God gets into Everything

•September 23, 2009 • 2 Comments
Air gets into everthing even nothing UGO RONDINONE

Air gets into everthing even nothing UGO RONDINONE

Well I said I’d return to the Beyond Limits Exhibition we went to see on Saturday.

This piece by Ugo Rondinone is called ‘Air gets into everything even nothing’.  That is very true.  There is nothing and nowhere where air does not and cannot get (including if I understand this correctly, a vacuum!)  Everywhere is a possibility for air to touch and be.

This immediately (because that’s how my mind works – “there must be a sermon in this”)  makes me think of God.  There is nothing and nowhere where God cannot and does not get.  Even, or perhaps especially into the bits that we think are empty.

This piece of art is particularly poignant to me.  It is a bare tree.  To all intents and purpose there is no life in it – no leaves, no fruit, just bare sticks.

Yet even in that there is a beauty, when we can get to the place we can see it.  And there is possibility.  Even around the apparent barrenness of the tree the air flows.

Walking back through Chatsworth Gardens we saw this:

IMG_5957I assumed it was put together, intricately crafted to be like that, but when I went over to have a closer look, that was how it had grown.  Such intricate beauty would have been hidden by the leaves, but now it was on show for all to see – and it is stunning.

There have been times in my life when it has felt barren, useless and without beauty – but God has still been there.  God’s love and presence do not depend on our productivity, or how we feel about ourselves – He is just there – always – for us.  However empty and useless we feel, God can still get in.  He holds us and touches our lives.

To quote the prophet Habakkuk, chapter 3:

Even though the fig trees have no fruit
and no grapes grow on the vines,
even though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no corn,
even though the sheep all die
and the cattle stalls are empty,
I will still be joyful and glad,
because the Lord God is my saviour.
The Sovereign Lord gives me strength.
He makes me sure-footed as a deer,
and keeps me safe on the mountains.
“Things” happen in life.  But God is there in it.  God gets into everything – good, bad, indifferent.  He is with us, he holds us, and we can cling to him.
Air gets into everthing even nothing UGO RONDINONE

Air gets into everthing even nothing UGO RONDINONE

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Beyond Limits

•September 20, 2009 • Leave a Comment

As a birthday treat, Mr Pamsperambulation took me to this years Beyond Limits Exhibition at Chatsworth.  It is a bit too much hard work for me to see it all, but fortunately you can take plenty of stops, and in the lovely sunshine enjoy much of it  from sitting down!  For anyone remotely interested in modern sculpture it really is a must visit, and set in the beautiful ground of Chatsworth Garden it comes quite close to heaven on earth – and with a title like ‘Beyond Limits’ it’s got to have something to say.

You may well be treated to some of my further thoughts on some of the exhibits, but just for the moment here’s a flavour with what I think were my two favourite pieces – though it was a tough call!

Ariadna 1 MANOLO VALDES

Ariadna 1 MANOLO VALDES

This immediately struck me – as I said to Mr Pamsperambulation, it’s how my head feels most of the time!!

Mariposas MANOLO VALDES

Mariposas MANOLO VALDES

I didn’t realise at first this was by the same artist, but it speaks to me of a head full of butterflies – what a wonderful thought!

And one of Chatsworth Gardens because I can’t resist it:

IMG_5916

You can also get a picnic box in the gardens – so the coffee and cake criteria is also fulfilled!

So why not step beyond limits – and have a lovely day

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Being the Greatest

•September 16, 2009 • Leave a Comment

When I was a girl, one of the most popular programmes on children’s tv was Record Breakers, with the wonderful Roy Castle. People on that had proved themselves to be their greatest in their chosen talent, be it tap dancing like Roy, or being fastest at something, tallest, or the most of any number of amazing feats (some of which are mentioned in the iconic theme tune!).  People who had worked really hard to excel at something – to be the best.

Being the best is the question at the forefront of the minds of Jesus’ disciples. They had been arguing about which one of them was the greatest.  Whether they meant the closest to Jesus, the best at being a disciple, or the best all round good bloke, who knows, but what a ridiculous and futile argument.  Jesus has just been telling them how he will be killed for what he is trying to do, and they think which one of them is greatest is an important issue to debate!

So Jesus explains, if you really want to be first, you must put yourself last.  The path to true greatness is not looking at yourself, seeing how well you’re doing, telling everybody, or getting a certificate.  The way to be truly great is not to look to yourself – but to look to others and their need.  To be willing to be a servant to those who need it.

We can spend our lives thinking only about ourselves, concentrating on our lives – or we can think about others, campaigning against injustice, sharing what we have, welcoming others on God’s behalf.  Looking to see what others need, and seeking to make it happen.

Jesus was willing to give up everything he had for the people of the world – even his life.  What are we being asked to do?

Who do we want to consider us great?  People – or God??

Posted in calling, justice, Lectionary
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