We have been plagued recently with a number of telephone calls for Scottish Hydro Electric. They began a few days ago and had almost reached the point where one of us was going to phone Scottish Hydro and see if we could find out what was going on! A very kind soul rang back after his failed attempt to log his metre reading with us . He, along with many others it seems, made the easy mistake of phoning the date on their estimated reading card instead of the free phone number. Mystery solved.
Our son is home and as I type is out with his Dad cutting down huge Leylandi trees. The first crack and fall has resulted in brilliant sunlight flooding the small garden we whimisically refer to as the Paddock and our bedroom. The difference is amazing. Although the wood is pretty gunky, in these financially strapped times if we leave the sap to dry out, it may well be OK to burn through the winter. They tend to be a little like fire crackers - but heat is heat.
Wonderful to see the two of them working together - our son so nearly a man - helping and popping in and out.
I caught a smashing documentary last night with John Barrowman exploring his own sexuality and whether he is the product of nature or nurture as an out, gay man. None of the research was new - but it was presented in a highly personable format with John Barrowman as the guinea pig. I thought it a brave attempt to restore sanity to the demonising myths around homosexuality. I watched some of it with my partner and son - and felt we were all the better for seeing it. It made a stark and necessary contrast to my other TV watch last night. I am glad I only caught the final minutes of a rather odd documentary on the new Anglican Alliance - that sounds like an over the counter cure for indigestion - you know the one? I refuse to give the organisation credence by printing its name.
I couldn't help thinking as I watched Archbishop Akinola's ego growing palpably with each round of hyperbole and chorus of certainty regarding the sinful nature of the liberal church, that it will be an awfully great adventure not to have to pretend to be a Church as wide in our doctrine as we are varied in our spirituality - and simply get on with the business of being inclusive without having to worry about those who want to represent a different interpretation of the Gospel. A covenant would be a work of convenience not an authentic expression of belonging. Let those who historically have been persecutued by a Canterbury-centric Church have the freedom to be what they believe they are called to be. In the end we are all judged not by what we say we believe but by our actions; by the moments when we risk our very selves.
I have no doubt Archbishop Akinola and many others are risking their very selves and I delight in that. I think schism is actually a sign the Holy Spirit is working with great energy and discernment. People who need power to create identity and who need others to sign on dotted lines of belief soon find that within their organic ranks apostasy will coagulate and spawn new life - as division begets further division - and different dotted lines become demarcation lines and departure points.
Staying together no matter what is a good strategy when you are on a life raft in shark infested waters - but at a time when globally we are living through a technically, socially and economically highly unpredictable global experience - diversity may actually add strength and much needed sustenance to the basic tenets of the overall diversity of the Christian faith and its accompanying spiritual journey.
The trouble with breakaway movements is that generally speaking a number of disaffected folk with strong, unmet agendas often jump ship to join the new emerging ideology. That can apply to the liberal as well as the conservative aspects of the Church.
I hate the way 'orthodox' has now been degenerated into meaning conservative regarding the use of the Bible and social and moral teaching - it used to mean an acceptance of the received teachings and beliefs of a value system - in all it's complex and provisional forms - not the creation of dogma as an evangelistic tool to put some clear, blue spiritual 'water' between African Anglicans and Muslims or politically right wing westerners and an emerging highly pluralistic, essentially hedonistic society.
A voice has said: "Hello Mum" through the study window. The sun is shining.
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