Not In A Box

To save money I let my ignorant travel agency choose any cheap hotel in Kuala Lumpur, the purpose of which was to relax and re-orient en route home to Holy Island. The 'hotel' was a dump. I tried Deep Listening and the following came out:

"The room may be dirty but I am here.

The place may be noisy but you are here.

The light switch brackets may fall to the floor but you remain the Light of the World.

There may be no cup, teaspoon or tea bags to go with the kettle, but you still give.

There may be no spare toilet roll and the wifi password may be wrong, but staff can learn.

There may be no swimming pool, just concrete everywhere, but underneath is the soft earth, our common home".

Then I received this prayer from Judy and cheered up:

"And may the sun shine upon you as you leave this Isle of red. May the scent of towering Eucalypt's be ever in your mind. May the dust that brings forth life in the beauty of desert bloom remind you of dear friends, brothers, sisters every one.

Go dear one, with this prayer of blessing... May it linger in your heart. For we thank the God of all the world that you tarried in this place. May each moment in God's presence bring you joy for the days ahead. May each child who smiles, each friend who listens, each bird who's call you hear....take you to the father's heart and meet there with us all."

Maureen, on reading last week's blog about Aboriginal revivals being quenched, wrote this poem which, even though it reflects only her own view, makes a point:

"God spoke in Australia

Revival came and went

People came to tidy God

Where his word was sent

Wesley came to England

Was called at Aldersgate

They tried to put him in a box

But God made him escape

... Aidan didn't have a box

He took folk as they are

He simply shared God's love

And so it travelled far.

Today it travelled overseas"

And Heather from Queensland reminded me of Leonard Cohen's lines

"The birds they sang at the break of day

Start again I heard them say

Don't dwell on what has passed away or what is yet to be.

Ah the wars they will be fought again

The holy dove She will be caught again

bought and sold and bought again the dove is never free.

Ring the bells that still can ring

Forget your perfect offering

There is a crack in everything

That's how the light gets in."