It struck me the other how important the weather is. Whether it’s summer, autumn, winter or spring - it is a shared experience. We can strike up a conversation with complete strangers about the rain; too much -  not enough, or about the temperature; too hot  - too cold or the wind, or the humidity. It is a meeting place of our experiences. And that is important. It seems to me in these somewhat individualistic times we need to have those shared experience even if it is only the weather. We lead (by choice dare I say) very busy lives and I think we can miss the little moments in which we share our lives with each other.

I was thinking about my own life growing us in New Zealand – Weddings, baptisms, 21st were high points in family life. We collectively shared the transitions in our lives. They were shared experiences that were intergenerational and included friends and family. And often neighbours were part of the celebration.

For some church provides that shared experience and I must confess I didn’t understand that until I was in my late 30’s. Until then church was about “what they do at church” and not about church as community. A community in which I am welcomed just as I am, and I am part of a community that offers welcome too.

Community grows when we share our common life together. So thank goodness for the weather  we all share it together and it can begin conversations that can become so much more.

 

 

  I've just had a week off. Part of it was spent with my two sisters and my brother in law at Bowen town Motor Camp at Waihi Beach. It was a great weekend together. I am very grateful that i have family to enjoy good times with - and to share the not so good times as well. One of the highlights was a walk on Sunday morning along the beach and back along the street. There was this amazing street lined with banksia trees and every one of them had a tui singing in it. It was just one of those incredible moments. We kept stopping to drink in the sound. For me it was like the church of creation with the tuis offering back to God the gifts of their song. Fantastic. The weekend was also full of laughter and silly things – important times to share.

 

 On the Saturday night we went out for dinner –my birthday – my choice. I suggested we went to a particular restaurant – my reasoning was it was on the beach and we could enjoy the view while dinning. We all agreed that would be great – none of us taking the time to think that we were going out at night and couldn’t see the sea any way. It struck us all how easy it is to go along with something that sounds right. How many times in history have we gone along with something because it sounded right without critically examining it? – I just very glad I didn’t follow the suggestion – to ring up the sailing club and ask them if we could see the sea from their restaurant if we came for dinner. They would have probably replied yes but only with night goggles.

When I was little I used to go to church with my Grandmother. It was a very serious affair. Hats and gloves: children seen but not heard. Little wonder church and I parted ways when I was about 11 but the great thing was God and I didn’t part ways. And we journeyed together to this place in my life. And proof that God has a sense of humour I am now an Anglican priest. This brings me to a comment made by someone yesterday.” I enjoyed the service it was uplifting and fun”. And then the person said “church doesn’t have to be serious all the time”. Well said that person. Worshiping God is a serious business but we worship God with our wholes self-including the parts that laugh. Jesus loves us - all of us and calls us to be honest in who we are in worship. I was thinking if he didn’t love each and every part of us I probably wouldn’t be here. Reminds me of that really old Sunday School song “Jesus loves me, this I know” I wonder sometimes about those who don’t know.