Keeping on the Rails?

It is two and a half weeks since my last post -- and I have been very busy.  I ache a bit more, feel  I am not quite so mobile as I was, but I am in very  good spirits.   

Just in case you haven't picked it up -- it is my intention to retire from full time stipendiary ministry at the end of September, and thereafter to do what I can on a self supporting basis. The bishop has very kindly agreed to give me a Permission to Officiate license, which means I can carry on doing various work, but not in Ollerton or Boughton.  I have some plans, but until I get the pension in place, these just remain on hold.  It will just be good being able to do what I want, and indeed what other people want of me, without compulsion of knowing it has to be done -- and if I don't feel so well, then I can put my feet up and rest.

Sue and I will be living in Rainworth, in Mark's house, and we are looking forward very much to this new chapter in our lives. Sue will continue to work in the post office at Bilsthorpe.

 Quite a bit as happened since my last blog, and I have now taken to writing reminders as I go along, so you don't miss any exciting moment of my life!

So where was I?  Oh yes, in Salisbury, and that is where I shall pick up the story again.  I did have a great time in Salisbury, not just the niceness of being there, and with Martin, but also the spiritual refreshment.

On the evening following my last posting, I went to a Healing service in Salisbury Cathedral – Healing and Communion.  I suppose if I'm honest I have always been a little bit wary of Healing services because of the implications that if God can heal, what is he saying to those faithful people who don't get better or even worse.

But to this service I went, along with my slight cynicism, and not only did I feel a total spiritual refreshment, I did something that I have never done before -- I went forward to have hands laid on me, and then went forward to be anointed.   And I am very pleased I did.

I am even more convinced now that God doesn't choose to heal some people and not others, rather he uses us as we are to reach out to other people, through us and our situations. In other words God doesn't will us to be ill/sick or whatever, but he make sure he is with us in our struggle and suffering, and can speak to us and to others through it.

Still thinking about Salisbury Cathedral, I was fascinated by the collection of people who came to the different services we attended each day. Again those of you who know me well know that I am a bit of a "people watcher" and there was one lady who came on the first two mornings  to morning prayers/Communion who had got a lovely voice, but wore trousers which I didn't feel suited her very well or brought out her full feminine charm.  

I was horrified on the third morning when she arrived at the early morning service in her working clothes -- this lady was the Dean of Salisbury Cathedral, and one of the most senior woman priests in the Church of England.  I have had a great laugh since thinking about my looking at the back of this woman, and particularly her trousers, without knowing who she was. I hope that if she ever reads this she also will see the funny side, meant only against me, as I mean no disrespect or hurt.

That same early morning service was led by the Bishop of Salisbury. He also had a wonderful voice, and I had met him 25 years before when I went to visit Lincoln Theological College as a potential student, where he was a tutor.

Also at that service were loads of archdeacons -- there was an archdeacons conference going on in Sarum College at the time we were staying there. 

After the service we went back to the college for breakfast and were joined by the archdeacons and by the Bishop of Salisbury.  I was pleasantly surprised when the bishop came and sat with Martin and I for breakfast and started talking to us.  I told him we had met before, and he confirmed that he was on the staff at Lincoln Theological College 25 years ago, but before I could get much more out he asked me was an archdeacon. 

Now for those of you who don't know what an archdeacon is, he or she is a senior priest, who has a role in supporting/administering several priests and parishes in their care, but also being an implementer for the Bishop.  Now fancy me being mistaken for an archdeacon!  But when I told him I wasn't an archdeacon, he got up and went, saying a very politely he was only talking with archdeacons!

So that was really it for Salisbury until next time.

Speaking with my priest friend Kathryn about my blogging when I got back, she did say to me how freer they had become since my sabbatical had ended. I did quiz her further, hoping she wasn't saying that the posts during my sabbatical were poor, and now a little better, to which she got annoyed with me.  But I do know from quite a few people have said to me I have been more honest and open and real since my sabbatical finished.

Last week I had a great day out with my eldest son Daniel, grandson Harrison, and grandson Callum when we went to RailFest 2012 in York. I had invited all the family to come with me, but none of the females wanted to. Their loss, I say, as it was a most wonderful day.

We saw many steam engines, along with modern locomotives and trains. We rode on several trains, and I even met some people who remembered my  relative George Davies who had been involved with the Bahamas club at Dinting in the 1960s, and then went to work for the painter David Shepherd running the East Somerset Railway for him, and who then died in the mid-1970s.

I was greatly encouraged to go to RailFest by the husband of one of my nieces, who said what a wonderful day they had had when they went. He did add a further comment that there were some very strange people there! I thought to myself surely not, but there were -- only to realise that indeed with my cameras round my neck and my added energy (as much as my leg would allow) I was one of those strange people as well.

Last Friday I had two trips to Kings Mill hospital -- one for the feet and then four hours later, a breathing test. I had to have a reading of my lung function so that if and when I start this new drug, they can monitor progress particularly as one of the side-effects involves the lung function.

The seven days since my hospital trip has seen me quite busy on parochial matters. A youth group to run, where young people seemed to run riot this week, residential homes to visit, and even one of those saw the elderly residents in a very stroppy mood.   Then there was Deanery Synod, which on this occasion was led by our Bishop, and to add to all the other routine jobs, I have had several funerals, as indeed I have this coming week. I also had an excellent morning in the Dukeries college, and I absolutely love engaging with the students -- this time they were trying to get to grips with what Christians think about abortion.

Last Monday had a great day off -- went to Harrogate. I love it, but I always have a laugh to myself because when my parents used ago when I was a teenager, and they always seemed to be there, I used to dismiss it as a place only where old people go. Now I have fallen in love with it -- and especially Betty's tearoom which I always head for.

In Betty's tearoom this time, Mark Kathryn and I got into a long and deep discussion, whilst eating and drinking our Earl Grey tea and cream scones, about becoming who we truly are. About how we go through life hiding much of our true self, and yet in that true self the image of God is waiting to be displayed to the world in a slightly different way than as at the present. We tried to link this with our understanding of Trinity, unsuccessfully, but went on to find ways as to how we can unlock the potential skills and gifts which are hidden in this unseen side of us.

There were two very nice ladies sitting at the next table to us, trying desperately to let us think that they weren't listening to us, but being very unsuccessful in an attempt. I really hope they did understand what we were saying!

Two other brief things from last Monday -- I enjoyed sitting watching the birds feed in the garden -- oh dear I hear myself say, but I really did.   Also Mark kept singing to me "one day at a time sweet Jesus".

For those of you who know me well, you will know I am not very patient and am always looking forward and planning for the future. It may be that a future which consists of a new and exciting ministry, but based on one day at a time ministry, that I have to learn the words to that song from myself, and apply them to myself.

One last thought for this time -- I had a very interesting discussion on the Tuesday with my curate Caroline, and we had a very long discussion about faith. We were talking about certainty of faith and doubts of faith, and how the two are/can be related. We came to the conclusion that faith which is never challenged, questioned, doubted, or simply stagnates, is no real faith at all.

My experience is the more challenges and questions you ask about it, the stronger and more real it becomes.  But then God is an amazing God.

Thank God!

(I am sorry that this posting is a very long posting, and I'll do my very best next time to post at least once a week)