saying goodbye and remembering the good old days

This week I went to Ngatiawa just out of Wellington to participate in the farewell event for Bishop Tom. This particular occassion was for the Young people of the diocese to acknowledge Tom and what he had helped facilitate in this area while he has been Bishop. I was there as a former Archdeacon for young people ( I was 22 when I was made an archdeacon, a world record at that time).

Attending that event raised lots of feelings in me - as with most things, it wasn't all good times and it wasn't all bad either. But what I realised as I listened to the speeches made, was that one leader can make a difference just by being who they are.

He hasn't always been on the good side of youth - but he changed, and that came about because he listened and worked with those who passionately wanted to see change. As a result, the Diocese of Wellington were pioneers in establishing diocesan roles specifically for Youth and Children's Ministry.

I look on with interest to see who is the next to hold the role of Bishop of Wellington. I have heard it said that leaders grow leaders that have similar giftings to themselves. Tom was a permission giver, he believed anything was possible, and he gave you enough rope to potentially fly a kite or tie yourself up in knots. I wonder what gifts the next Bishop will develop...

Preparing for Lent

I rather like Lent. I want there to be a time in my year that encourages me to get back to the essentials of life.  A time of sparceness. A time where prayer, study and worship have majority of my time rather than the dregs.
You might assume that as a priest that is all I do! But just like everyone else, the pressures of everyday life tend to send the message of "urgent"; while the bits that I would say are most important to me - family, faith and creativity - get pushed to the back of the line.
In Christchurch at present there is an added layer of frustration and general grumpiness that is the reality of dealing with earthquake aftermath. For example traffic at the moment is horrific - roads are potholed, or closed off while building work is done. The simplist things don't get done quickly in Christchurch at present - I get stressed just writing that down.
And so Lent is a welcome season for me this year. I'm putting into practice the spiritual disciplines of saying "No", doing daily office more than once a week, and exercising on the cross-trainer in the spare room.
All three of those chosen disciplines are about putting some healthy practices in that benefit me long term and seek to actively fight the desire to be busy yet unproductive.

What about you?  What aspects of your life do you need to be more disciplined about?

2 Timothy 4:9-end was set for morning prayer in the lectionary today, so here is a verse to contemplate and for me to sign off with -

When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments (2 Tim 4:13). See, even Paul suffered from a bit of busy-itis and slipped his house-keeping into letters...