a Journalist and later a poet, but the experience of those few minutes stayed with him and prompted him to write this poem. It is particularly apt as we enter the exam season.

When I was a child I sat an exam.
The test was so simple
There was no way I could fail.

Q1. Describe the taste of the moon.

It tastes like Creation I wrote,
it has the flavour of starlight.

Q2. What colour is Love?

Love is the colour of the water a man
lost in the desert finds, I wrote.

Q3. Why do snowflakes melt?

I wrote, they melt because they fall
onto the warm tongue of God.

There were other questions.
They were as simple.

I described the grief of Adam when he was expelled from Eden.
I wrote down the exact weight of an elephant’s dream.

Yet today, many years later,
For my living I sweep the streets
or clean out the toilets of the fat hotels.

Why? Because I constantly failed my exams.
Why? Well, let me set a test.
Q1. How large is a child’s imagination?
Q2. How shallow is the soul of the Minister for Exams?