Hi folks, we weren’t meant to be meeting this week, but as we had to cancel Saturday’s Worship Brunch because lots of people were away, we’re meeting this Sunday at the Enigma Tap at 8.00pm instead. Hopefully see you there!
Last Saturday night I did something I’d never done before.
I went clubbing. On my own.
Now, before you picture me trying to relive my twenties (they’re long gone), this wasn’t just any night out. David Holmes, one of the most iconic DJs and producers, was playing at my local social club, all of ten minutes’ walk from my house. It felt too good an opportunity to miss, so I went.
And it was immense.
There’s something slightly odd about going somewhere on your own. At first, you feel a bit self-conscious. What do I do when i first go in? Where do I stand? Does everyone know I’m here on my own? (Spoiler: they don’t. They’re far too busy enjoying themselves.)
But after a while something changes. You stop worrying about yourself and start paying attention. To the music. To the atmosphere. To the joy on people’s faces. To the strange sense of community that can exist in a room full of complete strangers, although it was clear that lots of people knew each other… and they were all connected by the same sounds
It reminded me of something Jesus says in Matthew 6. Before he tells people not to worry, he says, “Look at the birds… Consider the lilies…” It’s an invitation to notice. To slow down. To pay attention to what’s already happening around us.
Over the last year Beachcomber has been exploring nature, and as you know from a previous blog I was reading Timothy Morton’s All Art Is Ecological. One of the things that has really stayed with me is the idea that paying attention is the beginning of ecology. Before we can care for the world, we have to notice it.
Maybe that’s true spiritually too.
The Kingdom of God doesn’t always arrive with fireworks and fanfares. Sometimes it looks like birds building nests, blackberries ripening in the hedgerows, friends sharing a meal, or even a room full of strangers dancing together in a social club.
The slow movement talks about rediscovering things that can’t be rushed. You may recall last week’s blog about a good strawberry, it cant be rushed! It needs sunshine, time, and the right conditions to become sweet. The same is probably true of us. Growth, faith, friendships, even joy, tend to ripen rather than appear overnight.
As I came home last week with ringing in my ears (I forgot my loops) I was marvelling at the evenings music and I also caught myself noticing… people laughing, nature, the night sky… it dawned on me afresh, how easy it is to rush through life without really seeing what’s in front of us.
The following day when i looked at the messages in the group i got the ticket from, some of the folks kept the night going and wandered down to the sea front and waited for the sun rise… That’s intentional noticing right there!
So here’s a challenge… Notice something…
It could be a birdsong you’ve never heard before, the changing colours of a tree, a conversation that catches you by surprise, or a song that says exactly what you needed to hear.
You never know. The Kingdom of God might be closer than you think.
No questions for this week, just see where the conversation takes you!
See you on Sunday at 7.30 pm in the Enigma Tap.
Peace, Rob
Photo: Rob Wylie
Rob Wylie is the founder of BeachcomberFX and guides its leadership team. He has worked in the North East for over 20 years and has vast experience from various roles he has held. He has a passion for Fresh Expressions of Church and Pioneer Ministry as well as beer, beaches and Miniature Schnauzers.