Open to God’s Agency

I was reminded this week, once more, of the need to be alert to God’s agency. An unexpected, unplanned opportunity came our way on Sunday which saw my wife and I attend a wonderful concert performed by two very gifted musicians. Given the time of year it was a Celtish Christmas theme but it was in the throwaway comment that one of them happened to mention that they had written a whole musical score on the life of St Patrick. There was just something that I felt the Spirit was dropping into my consciousness at the thought of music telling the story of the great Irish Saint.

A couple of weeks ago I'd been on a zoom call with the new dean of the cathedral in Ireland. He wanted to know more about the ideas that I had shared many years ago, when for a short period we lived in Ireland. Ideas, I hesitate to call it a vision, of the things which we still long and pray might be realised. Connecting the story of the past with the challenges and opportunities of the present, celebrating St Patrick, not so much in a museum but through the life and witness of a community of hope, living out the good news today. On Monday morning, my dwelling in Scripture was the passage in Isaiah which includes these amazing words, Your people will repair the broken altars, restore what has long been in ruins, building again on the old foundations. You will be known as the people who rebuilt the walls, who restored the ruined houses. Isaiah 58:12.

I began to connect the scripture with the two conversations and later that day telephoned a good friend who I hadn't been in touch with for quite some time. As well as catching up with one another, I asked if he might be up for a conversation with the dean as both of them were keen on a ‘minister’ model of ministry. My friend had piloted such a model for the Church of England several years ago, reviving an abbey and benefice and I could see how the dean in Ireland was interested given the challenges and opportunities he faced as a leader within the cathedral and his group of parishes. As I talked with my friend there was real energy to our conversation, a sense of us being stirred and led by the Spirit. We both felt that we were being called together to go to Ireland, to make the connections, bringing people together who shared a heart to see the broken altars repaired.

As I reflect on this experience I feel both humbled and excited at the prospect of something that has come out of, what we in The Commons put a great emphasis on, the Practices of Dwelling in the Word and The Examen. Saturating ourselves in the Scriptures and being open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, the fruit of which is seen in helping to form, encourage and serve communities of hope. When? How? Who? and what? will all be answered in due course as we are led by the Spirit and enter into the adventure of another of the practices that The Commons puts great emphasis on, Exploring.