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Permalink: http://www.fulcrum-anglican.org.uk/782
Fulcrum Subjects: Poetry / Spirituality / Mission Other articles by Graham Kings are available from this site Discuss this Article on the Fulcrum Forum See the 8 comments on this article Meandering in South Sudan
From southern equatorial mountains, and eastern ancient highlands, to northern Mediterranean Sea, through four nations, till recently, and now through five, the Nile passes without passport.
She flows onwards and downwards, with gravity and delight, imperturbably, irresistibly, ineluctably, circumambulating with gesticulating grace.
Last week, in blazing dusty Malakal, I stood on the east bank, near thin cattle, gazing at the setting sun, reflected in the river touching the west bank, undeveloped for millennial miles and years.
This evening, in hot and green Juba, I sit on the west bank, near portly cows, looking east at lush trees, across the drifting river, meditating through millennia.
Among the bulrushes of Egypt, a baby is hidden for safety, and discovered by royalty, for raising and releasing of Israel.
Near the banks of the Nile, a baby is saved from Israel, for refuge, return and royalty: ‘Out of Egypt have I called my Son.’
Graham Kings, Juba, South Sudan 23 February 2013
Discuss this Article on the Fulcrum Forum Forum Posts About This Article:
Posted by: Graham Kings
Wednesday 27 February 2013 - 07:39am
We have just published on Fulcrum 'Meandering in South Sudan', my poem about the River Nile, written on Sunday in Juba. Perspectives on 'Life in Lent' are very different in that context. I was in South Sudan helping with a clergy refresher course on mission theology in the Bible in Malakal, at the invitation of Bishop Hilary Garang, Bishop of Malakal. This is a photo I took on the east bank of the Nile at sunset, looking west. Posted by: Dave Saturday 23 February 2013 - 11:14am Angela, I don't think the people were criticized for their enthusiasm or praise. In fact they are not criticized atall. Rather Jesus cools their enthusiasm which was in danger of leading in the wrong direction. The wrong thinking was misunderstanding the nature of his Messiahship. The danger was political unrest which could have brought an early end to his teaching ministry. I find the Pope's retirement encouraging. It says that the leader of the Church is just a human being who is now old and frail. His legacy of teaching and example remains without the risk of personal adulation which ties in with the above. David Posted by: WATERANGEL Thursday 21 February 2013 - 04:30pm Can somebody clarify something ofr me? The reading today is John 6 1-15 and in relation to Christ withdrawing after he had been healing, so as stated not to be confined to human categories of power and authority. Now that seems claer to me but the next sentence does not seem quite so clear to me "but this withdrawal may signify more than simply a desire to disabuse the crowd of their wrongful thinking". Does this refer to human thinking ? maybe the temptation to idolize, Is it really wrongful thinking to appreciate the care, works or wonders of another? usually genuine people do not do things in anticipation of thanks and gratitude however it is always much appreciated when it is given. Do we not applaud those who have served God and the Church, of course it is true that that applause should take into account ALL who serve the church in whatever way within or outside of the confines of the walls. It just seemed an odd way of expressing it to me "to disabuse the crowd" It sort of made me think about the Pope i am not Catholic but the Pope appears and withdraws, sometimes it seems more because he can only meet so much expectation, thats the same as our Archbishops, Bishops and other Clergy, is the abuse about raising the expectation, and is that abuse? is it not only about whether expectations can be met? Of course cemented in my mind is William Carey and his "expect great things" with reference to mission. Angela Posted by: WATERANGEL Sunday 17 February 2013 - 11:24am Ohh , I am fed up now! having left the two men in the house contented after breakfast i went to do my reflections, only to discover there is no readings for Sundays. So here i sit Billy Grahams book one side of the room Ian Pauls book the other side of the room and the history of israeal. But here is the real miracle (psalm 62-1) (its only temporary though). Posted by: WATERANGEL Tuesday 12 February 2013 - 12:49pm Yes Grahams poem made me think, Some people tell me i think to much and that i am far too analytical for my own good, but i have taken up the gauntlet again and will read my reflections for lent, this time i will share the journey with Stephen Cotterell, Steven Croft Barbara Mosse and Mark Oakley (not that any of them will know). I am not sure what if anything i will give up, it is a bit like new year resolutions, good intentions and fulfilment of them are sometimes a long way apart. Humility is something that people have or dont have, its something that is God given, I am not very humble. it is difficult to be humble and not self deprecating at the same time, like, what i am trying to say is In my giving up Lord may i not give up, or do i need to defend my faith or my stance, or can i trust God to defend his own corner, and i will just read the gospel and apply it to the circumstances of the day, maybe i will consciously say to each day after my reading, what do you want, but i have no doubt i will follow it with what do i want and then by what am i going to do, but having said all that, at least if we read our gospel we cannot fail to be transformed. The busyness within makes us slower to understand how the transformation manifest itself. Angela Posted by: Bowman Monday 11 February 2013 - 11:24pm Plans for Lent? This year, I'm keeping the fast and a journal. Four spiritual needs lend themselves to a seasonal course-- catechesis, Easter preparation, repentance, fasting. An individual's need for the first three varies from year to year; I assess my own requirements each year after Epiphany, and plan accordingly. In contrast, fasting is an indispensible discipline, one that changes shopping, cooking, schedules, etc in ways shaped by each year's calendar. To support friends through their fasts on the three calendars in widespread use, I myself end up with a long fast that stretches from Ash Wednesday past Easter to about Pentecost. The traditional fast phases out meat, cheese, wine, oil, etc over a few weeks, continues as a vegan diet, and ends with xerophagy in Holy Week-- raw vegetables, fruits, and nuts. Feasts such as Annunciation (fish), Palm Sunday (fish), and Easter (lamb) are obvious exceptions. When fasting only during Lent, participation in stable, no nonsense daily services, led by someone who understands fasting and is presumably also doing it, is important. Since the Charles River divides my days between Cambridge and Boston, this requires forethought. On the north bank near Harvard, the Cowley Fathers keep their Prayerbook services simple; near Boston, the Greek monks at Holy Transfiguration are on the Julian calendar, but do offices from the Triodion designed by St Theodore and other monks at the Studion to support the Great Fast. All of them include the Lenten prayer of St Ephraim of Syria-- O Lord and Master of my life, cast from me the spirit of sloth, despondency, lust for power and idle talk. (Prostration) But grant unto me, Thy servant, a spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love. (Prostration) Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see my own faults and not to judge my brothers and sisters. For Thou art blessed unto ages of ages. Amen. (Prostration) O God, cleanse Thou me a sinner. (12 times, with as many bows, and then again the whole prayer from the beginning throughout, and after that one great prostration) On the days for certain canons (eg St Andrew of Crete), it would be nice to be on the Boston side. As one might suspect from the fourth chapter of St Luke, eating less is just the beginning of fasting. Once the body is accustomed to the fasting diet, most find that their minds are a bit more introspective and much sharper. Since a fasting mind reveals so much of itself, it is helpful to acknowledge the stream of one's consciousness, whatever its state, whilst not attaching oneself to anything in that stream. Unsurprisingly, penitence is a reasonable response to much that one might find. Last year, I followed Graham Kings's suggestion of a spiritual journal somewhat like that of Henry Martyn. Though Martyn's piety sometimes leads him close to a depressing "learned helplessness" (cf Martin Seligman), his sustained effort to monitor the contents of his mind seems gradually to have improved them. For me, keeping a journal during Lent was a similarly useful way to structure a daily review of the day's thoughts, to record bits of the readings that resonated, and to note anything else that seemed worth deeper consideration. And as Martyn's example shows, so long as one learns from one's worst thoughts rather than dwelling on them, one can gradually be more free of them. I began this year's journal today. "Journaling" worked best, however, when I had a degree of recollection that was rarely possible whilst actively posting online here. If one is processing the arguments of others, then one is not attending to one's own thoughts as one should do during Lent, which is to waste the effort of fasting. "The glory of these forty days" is not just self-discipline but hesychia. It seemed silly to skip the thread on plans for Lent because of my plans for Lent. However as mentioned in 23117, I will not be posting again until Pentecost. Again, a blessed Lent to all! Posted by: Roger Hurding Monday 11 February 2013 - 10:49am Graham, thank you for this poem with its sharp observations. I love the simple yet effective imagery of layingt aside the symbols of busyness to be alone with God and then re-engaging with the trappings of everyday life. This fits well with my desire this Lent, to learn better to contemplate silently in God's presence, hopefully open to the Spirit's promtings: learning to love and be loved. Also, my wife Joy and I are reading Rosie Fairhurst's book, Uncovering Sin: A Gatewy to Healing and Calling (SPCK, 2012). Already, I am struck by the reminder of our deep dependence on God and need for interdependence with others, seeking to leave behind the sin of isolation and autonomy.
Posted by: Graham Kings
Sunday 10 February 2013 - 03:21pm
We have just published on Fulcrum a poem I wrote in Kenya in 1986 'Prayer Stool', which was also published in 'Signs and Seasons: a guide for your Christian journey' (Canterbury Press, 2008). Looking forward to discussions on this thread about how people are planning to live in a new way in Lent this year. |
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