Music of Eternity

Robyn Wrigley-Carr’s Music of Eternity, a series of meditations for Advent based on the writings of Evelyn Underhill, is the Archbishop of York’s book for Advent 2021, and laden with ‘gems’ from the work of Underhill. I really enjoyed it, and commend it as well worth reading.

It is, as you would expect, a reflective book and, appropriately for the time of Advent, particularly reminding us of the place of adoration within our prayers and worship. “Advent is a season of great human experience, one of expectant faith between what God has begun and what He is yet to complete.”

Advent reminds us that God comes to us, and that direction of travel is critically important. We need to look for what God is saying to us. “Evelyn encourages us to learn the art of listening to the Spirit’s whisper.”

The book helps us to explore a range of aspects of what we might call holy living, constantly reminding us of the challenge (and opportunity) this provides. “Our world is completely penetrated by God, and we’re invited to respond, like Mary, to His ongoing action.”

There is much to enrich our reflecting in the way in which Robyn Wrigley-Carr introduces us to Evelyn Underhill.

Advent Retreat

I was fortunate, with a small group of colleagues, to spend about 48 hours on an Advent retreat at Gladstone’s library in Hawarden in Wales in the second week of December.

 We considered the pilgrimage in which we participate in the light of the Christmas story. We are always on the way somewhere, but where? And what does that mean? Thus, the picture of a Brio (or similar) train and some Christmas card depictions of the story of the nativity.

 We considered what we are called to do and to be, doing so in the light of how the same questions might have been faced by the characters that appear in Luke’s and Matthew’s accounts of what happened. So, how did Mary feel? Joseph? The shepherds? The magi? And others, perhaps less prominent, but definitely in those stories? What did they feel about what God was saying to them? What do we feel about what God is saying to us?

 Mary’s life was radically transformed when an angel appeared and told her what was going to happen. It was beyond her wildest thoughts. It was hugely exciting, yet also highly risky, as there would clearly be those who misunderstood – something which certainly still happens today.

 But part of the angel’s message to Mary was about how much God loved her. Realise, if you will, that the angel who appeared to Mary is now kneeling before you and waiting. Can you accept the love God is offering you?

 

Words for a Dying World

Words for a Dying World, edited by Hannah Malcolm, is a delightful, but also pretty stark series of pieces about the devastating challenge of climate change from around the world. As the sub-title says, it is indeed a series of Stories of Grief and Courage from the Global Church. Various perspectives are offered, and it is particularly important to take this opportunity to hear from those most effected by this crisis in different parts of the world.

For example, speaking from the Pacific, Jione Havea comments: "The label ‘global warming’ reminds the global community that the ecological crisis is a shared burden. The signs are everywhere – from droughts and famines to extra heavy monsoons and more frequent and more powerful storms pounding shores everywhere."

Pilar Vicentelo Euribe offers a perspective from Peru, concluding: "We need to learn to live in another way, reassuming our relationship with nature from a more respectful and appreciative perspective, living with it, with everything and its creatures. We have to search for abundant life here and now."

Anderson Jeremiah, though UK based, provides us with an Indian glimpse of the theology that might move us 'from climate grief to shared hope'. He says: "If we all live and move and have our being in this God, then all of humanity and the universe share in the very being of this generous God. Human dignity and environmental integrity are rooted in recognizing that we have our being in God. To deny this is to deny God’s being."

There is certainly much food for thought in this carefully compiled and fascinating collection of essays.

Visiting Oban

Just thinking of the wonder of God, the wonder of creation ....   we are living in difficult times as the pandemic produces challenge after challenge, but God is good - and we need to be people of hope.

Our recent visit to Oban was a great reminder of the beauty that is there just for the looking - and so this brief post (and picture) is a reminder of all that is wonderful in what we encounter.