Covid-19 and 2020: Opportunities and blessings (count yours)

How odd life can be - somehow this seems to have been one of the best years ever experienced for so many reasons. Stop to count your blessings; how many are there?

Here's my quick and messy starter with ten blessings:

1.   Stopped care homes but cared in homes.

2.   Took the Word of God (living and written) into peoples homes using technology
      (am I the only one to go, "Oooh, technology!" (in a Homer Simpson voice)?

3.   Got to stream funerals and be creative with way people are encouraged and supported to mourn.

4.   Did virtual military remembrance services (one two at the same time).

5.   Recorded and streamed some services (that said, we've done the majority live)
      This means that at last I can proved I can be in two places at the same time!

6.   Got to shop for people (which we're still doing), started supplying drugs (prescription only, honest
      Occifer).

7.   Had the challenge of three funerals in four locations in one day
      (one church, one burial, two different crematoria)

8.   Was part of pastorally-engaged and effective Church which put aside fees and catered for feelings
      of bereaved and brokenness of our communities.

9.   Managed to continually stream morning and evening prayer, compline, BCP evensong
      (Communion coming) and CW Communion and returned congregations back to buildings.

10. Entered into the world of 'virtual' care home visits where the cleric is passed from one resident to
      the next as they get to spend time with ,e.

The world has become so very different over the past few months - and I thing it is an invitation to blessing and service to me and others around me.

I'm sad at the loss,
                the fear,
                the lack of consideration for others as people fail to protect those around them

Journal: Dying matters Awareness week

What an amazingly immense day spent outside engaging with people as they shopped as part of 'Dying Matters' awareness week. I have had so many conversations with people and taken the opportunity to just 'be' with the people of Tamworth and it was marvellous.

From 10:00 to 16:00 I walked, talked, listened and prayed. I handed out leaflets for a bereavement support group based in St. Martin's (Stonydelph) and conversed with people from St Gile's Hospice   Funeral Directors, and many other people besides.

Back on the Streets on Friday - hoping it stays dry and that I experience more of the same.

There is a real temptation for me to just give up on all the admin and stuff and just soak myself in being out there on the streets - so many needs - and so much joy to be celebrated and made real.

As a society it seems that we don't do death as well as we did. We don't think about it in a healthy way, in fact we rarely think about it unless our mortality (or that of someone we live or know) is threatened. One of the most important roles a cleric has is that of helping people to die well - not a morbid thing, but something of joy and completeness I reckon.

We don't always grieve well either and the spectrum ranges from 'always look on the bright side of life' through to turning the home into a shrine and engaging in a toxic grief that ends normal life for others too. Death is a painful thing, but it is supposed to be and because grief is so often malformed rather than bring healing and a way forward it causes people to revisit the pain with no obvious exit for the roundabout!

So on with the week and the encounters and conversations and the pain of loss and the optimism that a new day brings.

Have I mentioned how much I love this ministry stuff.

Lord, for everything that's been today and all that's before me tomorrow: I thank You.

Dying - in the Ditch

Next week (May 8th -14th) is 'Dying Matters' Awareness Week.

There will be a presence on the streets of Tamworth with representatives from the local hospice and clergy, funeral directors and the like giving people the opportunity to talk about dying, death and bereavement and things that affect them personally.

As part of this we will be launching a new venture: Dying - in the Ditch.

A regular monthly evening in a micro pub where conversations on death, dying and bereavement and some good company are on offer.

Not a 'church' thing but a response to the needs in our town. Something for people of all faiths or no faith.

So if you have a question, a concern relating to death and dying, or have lost a loved one and are seeking answers - or a friend and a safe place - Why not come along?

Monday 8th May - 7:30 pm onwards

The examen revisited

One of the most amazing experiences and one of the most useful aids to ministry came from a course of study in Ignatian spirituality and the 'examen'. I'm revisiting this because I've been asked to by a couple of the people who also engage with the daily Office I plonk on this blog.

The examen is usually a five-part exercise:

i.    Retreat into a space where you and God can get real and lose yourself in His love,

ii.   Pray and reflect on the ways God is to be found in your life,

iii.  Refelect on the day- high, lows and in between and the emotions you experienced,

iv.   Reflect on the things done, said and in the things of the day - did they enhance or diminish the sense of God' presence and blessing for you (and others)?
The coming year.
v.    Focus on the day ahead and ways you and God might be one - in relationship and in making the missio dei real - concluding with the Lord's Prayer.

I do my examen in bed when the house is quiet and I can focus on God and today it has shown me so many areas to be thankful for and highlighted my own fears and insecurities and areas where I need the courage to go forward and the grace to live with others.

The sadness of a funeral followed by our Christmas holiday club set the extremities of today and within them there were chances taken, chances passed by and missed opportunities.

I realise that I am mentally tired and look for the Boxing Day opportunity for some respite.

I recognise the need to do some more study and reflection and to withdraw from the daily round more often and to make more of me more open to the move of God's Holy Spirit.

I pray for those who are wounded by their own folly and by the folly of others, for those who are in need of support and the provision of God's 'Yes' in their lives and for those for whom this will be a tough Christmas through loss and bereavement.

And pray for the new family coming to minister in the Meade Valley - may they be blessed and be a blessing.

Lord, the time is almost here and the stable is waiting - prepare my heart also.