Mixed bag in recent days

Life’s been a mixed bag of late. On the high side there’s been a number of things.

One being the interfaith prayer service I organised for peace. This was held a week or so ago, actually on the Thursday evening before the worldwide protest marches. This service was purely spiritual. There were no political speeches denouncing anyone or any government. It was simply people of faith and goodwill gathering together to recognise that each of us needs to work for peace in our own lives, and thereby, set an example for others. We had Muslims, Hindus, Zoroastrians, Christians, Bahais, Orthodox, Jews and Buddhists taking an active part in the gathering. Two points touched me deeply. Ther first was the lighting of candles from the World Peace Flame. At the appointed time, people moved through the gathering with candles, from which others were invited to light their own candles. These candles have been lit from the flame of the World Peace Flame. This World Peace Flame was brought together from flames in 5 continents and remains burning as an eternal flame. The initial idea was to use the flame, and candle, and to think of peace each time it is lit, and to carry that peace with you in everyday circumstances. Dru Yoga members do walks across countries promoting peace and helping people in war-torn areas by using yoga therapies to overcome stress and trauma. They have found that the techniques used help people to help themselves to return to a more peaceful and healthy state of life. The second point was the handshake of peace that people were invited to exchange with those around them. People of different languages, creeds, skin colours, ethnic backgrounds, all embracging each other as equals: a true symbol of peace and harmony. Actually, one positive aspect to all this is that we are about to establish an Interfaith Council in the local district in order to establish effective means of communication, to organise events whereby dialogue about our respective beliefs can be discussed and break down barriers, and to set an example for others who seek to divide people and promote xenophobia.

Another high was the first of this year’s pub discussions. The overall aim for the discussions this year is to seek to look at some issues which force people to the fringes of church, and even beyond those fringes. So our first gathering last week explored the notion of the primacy of conscience. The next gathering will explore guilt and it’s impact on our lives; subsequent gatherings will explore the ordination of women, sexuality, the spirituality of young people, and the notion of ‘family’. I chaired the first gathering and, I must say, put in a very polished effort. The two speakers were of excellent quality, the numbers of participants was our second highest, and the discussion was lively.

A high, but also a low, was the visit of Kim. Kim stayed a week with me, which was just delightful. To have such a significant length of time with him, to be able to go on some pleasant drives through the local countryside, to be able to care for him as I would a partner, was bliss. What was the low? It was his farewell visit. He’s heading home to South Korea in just over a week. We both found it difficult to say goodbye and he was visibly sad that our time had come to an end. I hope, if the finances are right, to spend some time in South Korea in October (if not then, then some other time), so I will see him again. For a couple of days I was somewhat lost. Fortunately a couple of funerals came my way which took my mind of things. I’m not saying I was inconsolable or wandering around lost. I certainly wasn’t feeling the grief that I experienced when my time with Xavier came to an end. But still there was a sense of passing, that something significant had come to an end, and that I was going to miss the sense of contentment I felt in Kim’s presence.