CRAFTSMAN

Thoughts inspired by 'The Craftsman' by Richard Sennett.

Craftsmanship and creativity are inseparable. There is an idea, a desire that something should come into existence which was not there before. There is delight in that creation. Perfection is the goal, but craftsmanship leaves an indelible mark of humanity, with its frailty. There is a striving, but even in this there is fulfillment, spurring one on to further craftsmanship. A rhythm develops as the skill is repeated time and again. Creativity never ceases as there is always a future beckoning one on. It is this rhythm that gives life and energy to the task.

Workers with earthy materials have tools, poets have words. Each has a vision and a skill, and uses both head and hand.

A true craftsman will seek to develop the skill in others and as he grows in ability, he becomes a mastercraftsman. Blessed are those who have such a teacher, who has empathy with their humanity, but gives hope for the future.

"The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way,
Before His works of old.
I have been established from everlasting,
From the beginning, before there was ever an earth.....
Then I was beside Him, as a matercraftsman;
And I was daily His delight,
Rejoicing always before Him,
Rejoicing in His inhabited world,
And my delight was with the sons of men"
Proverbs 8: 22, 23, 30,31.

God "has in these last days spoken to us by His son, whom he made heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds:"
Hebrews 1: 2

WINDOWS

Men talk of frameworks to construct our thinking. This reminds us of nuts and bolts. We need also to open windows to lighten our thoughts and view new horizons.

Education is helping others to build frameworks and open windows so that they may see a clear path with exciting possibilities.

As we age, we hear of new thoughts but when we open the window we find it is the same view we have known about and enjoyed all along.

Some live only in basements.

DREAMS

Thoughts inspired by Pinker and Gladwell.

Dreams are ideas steeped in emotion.

As we set our dreams to the music of our words, we dance.

True friends help us write the score and dance with us.

GARMENTS

Thoughts inspired by a walk in the garden.

Which would you choose?
To enjoy a beautiful, intricately designed dress which was the result of an impersonal process? Or a gift, made and given by a very dear friend, who wanted you to enjoy the fruit of their love?

It is God who clothes the fields with flowers and arrays the lilies in garments more beautiful than Solomon's robes.

REALITY

God expects us to constantly engage with reality and to have a god-pleasing framework by which to measure it, separating the precious from the vile. For this to happen one must be alive to all of life.

The Book of Everyday Life must be studied as much as books of theology. Pastors should know the terrain their sheep are traversing. Every moment should be turned into learning, sharing and caring.

"And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart; you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up." Deut 6: 6,7

DELUSION

Last evening men were gathered around Ida, ecstatic about her form, worshipping at her shrine.

' ....and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie.'

2 Thessalonians 2: 10,11

IDA, THE IMAGE OF GOD?

Ida is described as 'the Eighth Wonder of the World'.
Looking at the fossilised, dead lemur, our 'ancestor', thoughts of greatness and glory hardly come to mind.

'What is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you take care of him?
You made him little lower than the angels;
you crowned him with glory and honour,
And set him over the works of your hands.
You have put all things in subjection under his feet'

'I will praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.'

We have indeed:
'changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man....birds, four-footed beasts and creeping things.'

Man is worshipping Ida as if she was some kind of god. Her fossilised remains fit the description well.

David Attenborough sees this 'beautiful little creature' as our link with the animal world, the research as 'an act of faith'.
All the marks of a religion.

Man becomes what he worships.
We should be preoccupied with life rather than death

CHANGE

The pure Gospel never changes, but its followers will.

ELDERS AT THE GATE

Virtuous men should be elders at the city gate, the judges of society.

Virtue - being able to withstand temptation and follow the honorable way at cost to oneself.

Today’s 'elders' have no values or standards. They seek to escape hassle, living in a virtual world of their own making. They have no loyalty to anyone and have nothing to conserve. Meritocracy to them means escaping from the common lot with no room for compassion. Selfcentredess gone rife - the sure way to the destruction of all we hold dear.

They are the betrayers of democracy.

Some thoughts from Christopher Lasch 'The Revolt of the Elites - The Betrayal of Democracy'.

DANCING

Malcolm Gladwell talks of interactional synchrony in his book, 'The Tipping Point.'

There is a rhythm to our interactions with others, be this by body or spoken language. Some draw us, others repel us. Towards some there may be polite relating, at other times, indifference.

When someone, in graciousness, is quick to hear our call, drawing near to us, this synchrony is set on its course and we in turn are drawn. There is a joyous response by those who know they are heard and understood. This gives freedom, the assurance of a safe haven. Also lightness of spirit and the joy to dance through life.

Through this we are able to draw others to dance with us. And so the circle never ends.

Isn't this perhaps the heart of true Christianity?