If I Hadn't Known It Was Sunday

I must admit that last Sunday was a strange day. Really, if I hadn’t known it was Sunday, I wouldn’t have actually known it was Sunday. There were none of the usual signs, symbols, or rituals.  There was no indication that it was a sabbath day for the purpose of particular Christian practice.  Well, I guess it was a sabbath of sorts...

It was all set into motion by the fact that we finally moved into our manse in Thatcham on that Friday (August 22).  We joined all of our boxes and suitcases, which had been waiting on us for two weeks, and we began to envision the house for ourselves.  We realized very quickly that we would need to make our first pilgrimage to Ikea.

With no official obligations for the Sunday, we did what was most unusual for us.  We made plans for this side journey and traveled the one hour and fifteen minutes to Bristol (much like the distance between Glenville and Asheville).

We caught our first glimpse of the blue and yellow box building, as we motored along the dual carriageway towards Bristol's town centre.  It was well-positioned exactly as the map indicated, but we could see absolutely no way to access it.  And then it faded into the distance.  (For those of you from High Point or the Triad of North Carolina, it is rather like trying to get to Hanes Mall going east on I-40 in Winston-Salem.  It can't been done easily.)

After a short tour of Bristol, we proceeded onto the carriageway headed in the opposite direction, and once again, we saw the bright yellow and blue in the horizon.  This time an exit appeared, and so we proceeded into the car park.  We happily found a parking space very near the entrance in the designated family parking area (thank you Ikea), and we unloaded, organized, and embarked upon the practices of this particular sabbath day.

Without hesitation, we followed the meticulous directions and fell into line with the thousands of other people on this sabbath journey (yes, thousands and thousands--at least half of south England it seemed).  We carefully let the arrows guide us through the massive showroom--living room to bedroom to kitchen to children's space.

We deliberated, made our decisions, and moved with the masses to the self-service warehouse where we would retrieve our furniture-to-be.  We navigated the trolleys filled with furniture and accessories, the stroller with the two year old, and ourselves to the end of the line.  We followed the final few arrows.  We avoided the last of the crowds.  And we came to the other side of this sabbath day pilgrimage.

It was a very strange day away from the signs, symbols, and rituals of particular Christian practice.  And somehow in the midst of thousands of people in this self-service world, we were really our own little island.  We didn't engage or interact.  We just shopped and shopped.  I guess these are the rituals of an Ikea pilgrimage.  There is no doubt that, if I hadn't known it was Sunday, I wouldn't have know it was Sunday.

At the Altar

We arrived in Sheffield on Monday for the Methodist induction course, which offers an introduction to The Methodist Church for those clergy like ourselves who have other Church affiliations.  This is the first of our official duties since our arrival in England almost two weeks ago.

We are in good company with others from Mozambique, the United States (Oregon and Maryland), England, Gambia, and South Africa.  We have already been enriched by this global fellowship.  In fact, our daughter has become fast friends with the other children from Gambia and Mozambique.  She commented very sweetly this afternoon that she wanted to go and play with her "sister."  (Her little girl heart offers wisdom that seems far from little.)

As we all arrived yesterday (of course after sharing a cup of tea), we gathered together and centered our hearts and lives.  It was a welcome moment when we met one another for the first time at the altar.

We encircled the holy space and, despite the differences, instantly found common ground.  And it was on this common ground of Christ where I was given new perspective in the midst of this new journey.  I experienced several things in and through this worship.

First, I realized that I have very effectively disengaged from community and practices that shape and sustain my life.  On one hand, this disengagement is rather important because my transition out of my appointment necessitated that I find pastoral distance from the church that I called home.  On the other hand, this disengagement propelled me into too distant of a place where I was closed off to the purpose of my life in faith and even to God.  I was in need of a new openness and engagement with my faith.

It was yesterday at the altar where the common ground of Christ gave me renewed faith.

Second, I envisioned more clearly than ever before why I have come with my family to England.  Yes, I have come to experience new culture.  Yes, I have come to seek adventure.  Yes, I have come to reconnect with friends.  But really, I have come to live out active ministry.  I have come by way of God's prompting to offer my gifts in a Church that is unique to me.  I have come because I believe that God will use me and challenge me in new ways to share the good news.

It was yesterday at the altar where the common ground of Christ gave me renewed vision.

Third, I recognized that I have been functioning in a mode of survivalism simply to make it through.  And although this has been somewhat necessary, such survivalism depletes energy and spirit.  I have allowed myself to be depleted by closing myself off for the sake of making it through.  But now, I have caught a fresh glimpse of my deep desire to do more than just survive.  I want to seek life-giving practices that fill me instead of deplete me.

It was yesterday at the altar where the common ground of Christ gave me renewed life.

Renewed faith.

Renewed vision.

Renewed life.

I was offered these gifts at the altar yesterday, and now I am reminded that they will carry me forward.

Holiday Travels

It still remains very difficult to imagine, but we have actually moved to England.  To some degree the reality of it has been softened because we have deliberately used this first week for holiday travels.  Work, schedule, and routine will come soon enough...

Our gracious hosts in Newbury have offered us amazing hospitality, as we wait to move into the manse in Thatcham.   And this gift of space and time has provided us the opportunity to explore.  We have enjoyed the market town of Newbury as our first "home base."  It is well-situated in south England, so we have experienced quite a bit in these early days.

We traveled to Oxford for an afternoon and re-visited Christ Church Cathedral.  We drove into the New Forest as far as Lymington (near to the Isle of Wight).  We spent a day in south Wales, visiting the lovely town of Chepstow.  We explored Chepstow Castle and went into the Welsh countryside for a visit to Tinturn Abbey.  We ventured to London for a morning of play at the Princess Diana Memorial Playground in Kensington Gardens.

Next we will re-visit Stonehenge and find our way through Salisbury before we are off for a three day Methodist Church Induction Course near Sheffield.  So, we are easing our way into life and ministry in England by enjoying some holiday travels.

First Day Fog...

The first day fog extended well beyond the first day...

Following six days in England, I finally feel as though the fog has lifted.  The initial few days brought a delicate balance of new adventures and new challenges, and we have been both excited and exhausted.

We shared the excitement of searching, choosing, and acquiring an automobile, and we may now add Vauxhall to our list of personal vehicles.  The Vauxhall (with four happy passengers) has already found its way to the New Forest and to south Wales!  We have enjoyed most of all the joyful exploration that comes with a toddler and ancient ruins!  And this has opened the door for the promise of many adventures to come!

We endured the exhaustion from toddler jet lag, and now we can say that we have jumped the dreaded hurdle (hence the challenges!).  We faced a few days of early morning bedtimes and sleep deprivation, feeling the temporary strain on the heart and the mind.  But, thank goodness we have begun to claim great victory in a 9:15 p.m. bedtime.  This certainly helps the day to day adventures!  (More about these in coming posts.)

We have come a long way in six days--beyond the fog and the jet lag.  And we have willingly opened our lives up to further adventures and probably further challenges too!

We Have Finally Arrived...!

We have finally arrived...!  Following our transatlantic flight (thankfully with a very agreeable two year old who slept two-thirds of the way), we are now in Newbury, England and have been welcomed very graciously!!

We have learned first hand about the preparations that have been and are being made for us in England, and we are grateful!  Once we have moved beyond this first day fog, we will be able to see the manse that will be our home and will begin to explore the immediate and surrounding areas.

We are happy for the adventure!

We are grateful for the experiences that await!

We have finally arrived...!