Bob Warwicker's blog

Nice to have some cooler, breezy weather and a splash of rain at last. The mix of wet and dry patches emphasised the roots of this roadside tree…

Meanwhile, life’s still grim for millions of people. It is the year of terror: terror of a tiny virus, terror of racists in the American police, terror of a life with no income, and hunger knocking at the door. And the people we call ‘terrorists’ are completely outclassed by all this.

Never mind, life is restarting, and our betters will soon be able to get hog-whimpering again.

God forgive us for our carelessness of others,
our casual dismissal of people unlike ourselves,
and our faithlessness.
At the same time, dear God,
we struggle to understand
why this virus has come.
Do we need to forgive you for it?
Is it your doing?
If we are to thank you for this
amazing, created world,
does it not also include the agents of death?

A small walk around the block this morning, just to get the motion furniture woken up. Dog walkers on Rough Fields enjoying the last day of fine weather. Quite a few people on foot on the pavements. If by now you’re yearning for a verb, ‘waft’.

Trump’s doing quite well at the moment. It suits him to have his country in flames, because it’ll be a chance to look tough.

I don’t like it, any of it. Deepening rifts in societies, a devastating virus, people dying, economies struggling to breathe. The odd thing is that (to simplify a bit) those nations which prioritised life over money and locked-down soon and hard are now in a better position to start their economies again.

God, have mercy,
Christ, have mercy,
God have mercy.

Trinity Sunday is coming…

I’m sure it’s reasonable to try and describe God – after all, you would describe your parents, or your lover. And it is argued that Trinity is God’s own self-revelation – although you have to probe around a bit in the Bible before you can get such a neat description. So I don’t feel it’s right to object to saying God is Trinity. And it’s a useful way to plan prayers I’m told.

But it just feels as if as soon as I open my mouth to speak of God, I’m making God less than God really is. Besides which, like every word, ‘Trinity’ has a load of random associations – lightships on the sea, rugby in Wakefield, ‘Three-In-One’ oil, etc..

Today was another fine day. As the path took me nearer the A628, I caught a little noseful of HGV brake-lining smell.

A pleasant enough walk this morning, Woolley Bridge Copse, the tip and that hamlet just past the sewage works on the way to Broadbottom. The Longdendale hills were looking a bit hazy in the east wind – maybe it’s been a little cloudy overnight on the Yorkshire side. Oh, and I almost forgot – it’s Pentecost.

Come, Holy Spirit, come.

A gentle breeze this morning, to move some air through the house.

Just read this little book… Makes you think…

God of love, we thank you for the outside,
for smells and sights and sounds,
the feel of the breeze.
How we need it now!
God give everyone
a sight of the horizon.

The sunshine and warmth and the dry weather are having their effects. Most of the reservoirs at our end are now quite low, although that’s also because of recent work on Rhodeswood Dam, and ongoing work at Torside. The sun is heating up the desiccant in some of our windows and causing a little condensation. People are enjoying the weather, and keeping their distance.

A small diversion in the direction of the slopes of Peaknaze this morning, and a reminder of what tussocks are like for the feet. But unusually dry under foot. It’s easier for the walker, but not a good sign for the long run.

As we wait and wonder,
separate, but drawn together in prayer,
we hope for the Spirit of God,
the fire, the raging wind,
the gentle voice.

Another fine day for a walk around the reservoirs on broad ways with passing space. I wonder what my younger self, living in Whalley Range, would have made of the lockdown. The Mersey at Jackson’s Bridge might just have been in range. Alexandra Park certainly would. Revisiting after I left Manchester, ISTR that the Moss Side shopping centre had been renamed the Alexandra Centre. I couldn’t find either name on Google so my memory might be playing tricks. If such a renaming did occur, I wonder what kind of message it sent.

Anyway, after my walk this morning, my feet are a bit sore. I wonder whether I’ll still be able to drive the car. Perhaps I’d better take it for a spin to Buxton to find out.

A question for Pentecost … What does it require for people of every language and culture to hear the Good News of God’s love in Christ?

Meanwhile, the sun shines again. Maybe spring is always like this, and I hadn’t noticed before – but I think not. Much as I enjoy walking across fields that aren’t muddy, the land really needs some rain.

Things are getting better, but it’s not over – and there’s a lot more tears to be shed. A couple of worrying things for me and one good one… Worrying that the government will lose credibility and people will no longer bother too much about not spreading the virus. The government, in their system of priorities may not be bothered about this, but I am. The other worry is that if infections start to pick up again, it may be several weeks before you and I notice enough to be bothered. The headline figure of deaths lags infections by a few weeks. One encouraging thing, and that is to do with sewage. A close examination of our towns’ and cities’ waste may reveal virus hotspots at an early stage, early enough to do something about it.

Life is precious. Life is precious, and don’t forget it.

These, on the Trail, are wonderful!…

…there are more of these little clusters too – well worth a visit, especially for small children – at the western end of the Trail.

Sunday will be Pentecost, and this is the Lectionary. This is Acts 2:15… “Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning.” …Really? The first century must be very different from ours if nobody was ever drunk at nine in the morning.

Aside from that minor observation, what do we do with the Pentecost story? Is this an example for us of what to do if we want the Holy Spirit to come? They were met together and maybe expecting something. But even if they were, I doubt they knew what. I think that’s the first things to watch out for – beware of thinking we know what to expect. Different church cultures have very different ideas of the God’s Spirit does, even within Jesus’ promise. And there’s a more fundamental question. Do we even want the Spirit of God in our church life? Think of the disruption. Think of the consequences of moving our faith from the theoretical realm to the practical. Be ready to weigh up the consequences, and then undertake the journey.

The Trail is lovely at the moment, but also quite busy. I think it’s time for a temporary ban on horses, so pedestrians can use the bridle path to pass at a safe distance without endangering themselves or the riders.

It was a fine bank holiday day today. Sun, breeze, some butterflies.