Colourful Dreamer

Twenty years ago I was ordained an Anglican Priest by Archbishop Brian Davis in Feilding. 20 years!!!! I struggle to believe it has been that long. 20 years and never a vicar. Is that something to be proud of???? And I have only worn a clerical collar sic times in those years, and not for my priesting either (I did for my deaconing to keep mum happy) Is that something to be proud of? Some reflections: Leadership: It has been a gift to be a priest and yet to spend most Sundays in the congregation. I get a glimpse into both worlds. And the worlds are different. It still amazes me how many clergy think of their parish as “theirs” to do with as they see fit, and then get really surprised when laity get grumpy. We need to find models where lay and ordained are able to work much better together. We need new models of leadership really. Catholic: One of the joys of going to international Franciscan things has been experiencing a more catholic approach to worship, in the sense of being more co...

While I was on Long Island I was re-introduced to Yusuf. I knew his music years ago when he was Cat Stevens. He has now put out another album called "An Other Cup". And it is great. Some of it is like the old Cat Stephens. Some lyrically is deeply influenced by his Islamic faith, and one or two are musically influenced by the Arabic style. It is a joy to listen to. But not so available in New Zealand. You can order it on-line though "Real Groovy". Enjoy.

On Monday I had a basal cell cut out of my head, and have had to take things very quietly so as not to do anything nasty to the stitches. As part of my taking things quietly I watched a DVD of a TV mini-series called Fidel and Che. It was not the greatest thing I have ever watched But two things stood out for me. The first was a a statement at the end of the “movie” by Fidel to America. “Before 1959 your policy towards Cuba was to exploit. After 1959 it was to destroy. Your policy is that American businesses should be able to sell what they like to who they want where they want, with your military backing them up, and the CIA assassinating anyone who stands in their way. And you call this democracy?” It summed it up for me really. And Castro stood strong against that and was determined that Cuba made decisions for Cubans to benefit, and not American businesses. The second was associated with this, and is a warning to anyone in leadership. He became entwined with his vision. It was his...

Again! Who can believe it? Anyway, here are my thoughts about how to win the next world cup: Keep Graham Henry - he is one of our most successful coaches ever Loose every game between now that then so that people don’t pump up just because they are playing the All Blacks Only play if we get real refs and real touch judges - no more people in their first big game who clearly have no idea what a forward pass is, or what a deliberate block is either, come the think of it. Only go if we can play in black. What is it with the silver? What are we, the all silvers??? Give me a break. Give up. We can’t win it. So what??? We are the best team in the world. They can keep their silly little cup. Ours are much bigger anyway.

I have been home a week now. In between meeting with bishops and trying to catch up on sleep, I have struggled to do much, hence the lack of a posting. Anyhow here are some thoughts on New York: I began writing them on the flight home. I was in Union Square, New York a couple of nights ago. It is one of my favourite places in New York. There is always something happening there, always!!!! It is not really glitzy, It is a quite space in the midst of noise and mayhem, of the need to be somewhere. As I walked through last night, there were heaps of couples sitting, talking, kissing, just being together. It was so nice. I missed Bonnie a lot at that moment, but it was nice to see couples being happy to be together. And dispersed throughout these couples were homeless people trying to sleep on the benches. There were others just sitting, students and others reading in the darkly lit area. There is this great mixture of life: love, despair, discomfort, joy, grief, all mixed up in one place. ...

Yesterday was the feast of St. Francis, when we celebrate Francis, and remember his transitus from this life to the next. A few weeks agao I preached in the Bronx on Holy Cross day. I had no idea what that was about. I found out it was when tradition St. Helena (Roman Emperor Constantines mum) found the true cross in Jerusalem, on the site of what is now Holy Sepulchre. In my sermon I talked about how John saw the cross as the point of Jesus glorification, not the ressurection or ascension. I then used Francis and Clare to explore what that might mean. I was amazed at how much of my conversations with Masud informed that. Any way, here are soem jotted thoughts from my notes: Francis and Clare faced their own absolute poverty in the absolute poverty Christ on cross: Only in realising own poverty were able receive great gift of love from God If we do not face own poverty we end up constantly trying do things in our own strength Trying to prove to selves and others deserving we are D...