Learning from John's Gospel

I really enjoyed reading Ian Galloway's Called To Be Friends: Unlocking the Heart of John's Gospel, and found his approach both refreshing and fascinating. He conjures up a sense of excitement at what Jesus does - "Jesus loves people. He is irrepressible. You can’t turn a page in the Gospel without meeting someone experiencing a life-changing encounter with Jesus."

The matter of how we can relate to Jesus is central to Galloway's concern. He puts it like this - "Discovering that Jesus knows you is a very exciting moment. Suddenly, nothing is hidden. He can see around the corners of your heart. He can see the good that sits inside you. He can see the potential that is in you, which others have not yet seen. He can also see where things have gone horribly wrong. No one enjoys that sort of stuff coming out into the light, but Jesus has a gentle way of insisting that it does. He is able to create the safe spaces where our past failures can get not just painfully re-examined but also resolved and healed."

I love the way in which he explores the stories and incidents that John records, how they relate to each other, and how we might link them with stories in what we usually call the Old Testament. But I particularly like the way in which he brings us in as participants. So, for example, he writes of the story that we would likely name as the feeding of the five thousand - "Imagine being part of that. Imagine being given half a loaf and five hundred plus people to feed. How would you handle that? How much would you give to start with? Imagine the strange and fearful joy of seeing that bread in your hand never diminish, no matter how much you break it. In the prayer of Jesus and the hands of Jesus and his disciples, the breaking of bread is the multiplying of bread. What Is the Outcome? (6:12–13) An abundance. A shortage is turned into a massive surplus. People take it home with them for tomorrow’s lunch."

And I do like his reflections on leadership and the way in which he links those to the end of Jesus' earthly life - "Making mistakes is part of leadership development in Jesus’ world. Failure is not the problem. It is what you do next that counts. If you are a leader already, try not to get too big-headed about it. You are only following Jesus, just the same as everyone else. There are two men in this final story. One is invited into a very high-profile leadership role. The other is invited to look after Jesus’ mum. You can make your own mind up about whether one is more significant than the other."

Riders On The Storm

Alastair MacIntosh's Riders on the Storm: The Climate Crisis and the Survival of Being is a rightly challenging read, but worth it. He makes clear that climate change is a major issue way beyond others things that are happening - "The pandemic and climate change are not comparable. While the solutions for controlling the virus are simple and short term, those for getting to grips with climate change comprise a deeply entangled ‘wicked problem’: one for which there are no short, sharp shock fixes sitting on the horizon." 

However, he also recognises the value of a realistically positive approach - "Climate change denial is a waste of time. But climate change alarmism is a theft of time. We have no mandate to collapse the possibilities of the future, to contract and restrict our latitude for agency and action." 

And he adds: "What if we were to take climate change not just as a threat, but as an opportunity to deepen our humanity? What if we, who might be of the countries that historically have done the most to cause climate change, were to find it in ourselves to welcome climate refugees? And to do so not just as cheap labour, but as friends and fellow citizens? If we treat others like ourselves, they’ll come into the family. Who knows what gifts the welcomed stranger bears."

Climate change needs to be taken hugely seriously - and that means doing what we can.

COP 26

COP 26 is undoubtedly one of the most important global events ever and it has been fascinating to see just a little of the impact on Glasgow. I have been pleased to be at the Interfaith Prayer Vigil, organised by Interfaith Glasgow and Interfaith Scotland, which took place in George Square on the afternoon of Sunday 31st October. This was an important faith marker and prayers were led by representatives of nine different faiths. It was followed by a reception in the City Chambers, hosted by the Lord Provost.

I was also pleased to have a small part in the ecumenical service at Glasgow Cathedral on 7th November. The issue of climate change remains a huge challenge, and will. It is important that people of faith speak up and speak out. It was encouraging to see such a wide spectrum of Christians at the cathedral for this service. Let's each do what we can. It may seem small, but it's all important.