bus with wifi, return journey

Walking through the hazy refreshing rain, myself and Jack (who was amazing and let me stay over at his student flat) walked to the bus and then to the tube. The rain helped me wake up a little as I made my way across a very busy Monday morning in central London. Eventually I wound up in the London Centre of Spirituality, for the Day on new monasticism.

Gathered in a small room we learned, discussed and dreamed a little.

As the title suggests, a new kind of monasticism is emerging. But, it became apparent quite quickly that even that label doesn’t do justice to what’s actually happening. When it gets down to it, God appears to be calling his people into a deeper and authentically Christ-like discipleship in community with one another, expressing itself – expressing Jesus – to the world in mission and hospitality…

Full of stories, discussion and meeting some very solid people (was awesome to catch up with the legendary Michael Volland amongst others), the day has been tiring but inspiring. I scribbled notes all over 18 pages of my notepad, and am praying that God sifts the load of information gathered today and leaves me with his divine words.

Lots of good. Lots of questions. Lots of unknowns. Lots of experiments. And lots of lots of prayer to be done.

On a personal note, it was a little weird letting people know that in recent weeks I’ve decided to explore the possibility of becoming an Ordained Pioneer Minister – for real this time. This was my final defining moment of the weekend, as we made the hard decision to leave our small home church (sent out like missionaries) to take the next (big) step on this journey.

As I sit on the bus along this bumpy road and contemplate the day that’s just past and the inevitably bumpy road ahead of me, I feel intrigued, excited, maybe a little dubious at some points and also fairly bewildered at the prospect of being more involved with this. Though I draw great comfort from conclusions like ‘it’s all about Jesus and it’s all for Jesus’.

If we get too bogged down with reflection and dreaming, it would be easy to take our eyes of the big picture. The big picture of Jesus and his will, his plans, and his coming kingdom.

I’ll leave with quite a funny but poignant story from an awesomely joyful Nun. She was probing some questions on the sustainability of our communities, and told the story of fellow Sister who had sadly died last week. She had been a nun for over 60 years, and past away peacefully just one day before turning 100 years old! She died quite satisfied though, believing she had actually celebrated her birthday the week before!!