Miscellaneous observations on life
You can\’t have everything – where would you put it?
Latest survey shows that 3 out of 4 people make up 75% of the world\’s population.
Advert in newspaper: Home computer, as new. Never been figured out.
Be nice to your kids. They’ll choose your nursing home.
Some cause happiness wherever they go. Others, whenever they go.
True Fasting
This month sees the beginning of Lent, the 40 days of preparation running up to Easter. Although fasting is one of the neglected disciplines associated with this period, it occupies an important place in the Christian life.
Jesus began his earthly ministry with fasting in the wilderness for 40 days and he also taught his disciples to fast (i.e. not if but when), ‘when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.’ (Matthew 6:17/18). We don’t fast to manipulate God into doing what we want or to impress others. It is not a command, but a choice we have to make to develop our relationship with God.
What is fasting? Fasting is voluntarily abstaining from food etc. to focus on God and give time for prayer. Prayer and fasting usually go hand in hand, as together they glorify God. ‘So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.’ (Ezra 6:23).
What are the benefits of fasting? Fasting gives us space to humbly focus on God for his strength, provision, and wisdom and results in a more intimate relationship with Christ. As Isaiah points out, it’s not self-centred, but part of our care for the poor: ‘Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to lose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?’ (Isaiah 58:6). Fasting enables the Holy Spirit to reveal our true spiritual condition, leading to brokenness, repentance, and a transformed life, with a heart more attentive to God.
How do we fast? Most commonly fasting involves missing one or two meals as part of a day for seeking God. Of course, some can’t abstain from food for medical reasons. Fasting might also include refraining from TV, alcohol, sex (cf 1 Corinthians 7:1-5) or whatever may be getting in the way of us being fully focussed on God.
‘Jesus takes it for granted that his disciples will observe the pious custom of fasting. Strict exercise of self-control is an essential feature of the Christian\’s life. Such customs have only one purpose – to make the disciples more ready and cheerful to accomplish those things which God would have done.’ (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)
New forests for the CofE
The Church Commissioners for England have recently purchased a forestry portfolio from UPM Tilhill for £49 million. This means that the Commissioners are now the largest private commercial forestry investor in the UK. The new purchase comprises 15 separate forests, 13 of which are in Scotland and 2 in Wales, and includes two operating wind farms and a mountain biking visitor centre in Wales.
The new portfolio extends to 6922 hectares (ha) of productive forestry, and increases the Commissioners’ overall UK forestry holding to 13,000ha, with a total value of around £100 million. All of the forests are certified to FSC standards and managed to both the UK Woodland Assurance Standard and the UK Forestry Standard.
Cathedrals offer place of peace and prayer in busy lives
The number of people attending midweek services at cathedrals has doubled in the past 10 years, according to recent figures from the Church of England’s Research and Statistics department. One of the factors attributed is the need for a place of peace in increasingly busy lives.
Midweek attendance at cathedrals was 7,500 in 2003, rising to 15,000 in 2013 (compared to 12,400 in 2012). As the Dean of Lichfield, Adrian Dorber, explains, “At the weekend you’ve got commitments with children doing sport, shopping, household maintenance – life’s run at the double these days … Taking out half an hour or an hour every week is much more negotiable.”
Anecdote to Evidence research published last year showed that the highest motivating factors for Cathedral attendance were peace and contemplation, worship and music and friendly atmosphere.
The Dean of York Minster, Vivienne Faull, commented: “If I take a Eucharist at 12.30 in the middle of the week in the nave of York Minster, there’ll be a lot of people who just slide in from the side. It’s not so much about anonymity, there’s the feeling there’s a journey you can travel which doesn’t require huge steps – it just requires one little step.”
Stephen Lake, Dean of Gloucester Cathedral, said: “Patterns of church attendance are different now. Cathedrals are uniquely placed to be providing greater opportunities for worship and that includes during the week.”