where do we rest

I was talking to a friend today, I appear to have a few of them..honest
we talked about how it is easier to rest in the past, wallow in what we could have done rather than go into the future. We all have set backs, lost friendships, loss. We need to acknowledge the loss, have bereavement time, but we must not stay there.
When I was younger I stayed there to long and it was harder to get away, there is something comforting in staying in the place but we cant live there.
This is not a 'get a grip' message, it is a don't rest there too long

running down the hill

can you remember what you did as a child to let off steam? a friend was saying she ran down the hill screaming. it was just we all need to find a way to release the tension from everyday life. I have had a horrible week, stuff left over from my childhood has come back to bite. I am OK but i wish i was 8 again and could run and be silly and sound off. Instead we try and be responsible and sensible and instead we bottle things up. I am going to watch some sport and shout at the screen but i am also lighting a candle to remember my sister to God.
In an age where we think we can control everything, times like this remind us we don't.
but i am loved by a God who does and while I cannot fathom her plan I am content to be part of it.
so if you have kids encourage them to let their steam off and not to become a sensible adult too soon

new tomorrow?

Apart from the obvious joy at a President being elected who appears to know that a world exists outside of America, I am just happy that someone who treats and values people equally has been elected.
Obama's rhetoric is amazing, as a small time politician in the past I know how a good speech can move people. But the acceptance speech last night was incredible it was spine tingling good. It showed vision and hope
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/us_elections_2008/7710079.stm
But tomorrow we will all wake up and being cynical , we will find out that whilst we agreed on the broad vision we do not agree on the actions.
We will decide we have been let done and the fantasy of nirvana is just that.
But as a christian I believe God's kingdom will come on earth by us acting as Jesus commanded in the New testament. So my cynical political view says all politicians disappoint eventually . My christian view says we must believe and act as if the vision is possible and achievable ( with God's help). Obama excites my christian hope and suppresses my political cynicism .
Maybe I will be disappointed, but I need as a Christian to travel hopefully

Remembering the fallen

This weekend was Trafalgar Day. and in a small corner of our parish is the pleasance a park in East Greenwich. It was the burial ground from the Hospital for Sailors in Greenwich. These sailors fought in many wars but hundreds of them died in or after the battle of Trafalgar. We said a few prayers and laid some wreaths. Had a cup of tea and cake and a noggin of rum!

this is a way that the community comes together. We remember the parks original use, the brave sailors and also we celebrate the peaceful park we have here today.

It is in the small gestures of life that we connect with each other and hopefully find our place before God

trust

This credit crunch, do you know how it was caused?
a lack of trust between banks. they did not believe they had valued their assets properly. they did not have faith. Hey that is our language not theirs-
the crunch happened due to a lack of faith. I claim a faith in God, they claim a faith in the infallibility of the capitalism.
I know people are hurting, people are losing their jobs, we cant sell our house! It is very hard but it is not surprising that something man made eventually fails. Faith for me is belief in something outside ourselves, something deeper something beyond. Next time someone tells you that they only believe in the real world, gently tease them that this may well have brought us to the problems of today