I believe every day holds something for me, though it is not always clearly defined. Sometimes I have to reflect on the day to discover what it is, and I frequently fail in my attempts; this through my recurring inability to see beyond the immediate and the superficial, my own lack of awareness, and my spiritual immaturity, not because there has been no such occurrence, no seed, provided for me as food for thought, as some form of guidance, or as a pointer to the course I should take in an otherwise confusing situation. Just as frequently, however, it is immediately clear when something is registering in ways beyond the apparently obvious message. It is then an undeniable touch that lingers throughout my waking hours and echoes through the following days.
Opening a book to read about Francis of Assisi (24.05.08 post) was an overwhelming example of one of these moments, and while most do not carry that degree of impact, they all register as being worthy of note in ways that speak clearly to me of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives: God’s presence as Teacher, Guide and Conveyor of Truth. Three days’ thoughts have combined recently leaving me no option but to ponder them more deeply.
Reading the few words on the gravestone was one of these quiet but instantly recognizable moments.
The stone was simply inscribed with the name and the years of birth and death of the person buried beneath it, but these were barely noticed. It was the remaining three words that grasped my attention: so brief, so simple, but saying it all; the first standing alone at the centre of the stone, the final two at the bottom. ‘PRIEST’ ‘DEO GRATIAS’
Strand 2: - Two days later I attended an Annual Parish Meeting at a church where there is a degree of discontent among some of the parishioners, and at which, among other things, the shortage of priests and the roles of the priest and the laity were discussed. I had not been to one of these meetings for four or five years, and my reason for attending this time was my awareness of the concerns of some long standing members of the parish who have since felt the need to contribute and worship elsewhere. I was interested to hear how much or how little would be said, what questions might be raised, and what responses might be given. I regret to say I did not return home happily reassured, and, after the numbers turning out for the last meetings at which I was present, the worrying reality of only twenty people attending this one did nothing to dispel concerns.
Among my thoughts was a low level but insistent repetition of those words, ‘Priest. Thanks be to God.’
Strand 3: - The following morning, during the radio 4 ‘Today’ programme, Rev. Dr Alan Billings, Director of the Centre for Ethics and Religion at Lancaster University, gave his contribution in the regular ‘Thought For The Day’ spot, and in so doing filled my day with further thoughts relating to those arising from that meeting.
He spoke, as follows, of the inauguration of ‘a sculpture on the roof of the new Broadcasting House in Portland Place as a memorial to all journalists and associated crews ... that have lost their lives reporting from places of conflict. ... The reasons for that are not only that the places they work in are inherently dangerous but also that modern struggles are fought out in the media, as well as the streets and battlefields, and journalists’ ‘inconvenient’ reporting is not always welcomed.
By inconvenient reporting I mean of course, truthful reporting.
What protagonists want is not truth but what suits them and builds support for their cause.
That’s as true for authoritarian regimes as democracies, for terrorist groups as governments: even churches have axes to grind.
Yet inconvenient reporting - truthful reporting – is vital for the health of every human community. We can see why from a comment of Jesus in the gospel according to St John. Jesus links freedom and truth: ‘The truth’ He says, ‘will make you free.’
What I think that means in the context of global politics is something like this: - Human beings are most free and flourish best in societies that treat people justly, and so we want to support just causes; but if we’re to pray faithfully and act effectively, we need to understand truthfully: we need to know how things are, what motivates people, what matters to them, we particularly need truthful accounts where our support, moral or material is asked for, because our sympathies are easily manipulated.
We need to know that those who fight in the name of freedom, including our own forces and allies, do so in ways that discriminate and are proportionate, and eschew cruelty, because otherwise seeds of resentment and so instability will be sown, even if victory is won.
For all of this we need fearless, truthful and so sometimes inconvenient reporting, and this exposes journalists to danger.
... freedom is built on truth, however inconvenient.’
Fearless, truthful and so sometimes inconvenient reporting, is vital for the health of every human community, but is not always welcomed. Truth is essential for a healthy and thriving community, and that applies to our parishes just as it does for any other group of people. We need to understand the reality of the situation behind the particular church of which we are a part: we need to know how things are; and ‘we particularly need truthful accounts where our support, moral or material is asked for, because our sympathies are easily manipulated.’ Those who give their time, energy or expertise, or funds, must know that they are not being misled nor their gifts misused.
We invariably begin with an assumption that all forms of support are used appropriately, but this attitude of quiet and unquestioning acceptance becomes very fragile when, for example, previously available facts are not published as a matter of course; when rumours of extravagance are whispered even beyond the reaches of the parish; when information no longer seems to be openly and honestly provided, when questioning is felt to be unwelcome and therefore discouraged, and when answers to those questions which are asked give only an outline of the facts. In short, when the sharing of information is done on a dubious form of restricted ‘need-to-know’ basis, and when those who have real concerns and dissatisfactions begin to go elsewhere rather than endure the debilitating effects of remaining, it is inevitable that the ‘seeds of resentment and instability will be sown’.
But the pull towards negativity which I find myself expressing here is not what these moments are about.
There is something here that needs to be addressed but the real problems, I am sure, are not as they would first seem; that is what I am called to pray about and to ponder further.
.
‘... a threefold cord is not quickly broken.’
(Ecclesiastes 4:12)
(Ecclesiastes 4:12)
