Educating for the Lived Gospel #146

Wisdom cries out in the street;
in the squares she raises her voice. (Prov 1:20)

Like me, you might feel that Wisdom will need to be pretty loud to get attention at the moment. Sadly, Fear & Ignorance seem to be dominant voices in the public arena. If we pursue the metaphor, ‘What is Wisdom saying?’ and ‘Who is listening?’ In the tradition, Wisdom is another name for the Holy Spirit, who according to the Gospel of John will guide us ‘into all the truth’ (John 16:13). This truth is about the fullness of life, love and community to which God calls us all. Listening would need to be attentive, prayerful and shut out the voices that lead us away from our full lives in community.

A principal role we can play with young people is to talk about current events from a faith viewpoint. We need to resist the urge to talk politics. Rather, we need to explore right and wrong, as well as compassion, mercy and forgiveness. And, importantly, what decisions will lead our community to a fullness of life and love. Not easy, but important!

Have a great week!
Patrick

Educating for the Lived Gospel #145

So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. (Luke 15:20)

This beautiful parable gives us a warm and intimate image of God as a forgiving and loving father. As a good parent should, he has given his son licence to make mistakes – and learn from them. Ideally, this is how all parents feel about their children. We are also challenged to provide this example, loving this way in all of our relationships. It is challenging to do so because we have no defences from the pain of rejection & disappointment.

It is easy to fall into the trap of controlling as a form of ‘love’. However, we know our own growth occurs when we are free – including free to fail. Therefore, we need to model that to our young people. Yes, such love is open to abuse – but aren’t the successes breathtaking!

Have a great week!
Patrick

Educating for the Lived Gospel #144

Hear, my child, your father’s instruction,
and do not reject your mother’s teaching; (Prov 1:8)

This quote from the Jewish wisdom literature is really another way of expressing the commandment ‘honour your father and mother’. For this to be written, it meant that it was not always practiced! As such, it shows we parents that there is ‘nothing new under the sun’. It also indicates that despite any rejection we may receive, we have a duty to share the wisdom born of our experience. How it is received is another matter, since there will always be a difference in worldview between the young and not-so-young.

As teachers and parents, we need to remind the young people in our care that those who have lived more years than them may well have something to share with and help them. We also need to remember not to be too pushy or insistent for fear of pushing them away. Also to remember that this dialogue happens in the context of ’the dance’ – the struggle of young people to assert their individuality. Finally, we must not fall into the trap of ‘being right’ – rather to share our wisdom in love.

Have a great week!
Patrick

Educating for the Lived Gospel #143

Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?’ He said, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’ (Luke 10:36-37)

 

To the Jewish listeners to this story, the one who showed mercy was ‘the enemy’, someone to be distrusted; someone not ‘like us’. Implicit in this parable is that God does not care about petty human divisions. We are called to have compassion and show mercy, especially to those not ‘like us’. It is easy to be caught up in rules and regulations. It is also easy to be caught up in appearances. ‘What will others think?’ There is a wonderful recent example of following your heart and not being put off by others (story of Adelaide woman) Mercy costs so little yet can reap such a rich harvest. However, it can be mistaken for weakness.

 

So, we need to be people of compassion and mercy in how we behave around and towards the young people in our care, since they ‘read the Gospel in us’. We need to encourage them to display compassion and mercy to the people in their lives. In the midst of difficult times, such as we are currently living in, we need to guide our young people toward compassion and mercy, despite what the media or certain politicians may say. We also need to continue to educate young people about those in need, providing them with opportunities to display compassion and mercy, emulating Jesus.

 

Have a great week…and term!

Patrick

Highett and Parramatta

Growing up in the 60’s and 70’s

Holidays meant

Going to the coast

Simple accommodation

Days spent at the beach.

‘Going O.S.’

was expensive

exotic

seemingly out of reach.

 

So when the girl from Highett

And the boy from Parramatta

Travelled to Europe

And celebrated

Their anniversary

With a view of Le Petit Palais

In Paris

And drank in

The wonder of the Rosenlaui Glacier

And poked about

Einstein’s home in Bern

And strolled along Unter den Linden

As they explored Berlin’s rich heritage

And gazed into history

At Stonehenge

And gloried in Gaudi’s genius

Of the Sagrada Familia

And ate seafood paella and drank sangria

Overlooking the Mediterranean

There was a delightful air

Of unreality

to it all

 

The girl from Highett

And the boy from Parramatta

Had indeed

Come a long way

photo

Organ vespers in Berlin

A long way from home

I felt at home

During organ vespers

In the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church

 

It was a sense of grandeur

As the organ music

Filled the church

It was a sense of beauty

As the blue stained glass

Filled our eyes

It was a sense of connection

As I shared this experience

with family members

It was a sense of faith

As the congregation shared this experience

Including praying the Our Father

 

All done for the greater glory of God

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Grace pouring down

The great book, always open and which we should make an effort to read, is that of Nature. (Antoni Gaudi)

Many speak of

Gaudi’s genius.

When you are in the

Sagrada Familia,

It’s not about knowledge

It is about the senses

An experience

Of grandeur

Of wonder

Of faith.

 

Being amidst the wash

Of stained glass light

Of varying and subtle hues

Under the canopy

Of the columns

Which evoke a forest

Among the countless

Faith indicators:

Saints

Churches

Evangelists

In that privileged moment

Where human ingenuity,

A celebration of God’s creation

And faith collide,

Tears of joy came

As I felt

Grace pouring down

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Amidst the clouds on Stanserhorn

By funicular and cable car

We scaled Stanserhorn.

In one direction

There are breathtaking views

Of Lake Lucerne

And the rugged alpine countryside

A mix of

Azure, greens and browns

Fill your eyes

With joy and wonder

 

The other direction

is shrouded in cloud and mist

at first.

A combination of

Sun, wind and God

Reveal majestic views

Tantalisingly,

Only for them to be shrouded again.

 

Our joyous task is to exult in the magnificence

Easily seen

As well as the hard-won

Momentary glory

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Rosenlaui Glacier

Some scenery you look at

Other pass you by

But there are a special few

That command attention

Sing God’s grandeur

And remind us

How small we are

 

On a perfect day

Of glorious sunshine

The Rosenlaui Glacier in Switzerland

Shared some

Of her jewels with us

With brilliant azure

Glowing white and brooding black

 

We enjoyed a simple lunch

Basking in its magnificence.

We did all we could

To savour this moment

And continuing our journey

Was a wrench

 

As I ponder

The gigantic jutting rocks

And their titanic work

Of holding and cradling

This leviathan of an icy river

I am immensely grateful for this experience

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On seeing ‘Starry Night’

I’ve had the great good fortune to be in Europe recently. This is the first of the pieces I was moved to write:

We queued for 40 minutes

To gain entry

To the Musee d’Orsay

In Paris

 

Like its big sister

The Louvre

There is a wealth,

A torrent of beauty

In painting and sculpture

Flowing through its spaces

 

Walking around

With so many other people

I wasn’t always

In the right space

To truly appreciate

The wonders on show

 

Then I walked in to the Van Gogh exhibition

And it was as if I was

Struck

Physically

 

Tears came to my eyes

Unbidden

I was transfixed

Overwhelmed

By the painting’s

Colours

Depth

Glow

 

This moment of great joy

Was worth admission alone

And is why museums exist.

To feed the soul.