I'm Back!

I'm back - and in a number of ways!
I'm back from Israel.
I'm back from University.
And I'm back on the Blog too!

We had a great trip in Israel.
We were there for 9 days and there's no way I can do justice to that trip in only one Blog entry. So for the next few days I plan to write some Blog entries recording my thoughts on our visit to the Holy Land.

It's been a roller-coaster 3 years at the University of Edinburgh.
I've been studying at the School of Divinity and last Friday I was thrilled to take part in one of the University's graduation ceremonies to receive my Bachelor of Divinity degree. I'm grateful to my friend Tim who snapped me in all my regalia!

And finally, the latest news is that the next phase of my training is likely to take place at the linked parishes of Abercorn with Pardovan, Kingscavil, and Winchburgh, in West Lothian.

It's been a long journey over these past four years.
Cramond, Queensferry, London Road, Slateford/Longstone, Dalgety Bay, South Leith.
During each phase I have learned and grown more.
I'm sure that process of learning and growing will continue during the 15 months from September when I will be at Abercorn with Pardovan, Kingscavil, and Winchburgh.

Thanks to everyone who has been part of my journey during the past 4 years.
Here's to the next step on the road!

What to leave behind

I've been packing today.
As if there aren't enough other decisions needing to be made!

But you'll be relieved to hear that the kitchen sink is definitely staying at home.

It's a question that has been hanging in the air since the beginning of May.
At the National Gathering we were thinking about the question 'What could we leave behind?'

In some respects we only need to be ourselves.
In the very first days humanity had nothing.
Even now that's how we all arrive in the world.

In the beginning we were still cared for and provided for.
Then we thought we could do better ourselves.
But we seem to have made a muck-up of it all.

Maybe I should travel light and take nothing.

Well not completely nothing of course.
I would need to wear some clothes.
And you can't get very far without a passport.
And, and, and, ....!

I think it would be too hard these days to take nothing.
But packing up certainly makes you think.

What do I really need?
Who is going to look after me?

Big questions indeed!

Harvesters

I was away at the annual Scottish Harvester's weekend.

There were about 50 guys there, some of whom I knew, and most of whom I didn't.
But we had a great time together, encouraging each other, making new friends, and seeking the way forward together.

On Tuesday I'll be heading out to Israel with some of my fellow university students, and some staff to guide us. We'll be going to Jerusalem for a week and then North to Tiberias for a couple of days.

I'm really looking forward to visiting that place where so much history has happened - and is still happening.

Moving Forward

Today I was told I can move forward.

It was the Annual Review of my training programme.
We had some difficult issues to talk about and I was unsure what the outcome would be.

So I was pleased that my Assessors have agreed that I can move forward into the final stage of the training programme.

They added some conditions that we will need to include leading up to and during my Final Placement. But these are useful and helpful additions with which I am very comfortable.

There is still a long and winding road that lies ahead of us all during this next 18 months. But I am glad I will be able to explore this road and not have to go looking for another road.

Whatever road you are travelling I hope that it brings you joy and fulfilment.

Chips with Everything!

No I haven't been having a blowout at the local chippy!

Today I was visiting a museum with my Mum and my Aunt.
It is the Museum of Communications now at Burntisland.

My father was one of the founding members of the Museum through his friendship with Harry Matthews, the Founder, who was a technician in the Electronic and Electrical Engineering department at Edinburgh University, who started the collection of old communication equipment.

This year the Museum's exhibition celebrates the 50th anniversary of the invention of the Silicon Chip by Texas Instruments back in 1958. The exhibition is entitled "Chips with Everything! - 50 Years of the Silicon Chip". You can read more about it here.

The Museum is open to the public Wednesdays and Saturdays from 11am to 5pm until September 13th, at 131 High Street, Burntisland, KY3 9AA. And it's only £3 adult, £1.50 child, £8.50 family.

It was great to see the wide range of electronic equipment on show. They even had my Dad's kitchen radio on display! And I spotted the matchbox-sized Sinclair Micromatic - one of which I tried to construct as a teenager. It didn't work (my mistake!) and I had to buy a factory-made unit. It was not long before I lost it - it was too small. I think Apple are onto a winner with their iPod Shuffle unit. It's even smaller than my old radio and no doubt users will need to replace it frequently!

They had old computers, and new computers too. It was amazing to see a 12" silicon wafer containing 100s of chips all manufactured together.

Sometimes we seem to have come so far from the first transistor radios to today's MP3 players, mobile phones, and laptop PCs.

Yet despite the changes in technology and society of the last 50 years, as people we remain exactly the same as we have always been. Capable of amazing feats of skill, talent, and effort, yet also fragile, vulnerable, and ultimately mortal.

In all our amazement at what we can do, let us remember what life is all about.

Beautiful Animals

I was at Edinburgh Zoo today with my Dad's sister and we enjoyed looking at all the beautiful animals. My aunt had not been there for 40 years despite growing up almost next door.

Of course our appreciation of the beauty of animals was tinged with sadness at their captivity. Animals should really be free to roam in their natural environment. But Edinburgh Zoo does a good job, as do many others, in promoting and supporting the conservation of animals in the wild.

As well as the captive breeding of species that are endangered in the wild, Zoos give people an understanding of the beauty and diversity of this planet's wildlife that stimulates support for other wildlife conservation charities too.

Sometimes we are tempted to think that only humans have any value in this world. Although some people seem to turn values upside down when they endanger human life in order to promote the welfare of animals. And I don't understand those anarchists who release captive animals from Zoos and other animal parks resulting in hazard to human life, and animals with no idea how to live on their own starving to death, or causing chaos amongst local animals.

But I suppose we do see in our so-called civilised society that some people have no respect or consideration for other people. Some would argue that humans should naturally care for each other. But evolutionists would argue that humans are the result of millions of years of survival of the fittest and therefore we should compete with each other rather than support those who find just staying alive to be a struggle.

The animal keepers at the Zoo respect and even love the animals in their care. The creator has given us that desire to care for the planet and to care for each other.

Our ethic should be more than merely doing to the other what we would want them to do for us. Loving animals and people requires us to put their benefit before our own wants and desires.

Someone once said, "The greatest love is shown by those who lay down their life for their friends." He also said, "Love your neighbour."

Who is your neighbour?

Labyrinth

This evening I was walking a labyrinth at The Halls in Leith.

The labyrinth is printed on a 35-foot diameter circle.
So the distance from the edge to the centre is only 17 feet.
But the wending winding route is many hundreds of feet long.

It reminded me of the journey I am travelling.
I can see where I want to go.
But it is a long route to get there.

There are many turns and twists and unexpected surprises.
One moment you are walking beside someone else.
And the next moment they are on the far side going in the opposite direction.

It was great to reach the centre and spend some time in thought and thankfulness.

There were many people there and soon the centre became crowded.
The labyrinth only has one path so the exit route is the reverse of the way in.
Frequently you meet someone coming in the other direction and have to pass each other by briefly stepping off the path before returning to the route.

It was good to share in the discipline of walking the labyrinth.
It would have been easy to walk to the centre and back to the edge.
But following the labyrinth routes gave us time and space to step away from the demands of everyday life. Instead we were able to focus on the centre of life. What life is all about. Where we had come from and where we were going to.

I have enjoyed my journey through life to this here and now.
I have passed through many places and met many people.
And no doubt there will be many twists and turns on my route ahead.
And many people to meet with, enjoy their company, and pass on.

I think that's one of the attractions of the Labyrinth.
It reminds us of our journeys towards the centre of all life.

Rest and be Thankful

It's good to rest for a day.

Time just to be by yourself, or with family or friends.
Space to renew one's energy and enthusiasm.
Opportunity to consider life and what it's about.

In today's manic world it's hard to stop.
Our lives are full of bulging To-Do lists, overloaded Inboxes, piles of paper, undone chores, and neglected friends.

If we stop and rest then we feel like we are wasting time.
None of our pending tasks are getting done.
The lists are growing while we look like we are avoiding our duties.

But it seems to me that life is more about being than doing.
If we fill our lives with doing then we'll miss out on being.

In olden times a shepherd asked God what his name is.
And God replied 'I am'.
It's the same verb as 'being'.

When people want to know more about you how often do they ask "What do you do?"
Or when you are introducing yourself you tell people what your job is.
How often do you reply to the question "Who are you" with your job title rather than your name?
And if you have no job then it can feel that you are nobody.
When we are unemployed it can seem like life has become meaningless.

But who you are is more impotant than what you do.

That was one of the pieces of Good News that Jesus brought.
You are one of God's creations and he wants you to be his child.
What you do is far less important than who you are.

On the road from Loch Lomond to Inverary the old military road travels along the flat floor of Glen Croe and then rises up very steeply at the head of the valley. It was such an arduous climb that the section of road gained the name 'Rest and be Thankful', recorded on a memorial stone in 1753 by the soldiers who built the road.

It's not such a bad slogan to adopt ourselves.

Rest and be Thankful!