see-through faith

Those of you who are familiar with facebook will know the concept of poke – or nudge – but have you ever thought of that as a tool God uses?

Nudge is the title of Leonard Sweet’s latest book, and I just had to write about it. (I will in due course write a fuller review for B&B Media who kindly gave me the book, but first I want to savour it – which is in line with the author’s wishes himself

There is no speed reading in art. When it comes to appreciating any work of art, you need to slow down, stare at it, and silence your soul … which is another way of saying that you need to look at God’s participation in the universe, not yours …

I bring all of these together in certain personal rituals. Here are a couple of examples from my reading life. Every few months, instead of speed-reading, I try to read a book like I would want my books to be read: slowly, every word, almost devotionally. In the Great Books Seminars I conduct … we try not to consume a book. We try to receive it as a gift and let it call to us. Every book issues a call. Hearing that call is another way of talking about reading, and answering the call is how you allow the boo to change you. And those boos that have changed me the most, I reread every couple of year. Many books are readable; only a very few books are rereadable. C.S. Lewis said if you have read a great book only once, you haven’t read it at all.

Most of you know that I’m a bookcrosser. I love reading and I have learnt to love giving away books too.The spirit of bookcrossing  lies in the fact that most books are not re-readable. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with them, but simply that there are many other books out there.  So, rather than books you have read (but are unlikely to re-read again) gathering dust on your shelves and taking up valuable space in your home … Bookcrossers let their books go. I embrace that.

But, (there’s almost always a but!) there are some books (novels as well as non-fiction) that I hang on to. Nudge is almost certainly doing to be one of them. I know I’m going to read and reread this book again and again.  It won’t be going anywhere for a long time, other than on loan (to responsible friends who return books!) Why? Because it’s good, very good … there’s so much in it … and it is challenging me in a good way.

The essence of Sweet’s book is that God is intimately involved in the lives of us all – the saved /unsaved or believers/not yet believers if you prefer. He argues that by sharing a hug, offering to pray for someone or enjoying a meal with friends (for example) are all opportunities that become active encounters with the living Christ. If we allow them to that is.

More to follow

Trying a spot of creative writing today. It’s all because of bookcrossing. Well sort of. Actually a few weeks ago my creative juices got going and I wrote an imaginery letter in the days of John Wesley.  I really enjoyed writing that and something was re-born in me.

And now I’m doing a silly little story about a missing pair of shoes turning up in Finland. Not sure what will come of it … but it’s fun to be doing something new.

Let God move you from captivity to celebration was the message bishop Zevi gave here in Finland last night.

He’s a dynamic speaker from Nigeria. More than that Zevi is a man who loves God and on whose heart God has put Finland. I am not sure how many times he has visited this nation, but I’ve been priviledged to hear him speak on several occasions including in the local methodist church because two of our former pastors invited him to share God’s heart with us. On every occasion I’ve come away blessed but challenged in a good way. I’ll never forget him bursting into ‘God rest ye merry gentlemen’ in the late spring one time, and his preaching on the need to come down from the mountain into the valley too. Best of all was his thoughts on ‘pressed down and running over’

Last night’s messages (my friend and I had thought it was one meeting at 4pm, but it turned out to be two with coffee in between)  were a message of hope to the people of Finland, and Zevi radiated with the glory of God as he delivered the message.  The meeting was  hosted at Toivo (hope) II over in Kaskenkatu/Itäinenpitkäkatu, which I’ve never been to before, and it was encouraging (for me) to see so many older people being challenged and transformed by the message that God really does have a good plan for our lives.

I am so glad I went!

The winter here in Finland is always long. This year has been easier in some ways because there’s been so much snow (and therefore it’s been brighter) but nonetheless it’s easy to become depressed and discouraged because of the lack of light. I think that’s one reason why messengers like Zevi are so needed here. Last night he preached firstly about moving forward with God (and not being held back) …reminding us that the Israelites were trapped by the Egyptians and the Red Sea, only to see Almighty God part the sea and destroy the Egyptian army until it ‘was no more’. (The second meeting was about anointing but I’ll write a separate post about that)

I loved the way Zevi used the Gospel reading of Jn 5:1-14 (the miracle at the pool of Bethsida) to show how Jesus left the feasting to minister to someone in captivity. That man had been waiting for a miracle at the pool for 38 years and his plea for help had been rejected time and time again. Zevi made the interesting point that Bethsida had lost its power ‘just like some Christian churches today’ and that it only changed when King Jesus stepped in. His message last night was an encouragement to us all to let Jesus back in, and allow Him to take charge of our programme (including in the church but also in our own lives)

It gave me pause for thought.
What have I not surrendered to God that I ought to have?

What I also found interesting what Zevi’s take on the man, who having been healed, picked up his bed started to walk home. … only to be challenged by the Pharisees. “Mr Man. What are you doing? Don’t you know it’s the sabbath? Go back to where you came from!” They would have sent him back to captivity but his response was that he was not going back, he was moving on! Only moments before Jesus had held out His hand to pull him from the pit and put a new song in his mouth and a spring in his formerly crippled step – and that has to be a challenge for us today too. To take the hand He is extending to us and allow ourselves to be pulled out of the miry pit (be it pulling us out of winter depression, a crippling disease, an abusive situation, loss of hope or whatever it is that binds us).

Zevi’s message was that God will restore the strength that has been sapped and that that is a cause of celebration. To that I can only say ‘Amen!’

I have found that turning 50 has been a lot of fun.

A couple of weeks we had a really cool potluck party for me at home in Turku. I loved every minute of it – celebrating this milestone with friends and family.

Then I left for the UK … my friend took me to see Les Miserables in London which was unbelievably great. I was literally spell-bound. Then  my birthday celebration became part of a thanksgiving supper up in Derbyshire. And I also got taken out to dinner and to the theatre again by my Godson´s father on my return to London. I´ve felt thoroughly spoilt.

I´ve been in Tenerife for a week now and it´s been great. The original plan was to celebrate my 50th with both DD´s and TS´s Godmothers (both of whom were my best friends at uni more than 30 years ago) sadly DD´s Godmother couldn´t make it – but we´ve had a great time anyway. On Sunday (my birthday proper) I woke up to an apartment decorated FAB AT FIFTY (Thank you S) we drove up Mt Teide and then took the cable car to almost the summit (not quite in the crater) and hiked down. 5 hours. It was gloriously sunny and we both enjoyed it immensely. We were too tired to eat out that night so postponed it until Monday – when we went to Tipsy Terrace in Los Gigantes where a singer from the west end (London) who had had the lead role in Les Miserables was singing. It was marvellous.

Yesterday (Weds) we rescued two ladies from England who got stranded up this end of the island by the bus strike – drove them down to Playa de las Americas (1 hr drive) and walked the promenade there which was nice. And today I´ve walked the masca gorge as part of  a guided tour. It was a lot more demanding than I expected. 4 hour clamber rather than a walk – mostly down hill – but over huge volcanic bolders. We came back to Los Gigantes by boat – and I dashed off to the pool immediately in order to stretch those muscles. I think I´ll struggle to walk tomorrow.

Tomorrow TS´s godmother goes back to Yorkshire and my friend from London arrives. We´ll be staying in a more touristy area (Los Christianos) and I am really hoping for more time by the pool with my books. This week has been more active than I expected. But I´ve been having a great time.

What a night!

Last night about 50 friends turned up to our home to celebrate my 50th birthday and it was wonderful.  I value time with people- and last night while I couldn’t spend that much time with everyone I also got a huge kick out of seeing different friends of mine interact and new friendships get forged.

Mostly people respected the fact that I didn’t need presents – I really meant it when I said that the best gift of all was popping into the party – but a couple few also risked my wrath (grin) and brought gifts that were really a celebration of our friendship. I have been so touched also this morning as I’ve opened some of the beautifully wrapped packages!

These birthday celebrations will go on for some time yet. As you know I’m being taken to see Les Miserables in London next Thursday – my Godson’s dad will also come down to London the following weekend and we’ll go out to the West End again, and the Ladybirds (English speaking women’s group) have got together to take me to see the live screen performance of Terry Pratchett’s at the end of January. My friend from Cliff college will be over then and will jioin us. Wonderful.

Amongst the wonderful gifts was a small booklet from some friends – on each page one of them had invited me to do something with them at a date of my choosing. There’s a homemade lunch with two of them, and a day in Ekenäs with another, and a wonderful chance to hear a friend sing on her new CD as well. Wow.

As I wrote eija drove all the way here. And another friend surprised me by driving in from Espoo (and went back the same night) … another absolutely awesome surprise was a young woman (who is like a daughter cum little sister/big sister to me/DD) flew in from Sweden. I haven’t seen her in a couple of years and the girls in the church managed to keep it a surprise. Incredible! What a super present.  In that small booklet Em had invited me for a catch-up coffee – we already booked it for Monday morning … and it’s going to be fun.

I could write so much more. But words fail me. I am so blessed and at the end of the evening (two hours after the party should have ended) a group got together and prayed for me. What friends God has given me – from all kinds of backgrounds and cultures and language groups – with different interests and personalities – and together they (many of them)  came together to make a huge part of the jigsaw puzzle that makes up my life.  It’s not the whole picture of course – some dear friends were not able to visit yesterday – but they are still in my heart and that’s what really matters.

Photos to follow

It’s no laughing matter. I suffer (a bit) from Seasonal Affective Disorder (otherwise known as SAD) and this year it seems to have hit fast. Being tired exhausted after all the work with the puppies won’t have helped, but the usual measures to combat SAD (prayer, vitamins, walks in the middle of the day, intentionally keeping up face-to-face relationships etc etc) are taking an awful long time to kick in this autumn. It’s leaving me drained – overly emotional – craving sweet things,  even more tired than would be expected and generally fed up.

I am sitting here this morning writing under the power of a light therapy lamp. It seems crazy when the sun is shining outside but I know I need this. I really want to avoid going onto anti-depressants again (managed ok without them last winter which seeemed a major victory) so your prayers would really be appreciated.

That said, I’m looking forward to walking the dogs in the middle of the day – and enjoying the autumn colours. And I keep up the swimming (though yesterday we swam indoors) because exercise really helps to fight off the winter blues too. First though I need to get cracking with my thesis again this morning.

God is good, but SAD sure makes the days greyer than they really are. And just for the record I hate it.

We are very proud of you!

Photos to follow (I hope)

Lorna I know you don’t like unexpected surprises – but here’s one for you anyway.

I took your cliff photo and turned into a new banner image for you – yes, without asking you first. If you don’t like/want it the old one can be brought back easily. I just thought it was time

-e-

A few days ago a friend wrote this

Lorna … We are both waiting for the longer days… Isn’t it cool that the darkest day falls on the fourth advent. The true light shines through any darkness!

That thought captivated me and I found myself singing the Graham Kendrick song Shine Jesus Shine (one utube version here)

And I had a real incarnational moment when contemplating this.

By the blood may I enter the brightness,
search me,
try me,
consume all my darkness.
Shine on me.

DD and I get to celebrate the fourth Sunday of Advent with this dear, dear friend.  A friend who, so often, is that bright line shining in our lives and who fans our faith back into life.  What a sister-in-Christ!

Today is the shortest day of the year here in Finland, but we know that the darkness cannot defeat Christ. He is the light of the World and in Him there is no darkness at all. Whatever more He always overcomes the darkness. So shine Jesus shine, shine on us.

There’s the smell of piparit (Finnish Christmas gingersnap cookies) baking as I write … no, not me !!!

TS and his girlfriend made the dough (from scratch!) last night and are now busy in the kitchen. It’s lovely.

Today is Lucia Day – celebrated with gusto by the Swedish-speaking Finns. it also happens to be hubby’s birthday – so we had a very nice lunch with pork chops (his favourite) and grilled tomatoes. Tomorrow we’ll visit his mum for a birthday tea after church.

One of the things hubby doesn’t much like is the declaration of Christmas Peace which I drag him and the kids to each and every Christmas Eve. It’s tradition. I love it. It’s important to me that we go. ’nuff said.

So imagine my great amusement that he’s been roped in to attending the Christmas Peace blessing of pets at St Michael’s church at 2pm tomorrow afternoon. I promised to accompany him- camera in hand – (grin) I could do nothing less really !!!

Photos (I hope) tomorrow.

The event is being organised by Turun Eläinsuojeluyhdistys ry (Turku’s RSPCA) and the blessing of the animals will be done by the vicar of St Michael’s, Jouni Lehikoinen. There will be police horses and dogs there too – and there will be glöggi (non-alcoholic mulled wine) ja piparia (not the ones that TS and his girl made …) though I do think that these would go down really well don’t you?

Tonight I’m off to the Ladybirds’ Christmas party. I’ve made a bluecheese, celery and apple salad. I’ve heard we’re eating lasagne … and tiramasu (made by our hostess’ son) … hoping the rumours are true! All in all a very festive day!