And as I stood, small and lost, in the centre of that big stage, the gaping, empty chasm of the auditorium stretching out threateningly before me, I was suddenly hit by the realization that some people base their entire lives on applause from that gaping chasm. (Etty Hillesum)
The overflowing goodness of God directed toward us is one way of thinking of our relationship with God. (it's all grace, in other words.) The funny thing is how easy it is to miss it. We are happy to talk incessantly, and passionately, about our problems, who did what when (or didn't, as the case may be) or what should have happened. But how easily do we talk about goodness, and how often, and how passionately? This is not to miss the gravity of the problems at times in our lives, but the good is always there, although unrecognised while we talk about the negative.
Could you name the 5 greatest gifts in your life? Imagine if we focused on them instead, and gave the problems the time and energy they needed to be resolved, and no more. Imagine making the giftedness of life the centre we lived out of. Making the greatest gifts the focus changes our perspective on life (but only in a profound way if they are worthy of the appellation 'greatest').
And similar to the steak knives adverts on TV, there is more. God wants to give us even more. Ask and it shall be given, knock ... who gives a snake ... etc. Another level of living that is more human for it is received from the age to come. (In case that is a bit esoteric, I am talking about the Spirit.)
"No one is an island, entire of itself,; everyone is a piece of the continent, a part of the main." (John Donne, with slight changes.)
When I worked in the city in a ministry with people on the street I was shocked to discover the underbelly of the city, and the way in which people can be so invisible to those living 'ordinary lives'. We might catch a glimpse occasionally when a homeless person is keeled over on the pavement, but the rest of the time we go about our lives unaware of what is happening below the surface. We are a bit like this generally, like islands floating around, more aware of what we think and feel than of those around us.
Jesus didn't play by these rules. He broke through the gap that ordinarily exists. He did this through his ministry with the excluded in particular. And his genuine relational humanity encouraged others to swim across the sea separating them from him. (Mk 6:21-43) In his relationship with God Jesus is also no island, but fully intimate with the Father. In this relational humanity Jesus shows us the nature of God, not an island, alone and separate, but a God of mutual intimacy.
Are we really aware of the people around us beyond the small circle of intimates? Is the way we are human encourage others to swim the sea between islands?
For a sermon here is a great, short video, and you could also use this snippet from About a Boy on tips for island living.
Previous kids' talks have used the idea of layers of bricks, likening the apostles to the first layer, and each generation of Christians built on top of them. I have also used the idea of Cephas' renaming to Peter, solid on which you can stand. We also have a boulder out the front of the church with a plaque commemorating the opening of the new Holy Innocents back in the 90s. The plaque is on rock because it is so solid and will last. Like God.
"No one is an island, entire of itself,; everyone is a piece of the continent, a part of the main." (John Donne, with slight changes.)
Previous kids' talks have used the idea of layers of bricks, likening the apostles to the first layer, and each generation of Christians built on top of them. I have also used the idea of Cephas' renaming to Peter, solid on which you can stand. We also have a boulder out the front of the church with a plaque commemorating the opening of the new Holy Innocents back in the 90s. The plaque is on rock because it is so solid and will last. Like God.
