Monday, February 01, 2010
a piece of a puzzle? (or a piece in a puzzle?)
I start a new job today. After 10 days of settling, being with and around the kids as they start school, it’s my turn to pack my play lunch and head off!
I’ve been in quite a few times already – to use the internet, to gain some role clarity, to attend to some admin things and on Friday, for a staff meeting. But today I start.
On the way through Sydney airport I picked up a piece of a puzzle. It reminded me of this prayer that I wove together. It involves holding a jigsaw piece and considering how;
- each is unique and each is different.
- each is essential. Lose one and the jigsaw will never be complete.
- it is actually up to the Jigsaw Maker to put the puzzle together. That’s the Christian hope. Your kingdom come, Your will be done. We’re puzzle pieces and God is at work putting the puzzle together.
I’ve been part of a puzzle at Opawa and in New Zealand and among the Baptist family. Now, in the strange twists and turns of God, I’m in South Australia and among the Uniting family.
Today I’m holding my piece and praying this prayer, slightly adapted, by Nakatenus, 17th century priest).
God of Christ Jesus, the task of loving every neighbour as we love ourselves has become too big for us. The world is now too small, it’s population too large, the burden of its evil and misery too enormous. Therefore we pray to you for common sense. Let each of us be ready to do what can reasonably be done, play our piece in your puzzle, and leave you to put the jigsaw together. Amen.
I hope your first day on the job goes well. Your previous post on Fr. Bob reminded me of much that is missing in many Australian Churches – earthiness & humour. Church in a country like Australia, which embraces friendship (mateship) and a certain ‘lightness’ with serious things, can be amazingly sterile, passionless, dour & serious. I hope you can help, even in a small way, reflect back to us what we have lost or, perhaps, never have embraced – Australian ways of being church.
Comment by Chris McLeod — February 1, 2010 @ 2:44 pm