Interfaith Summit

It was a great privilege yesterday to be part of the annual Interfaith Scotland summit here in Scotland, and on Zoom on this occasion when faith leaders from a wide range of religious communities had the opportunity to meet with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and a couple of her key colleagues, Mairi McAllan MSP, the Minister for Environment and Land Reform, Shona Robison MSP, the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government. All three spoke well and clearly value their links with faith communities. They had listened carefully to those who spoke on our behalf, including Christian, Sikh, Muslim, Jewish and Bahai'i representatives. Time was short, just one hour, and presentations and conversation largely focussed on the effects of the pandemic and the importance of COP 26. It was good to see politics and faith in touch. 

The City Is My Monastery

Recently read, Richard Carter’s The City is my Monastery offered some interesting and helpful insights, not least the value of slowing down and being aware of God’s presence. The trouble is that we over-estimate our importance and think things will collapse if we step back, while that actually can make a positive contribution, not least to our being able to sustain what we do. As Carter says, “although I loved so much of what I did, I felt that if I slowed down, all the plates I was trying to spin at the same time would come crashing down around me. What I was missing was the experience of being attentive to the love of God, and being recharged by it. I was no longer awake to a world alive with miracles.”

He reminds us of the importance of making space for the good stuff, the creative stuff. “One of the rules of life of our community is each week to make space or the time for a creative encounter. Perhaps as simple as a visit to see a painting or exhibition, or a church you have not yet visited. Or maybe it will be sitting down and listening to a piece of music that needs time to hear. Or perhaps reading a book that has been recommended and is waiting to be read. You will know what is life-giving for you. Perhaps music or theatre or dance or birdsong or painting or knitting, or running or walking or cooking or libraries or buildings or art. Take time to look carefully at what you see. Take time to focus on what you love doing. These encounters feed us. They can replenish our spirit and help us discover and deepen the relationship between ourselves and our world. They awaken our wonder. Put these times into your diary. They are as essential as recharging your mobile. More so, they can recharge your soul.”

And we need to something, indeed a great deal, to contribute. “The greatest poverty is to believe you cannot help another, and it is a real truth that those who believe they have least in fact often have the grace to give the most. We all have the opportunity to be the Good Samaritan.”