Birds

I enjoy birds.

I always have, though at times, with more intensity than others.

What it is about those little fluttering scraps of feathers that excites and inspires the imagination?

Their aeronautical acrobatics.
The delicately hued combination of feathers
The elaborate dances and dips and dives
Their pure lightness of being.
The language of their birdsong, with its alarming clucks, animated chatters, and soaring arias.

And the fact that each one is an individual, contributing in its own small way to the richness of God’s vast biodiversity. When I was boy I was given a book “Birds as Individuals” by Len Hutton, written way back in 1952, which opened my eye as a young teenager to the fact that it's not just about birds as species, but that each one is a separate individual, in particular, in the eyes of God, in the eyes of whom..

"not even a sparrow falls to the ground without its Heavenly Father knowing."

So there I was, Sunday morning, out walking by the river.
Early morning.
Sunrise.
The silence.
Before the runners, the walkers, the cyclists

And all at once, a reed warbler.
Least, that’s what think it is.
Dancing along the wire
Flitting between bush and fencing post
Just you and me, in a secret conversation.
Yes, I’ll leave your babies alone.
No, I won’t go near your nest
Just let me enjoy your beauty

In the early morning
Amen

Now How did He do That?

This little 11 year old girl on Youtube interviews Irish rugby legend Brian O’Driscoll, and one of the questions she asks him is “If you met Jesus on a bus what would you ask him?” I love it. And his answer was just as smart and off the cuff. “I’d ask him how he did that water into wine trick.”

Now that’s interesting. It’s not the most obvious or the most dramatic of Jesus miracles. Yet, it’s the one that catches the imagination. (O’Driscoll must have gone to Sunday school somewhere along the way to hear that story). And to me the fascination of the miracle is not the question “how he did it” but the “why he bothered”. How is it Jesus decides that the first time he would demonstrate his supernatural powers as the Almighty Son of God is to help out a friend at a wedding party. To add a bit more gladness to a happy event.

It’s not as if it was a matter of life and death. The worst that could have happened was that the friend would have ended up a bit embarrassed that the wine had run out, and the guests gone off in a huff. But bringing joy and gladness is very central to what Jesus is all about. Yes it’s about saving us from Hell, and Him paying the price for our sins and setting us on the right path to walk with God through life, but its also about adding that extra sparkle into life, putting the “joie” in the joie-de-vivre, the “spumante” into the Asti, and generally giving us the ability to truly “enjoy” life. He said as much when he declared later on that “I have come that you may have life, and that you may have life abundant”

We were at this wonderful wedding in an amazingly beautiful location earlier this month, and the preacher Paulo Oliveira, preached from this very story about the wedding feast, and as the day turned into night and we chatted and conversed with Davide and Arlete’s wonderful family and friends, it was as though Jesus was still there turning the bland water of an ordinary everyday Portuguese wedding ceremony into something rich and special and that tasted wonderful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFTRWa8LgIs&feature=player_embedded

More About Brittany

Discovering Brittany in August was the most pleasurable rewarding thing we have done in a long, long time. Partly it was the amazing richness and variety of culture history and natural scenery; partly it was the companionship of being together and doing different stuff, (plus enjoying some amazing hospitality); and partly it was...well, being in a corner of France that is not really France...or at least does not consider itself to be French.

You were kind of on the edge of Europe, and yet you felt at the heart of Europe, among ancient dolmens, and with the marks of the Romans, and Napoleon and Hitler imprinted in the landscape. And you’re always within reach of the amazing Atlantic coastline with its wonderful light and shade and every colour of an artist’s palette. No wonder Gauguin and Monet and Turner and others flocked here for inspiration

You were kind of on the edge of Europe, and yet you felt at the heart of Europe, among ancient dolmens, and with the marks of the Romans, and Napoleon and Hitler imprinted in the landscape. And you’re always within reach of the amazing Atlantic coastline with its wonderful light and shade and every colour of an artist’s palette. No wonder Gauguin and Monet and Turner and others flocked here for inspiration

Highlights of that coastline for were the amazing constructions in pink granite, shaped by the wind and the waves that lay along the northern coast, and the white expanse of the coast at Mont St Michel, where sky meets sea and salt marsh in one impressionistic monochrome sweep, and in the middle of this the medieval spires of the cathedral thrusting heavenward.

The climax of the holiday for us was last evening strolling in Lorient among the celtic flavours of Britanny, Galicia, Wales, Ireland and a host of other places and to end up at a concert of the legendary Chieftains which was amazing. Not so much that this band of brothers had been together for fifty year, but the eclectic bunch of talented young musicians from around the globe that they brought on stage with them

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwNyU5ZRKMU

The Kindness of Strangers

Hospitality is one of those unsung gifts that the Bible mentions but that doesn’t get a lot of air time when people are talking about what’s important in walking the spiritual life. We experienced this gift last month with Mike and Valerie Smith, our hosts at Manoir du Poul deep in the countryside of Central Brittany. They run the manor as a bed and breakfast business, but it’s a gîte with a difference. Leaves visitors somewhat bemused as they experience a warmth and a welcome way beyond the polite professionalism of most of the hospitality industry. It’s there from the moment you arrive, and the personal interest is genuine in their conversation over meal times.

And it’s backed up by prayer, as they shared with us how they often pray for their guests, Valerie when she’s changing the beds or ironing the sheets, and Mike when he’s mowing the grass or weeding the garden.That takes some grace, and its where the gift comes in.

We experienced during that week in August, the kindness of strangers who end up not being strangers, but, even after only a few hours together, like friends we have known a long time. And because of the spiritual connection, the idea of hospitality takes on a yet deeper significance as it becomes the mutual sharing of the physical (food and shelter), and the spiritual (prayer and encouragement), as we feel that we as well have been able to minister into their lives, and they into ours.

The Field of Onions

You’d be forgiven for not knowing where in Lisbon the Field of Onions is. Yet, most tourists end up there at some time or other, usually looking for a parking space so they can visit the Alfama, the Cathedral and the Castelo Sao Jorge. Or they stumble down to this open space after getting lost in the narrow alleyway of the Alfama.

Campo das Cebolas. The Field of Onions. Along the riverfront just before you come to Praça de Comercio, it’s an unprepossessing space full of parking lots, tramways and tired looking palm trees. Oh, yes, and the odd down-and-out, sitting on the pavement, pulling on a home made cigarette. For this is also one of those meeting points for the homeless of the city. And last night we were there and took part in an amazing dinner. Tables were set out on the pavement. Against the backdrop of buses and taxis passing by, and under the intermittent light of a few flickering street lamps, there was a buzz of animated conversation, as diners enjoyed rice and beans with shrimps, accompanied by orange juice, dessert and coffee. It was a dinner organised for the homeless by a Christian grassroots organisation called “Serve the City” that is seeking to make a difference in various cities across Europe.

What struck me, in talking with Antonio, Ze, Fernando and Nuno, how alive, alert and well informed these guys were. Here’s a guy who maybe finds you a vacant parking spot in a narrow street with a wave of his battered hat, and you give him a euro for his services. Society sees him (or doesn’t as the case him be) as worthless, dross of humanity, clogging up the unemployment statistics, and not worth caring about. And I’m afraid we do the same a lot of the time. But we’re called to be different, to have different values and not look with the world’s perspective. In the Kingdom every one has value. And it’s not about the money.

So it was good, but also with a bit of a sense of shame that we found ourselves interacting and listening to their stories. An accountant in the Cape verde Islands who hasn’t been able to find his way in life since coming to Lisbon. A young guy born and brought up in the shadow of the Castle, but who fell into drug abuse at an early age. Jesus loved them enough to die for them. We need to too.

Who Values Us?

Last week I was fascinated by the the juxtaposition of two highly unconnected news stories, which I found connected together in a wierd sort of way.

At the beginning of the week, we heard the word “junk” being used in relation to the nation of Portugal. Specifically, Moody’s Investors Services had slashed its evaluation of Portuguese Government Bonds to the value of “junk”, precipitating the country further into the economic crisis it’s been wading through.

Meanwhile, by the end of the week, way down in East Africa, the newest nation on earth, South Sudan, was celebrating it’s birth. And the foreign press either didn’t bother to report the joy and jubilation of the newly independent but insignificant little nation at all, or cynically commented on its slim chances of survival in the cut and thrust of the 21st century world.

What struck me about both these stories was the question of who it is who is entitled to pass judgment or evaluate a person or a people. Living here in Lisbon, even though not myself a Portuguese, I felt deep in my heart the emotive hurt that accompanied the use of the word “junk”. Okay, so that may be the economic reality of the moment, and it most certainly will result in a lowering of confidence of investors and a tough economic future, but is that the way to judge this nation, this people?

Similarly, those who missed the Independence Day celebrations of South Sudan missed a vision of a people with heads held high, celebrating with a joy that seems to come naturally from their spirits. The statistics may make depressing reading. Nine out of 10 people live below the poverty line; more than 10% do not make it past their fifth birthday. About three-quarters of adults are illiterate. The people of South Sudan are under few illusions about the challenges facing them, but they are justifiably optimistic. Their country, though ravaged by long years of war, is blessed with so much natural wealth.

And when you read the new National Anthem (apparently chose by a popular vote as a result of an “X factor” style competition) the South Sudanese would appear to place this optimism in God.

Oh God!

We praise and glorify you

For your grace upon Cush,

The land of great warriors

And origin of world's civilization.

Oh Cush!

Arise, shine, raise your flag with the guiding star

And sing songs of freedom with joy,

For peace, liberty and justice

Shall forever more reign.

So Lord bless South Sudan!

Makes me think about how wonderful it is that our own value as people rests in God and God alone. What is important above all is how He sees us and judges us, not how others might evaluate us, brush us aside or put us down. And he values us highly. As he spoke about His people so long ago in the Book of Deuteronomy. (7:7-9)

“It is not because you were more numerous than other peoples, that the LORD set His affection on you and chose you, for, indeed, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors. Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who follow Him”

The Olive Shoots and the Fruitful Vine

Colin was the first to go, leaving Friday evening so he could get to the wedding of a friend in Oxford. Next, Sharon, early morning Saturday, after a frantic night of shopping in the Outlet stores in Alcochete, packing and repacking, weighing and reweighing. Well, she’s got the furthest to go. Finally yesterday evening, Judith left for London. And so ended a wonderful week and a half with family again.

Makes me think about Psalm 128 again, which talks about being blessed within the context of family. The fruitful vine and the olive shoots around your table. “Blessed (and prosperous) is the man who fears the Lord”. And here’s Colin moving on from BEng to MEng in aeronautics, and more positive in every way about study and work and the prospects ahead, Judith settling in to life in London and establishing her social networks, and Sharon blossoming in her photographic creativity and getting more and more opportunities in Bangalore.

I cannot but thank God in his goodness in blessing us with these three, three whom I enjoy hanging out with, whose conversations are fascinating, stimulating and funny, and three whom I’ve grown to appreciate more and more with every year of their lives. So this was a summer week with visits to Belem and Alfama, to Troia and Caparica, jazz, blues and fado, watching the sun go down by the Rio Tejo. Great memories!