Midnight Philosophy

I have an oyster shell tied to my bag.

Crazy huh?

In Medieviel times pilgrims who walked the pigrimage to Santiago Compestella in North West Spain would tie scallop shells to their bags to show they were pilgrims.

The idea of pilgrimage really resonates with me. One day, I hope to walk the strange road to Santiago myself, and maybe even make pilgrimages to Rome and Jerusalem too.

Although pilgrims are often on a long journey, the term pilgrimage can also describe a long search, often involving spirtuality. I, therefore, consider myself to be on a pilgrimage, on a journey and a search. It is not a physical journey such as that made my Muslims each year to Mecca, or such as the ones I hope to make to Santiago, Rome and Jerusalem. It is instead a journey within myself, a search for who I am and a journey towards a greater knowledge of God.

I tie an oyster shell to my bag to demonstrate that I am on that journey, that I am a pilgrim in search of more of God. I chose a shell not already identified with any particular pilgrimage, but one that can symbolise my own journey.

The road is long, the path is rough, but every now and again you get to look down, and the view is amazing. I'm moving closer to the sky, day by day. The going is hard sometimes, but as long as I keep on walking, then I'll get there.

Jon x

It started with a coughing ritual in the bathroom each morning...

... it became more regular...

...then the lack of sleep...

... the runny nose...

... the soar throat...

and now...

... THE MILD FLU!!!

I'm still managing to do everything that needs doing, so it's not so bad. I've had a few meetings this week and started going through some policy and procedure type stuff, especially in light of a 'legal and best practice' lecture on Wendesday, which I managed to sniff my way through.

My assignment on Leviticus 4 is coming along nicely and I'm making some real progress and learning a lot. It's been quite suprising and actually really interesting. I've enjoyed this task and it's inspired me to look into these older texts in more depth, rather than using them as a way marker that points to the New Testament.

I will blog again soon, but I have quite a bit to do today and I'm due another coughing fit in a minute...

Jon (and the nasal voice) x x

It's been a while since my last blog so I thought an update on life would be good.

My mum came down for a few days during half term, which was nice. We toured the local area and visited some of the nearby towns. I managed to persuade her that we didn't want to go to the model village.

I hate model villages, for some reason, we British are the only people who seem to build them. We used to go to them a lot when I was a kid, I think my dad enjoys walking around them pretending to be a giant. I remember there being one model village, a model of the village which it was in, which contained a model village, which contained a model village (which contained a model village). I find this concept hilarious. I often wonder that when they build new houses in a village, do they add them to the model village, what about while they houses are being built? Do they have little scaffolding and half built houses? Do the builders swing by the model village at the end of each day to update the model of the house they were working on... The mind boggles.

I had some friends down last week, which was good, we went around Torquay and Paignton and went out for a night. We spent a good two hours in the arcade on Paignton pier and won lots of tickets, but we also came last in a pub quiz in Brixham. We got 14 questions right (out of 50) and 8 of them were from a film round. I'm good at quizzes, but when all the questions are geared for another generation you don't stand much of a chance. We had a laugh though.

We had our church bonfire night, our bonfire was a in an old bin (found by me) and the night was a massive success, we had fireworks and gave away food. The church was packed and it went down a treat. It really felt like, for that night, the church really was the heart of the community. We've already got bigger and better plans for next year. I think the bonfire night (the first major event I've done since arriving) was great fun but also raised the churches image and potrayal in the community.

I've got a busy few weeks coming up, with lots of college assignments looming and lots of work at my placement, but things are really exciting and going really well. Thanks to everyone who has sent me messages and comments and things on facebook and the like. It's great to hear from people. I find it a little irritating how some people can't make the effort to say hello or reply to comments and things, but I'm sure I'll catch up with these people soon. I look forward to going home for a few weeks at Christmas and seeing my friends and resting for a while.

Jon x

When I was eighteen I was mugged. It was a horrible experience, they took the money out of my wallet, my phone and my mp3 player. They knocked me around a little, but I was okay.

The worst part though, was that while I was there on the floor, someone walked past.

They saw me, but did not find it necessary to do anything about it, they did nothing. They viewed me so lowly that they did nothing to help me. They looked upon me as if I was less than them.

And that hurt.

In Luke 10, Jesus tells a similar story. An expert in the law comes up to Him and asks what he should do to gain eternal life. Jesus asked what the law said. The man said, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your mind and all your strength and Love your neighbour as yourself.' Jesus agreed with the expert and said, 'That is right'.

Then the expert asked, 'Who is my neighbour?'

This isn't an idle question, this issue was hotly debated. The details of the law had been debated by the Jews for centuries.

Jesus replies with a story.

A man was walking from Jerusalem to Jericho and was set upon by a gang of muggers, who took all he had, stripped him of his clothes and beat him half to death and left him. Then a priest walked past, saw the man and hurried on by. He was followed by a Levite, who worked in the temple, who saw the man and hurried on by.

And at this point, you need to ask yourself why they would walk by.

The Jews had all these laws about cleanliness, about what was clean and unclean.

For example, if you touched a dead body, it made you ritually unclean.
Or if you got blood on your hands.
Or if a man saw another man's nakedness.

And what would happen if you were made unclean? You would have to go through a whole host of complex cleaning rituals before you could enter the temple, where both of these men worked.

And so this man, by the side of the road, is a big heap of unclean.

And the expert in the law would have been well aware of this.

Jesus is making an important comment here.

Is He saying that it is more important to love your neighbour than to stay clean?
Is He saying that it is more important to love your neighbour than to keep the law?
Is He saying that it is more important to love your neighbour than to stick to all this religious stuff?

Jesus' emphasis is on the heart, not the law. On the relationship, not the ritual.

Jesus is talking about getting down in the dirt with the unclean and becoming unclean in the process. He's talking about a whole new way of doing things. He's talking about a church that isn't shaped by rules, regulations, rituals and our set ways, but a church that is a dirty, messy church full of the unclean.

Because that is exactly who Jesus dealt with, the people on the fringes of society, the unclean. He put a face to the faceless.

Then this Samaritan walked past.

A Samaritan?

Those despised people? Those great enemies of the Jews?

Surely he won't...?

The Jews had this joke that went something like:
'Why do Samaritans always wear hats?'
'To hide their horns.'

And this despised Samaritan. This unclean man didn't see a big heap of unclean by the side of the road, but he saw a human being. He didn't look upon him like he was worth less but he went over, bent down, picked this man up off of the floor and treated his wounds.

Jesus was making a very clever references here, four of these phrases Jesus used would have struck a chord with the Jewish listeners.

'Saw'
'Felt compassion'
'Went'
'Lifted'

All four of these phrases appear from the story of the baby Moses, who is floating down the Nile in a basket, because his mum was trying to hide him from the Egyptians, when Pharaohs Daughter 'sees' him, 'feels compassion' and sent a servant who 'went' over and 'lifted' the basket.

Now, Pharaohs daughter was an Egyptian, another people group the Jews despised.

Do you see a pattern here?

Two sets of despised people who, by ignoring the Jewish cleanliness laws are helping their 'neighbour' and doing the right thing.

And, if you go back to the original question, on their way to gaining eternal life?

Jesus is making a huge radical comment about how God is for more than just the Jews.

He's also slating the laws that get in the way of people getting to God.
He's slating tradition.
Religion.
Ritual.
All of the things that get between people and God.

And instead he's promoting people.
Unclean,
dirty,
messy,
naked,
bleeding,
people.

People in need of a saviour.

People in need of a neighbour.

And He's calling us to lay aside our religion and ritual and to be a church shaped for them out there.

A church full of unclean, dirty, messy, naked, bleeding people.

Another busy week is drawing to it's conclusion.

Lectures have been awesome this week and really relevent to where I'm at in my placement, so that was pleasent. I've met some really interesting people lately when I've been wondering around, which has been good fun.

I also got to hung out with the guys from my course and had one of the best nights out I've had in ages!

I'm about to have a brief meeting then I'm off, only to retun in three hours for youth club. I'm really looking forward to club tonight, it should go down a storm, I hope so anyway.

I'm looking forward to my mum coming down to visit me for a few days next week, that will be good.

Incidently, a 'northern' girl (she claims she's from 'the middle') twice told me she wanted to punch me on Wednesday night. I don't think my jokes/stories are that bad. (Big thanks to Ian and Carl for telling me the Purple Cloud and Lighthouse stories by the way!) These 'northerners' are a violent bunch! However she liked cricket so I let her off.

I guess that is all for now.

Jon x

Let me tell you a story...

There was this guy, he was about sixteen and one night at a party he met this guy who was wearing a big blue and white jesters hat. He told him that he was 'The Cosmic Fool' and that it was his job to restore balance to the universe, and the hat was what gave him the power to do this.

The pair of them sat outside whilst the 'Cosmic Fool' explained that the universe had become quite a depressing place, what with war, famine and strife. Our friend and hero could believe this, he'd seen the news, and it was all bad. The 'Cosmic Fool' went on to explain that it was more than this, that all of the pressure of being human of surviving in this dark universe and of having to trample on other people (war, famine and strife) to get anywhere in life had led to peoples souls becoming sad. The universe was falling out of balance, and nobody knew what would happen if they scales tipped too far.

And so, there was the 'Cosmic Fool' whose job it was to bring joy and laughter into peoples souls and teach them how to live in peace and without treading on other people. The 'Cosmic Fool' had the job of humbling himself to the lowest level, to that of a jester, to ammuse and entertain, but also to teach people how to live again, how to experience the goodness in the universe. To take risks, to make fools of themselves in order to return the balance to the universe. To make the 'verse a less serious place, a place that was more free.

The 'Cosmic Fool' sighed a wistful sigh but smiled a warm smile. He took of his hat and explained how it was the source of a fools powers, that it had the magical ability to make people smile, to break the coldness in peoples hearts and to start conversations. He told the boy that this was just the start of the hats powers and only now, after years in service, was he beginning to understand it's true nature.

The 'Cosmic Fool' then placed the hat on the boys head and said, 'You are already free from many of the stresses and battles of this world, you are the perfect one to continue my work.' As the hat settled on the boys head the 'Cosmic Fool' began to fade away into the ether. The boy felt a warmth inside himself and a smile rose to his lips as he re-entered the party. People saw him and smiled and he began to tell jokes, jokes and stories he'd never been told, he began to dance and sing and laugh and bring joy to the room. The boy had become the 'Cosmic Fool' and knew he was charged with restoring balance to the universe. And so his lifes work began.

And I am that boy.

Jon =] x

So, during one of my various walks around the bay, I met this guy.

Interesting character, sat on some steps with 6 bottles of Tesco value sparkling water, pooring one bottle into his shoe. It was a hot day, I suspect it was to cool his feet rather than as a substitute for a cup.

I said hello, nice day, how you doing, and all of that.

Then I sat down and he told me about this girl he knew and how one day she'd be really into him and the next she would avoid him. From extreme to extreme, from 'we should get married and move abroad' to not saying a word to him.

He told this story and asked my advice, I responded with a story of my own and told him what I would do.

So there we sat, two strangers on some steps on the side of a cliff, overlooking the beautiful bay, swapping stories and offering advice. He seemed like a pleasent chap, and he said the same about me.

Then he said something strange, he told me he'd had an encounter with aliens.

An encounter with aliens?

How do you respond to that?

This, otherwise, entirely rational person starts talking about aliens.

So I humour him and listen to his story.

But what if is is true?

I've never made a decision on my beliefs in the whole 'is there life out there' thing. I'm definitley still a sceptic. But I won't rule it out, and I won't automatically change my beliefs based on one conversation.

I think the only way I'd know for sure is if a little green man walked into my office and said, 'Hi Jon, come fly in my ship with me.'

I'd go, by the way, I know his/her/it's intentions might not be honourable, but to fly in a spaceship, with a real alien, you'd have to take that risk.

I always said I wanted to see more of the 'verse.

So, little green people (or whatever size, colour or being you are) if you're reading this, and I know that is fairly likely, then pop into my office and take me for a ride round the 'verse.

Then I can be the 'crazy' person on the steps maybe.

Jon x

I have been busy.

But in between Uni work, reading, sorting the flat, looking after myself, work and a parental visit (with cake!) I managed to find time to go for a walk.

On Wednesday I decided to go for a walk for an hour or so, 5 hours later I got home, having covered about 10 miles. I went along the coastal walk and would get to a headland or high place and see somewhere and think 'I want to get there', get there and see somewhere else I wanted to go. I took some photos and I will post them here when I've downloaded them from my camera. It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining and some of these paths and places reminded me of my holidays in Greece when I was a teenager.

As I said I will post some pictures, because describing the walk wouldn't really do it justice.

As I was reaching the farthest point of my journey, I realised I was getting hungry (having eaten all my packed lunch) and was running out of drink. I headed in land towards some houses and wondered around this little district at the opposite end of Torquay, looking for a shop but none could be found. All there was was big posh houses, a park, and eventually I wound up back on the coast. I managed to get full on lost and had no idea where I was or even if I was still in Torquay. I eventually got back to Torquay harbour and brought a drink and emergency snack there before heading home for dinner.

I learnt some things on the walk though:

1. Don't look for a shop amongst big houses, there won't be one.
2. Midgets The vertically challenged can play football (quite well too).
3. If you keep thinking, 'I'll just go to the next headland' you'll end up a long way down the coast, having experienced some beauty.
4. But, you will be a long way from home.
5. Take more food and drink.

6. At one point I reached, the point where I turned back and headed home, I reached a high place with views of the next stretch of coastline. I learnt that no matter how far you go, how much you see, how much you know there will always be more. Always.

Jon x

It's a beautiful day to be in the bay, the sun shineth, the waves crasheth gentley into the sand. I'm in my office, drinking tango and cracking on with my to-do list. Today is a productive day, I have lots to get done and am doing rather well so far.

I'm going to head out in a little while and take a walk down to my favourite beach, as a treat for having been so productive. There is a geocache up there as well and I'm going to see if I can find it.

Then I'm off into town to run a few errands.

It feels good to be productive doesn't it? It feels good to get stuff done. To accomplish your goals and know you are achieving something and making progress.

I led a bible study with my youth group the youth group I work with last week on how our job, as 'humans' is to make the world a better place. In big ways and in little ways, whether that is by not dropping rubbish, helping an old lady across the road of flying out to Ecuador and teaching jungle children how to do maths. It all helps to make the world a better place.

We're planning some events to put that into action and I'm really looking forward to it.

Because these little things, these little things that are constructive and do something to make the world better, fairer, nicer or more beautiful. They are little bits of heaven on this earth.

And God knows we need more bits of heaven! What with economy crashes, famine, world poverty and war. Anything we can do to make the world better for someone, somewhere has got to be worth it!

Jon x

Just a quick one before I go home.

It's been a good day. My friend completed a 10k run, complete with being shoved through an underwater tunnel and wading through mud up to his waist. I got to film some of it. Church was good this morning, and I've just been dropped back here (church) to pick up my bike and bits and cycle home.

I'm going to have something to eat and just chill out with my maker.

It's what Sundays are for.

Jon x

P.S. Proper blog tomorrow, promise!