A prayer in the sand

Last week Simon Mattholie wrote a wonderful reflection with the title ‘A call to walk on water’. You can read it here. I loved Simon’s emphasis on trust and on following Jesus and the calling of the Holy Spirit. He returns throughout the reflection to the centrality of the Holy Spirit. This can never be reiterated and underlined enough. We ‘go’ because we’re called, following Jesus/Holy Spirit’s leading. 

I read that reflection on 16th May which happened to be the feast day of one of my favourite Celtic saints, St Brendan. I read his story again too that morning, from the Northumbria Community’s Celtic Daily Prayer Book 1. This piece is entitled, ‘The call to risky living’. I think maybe God was trying to speak to me about something.

In seasons of transition, which I currently find myself navigating, an important part of the process is to reflect on what has come and gone; on how we heard the voice of God calling, how we followed and what we subsequently learned on the journey. Then, and perhaps most crucially, we answer the important questions of ‘how then shall we live?’, and ‘how shall we share what we’ve learned?’

At Rural Ministries our tag line is Rethinking Mission, Reimagining Church. As the charity undergoes a change of leadership and enters a new season, its worth returning to the call, to remind ourselves and all those connected to the network of these core concepts that the Holy Spirit uses to guide us. Simon’s reflection highlights what is core to who we are and how we are called to minister in and engage with our rural environments and the unique contexts we inhabit.

Are we responding to the call to rethink and reimagine, and how are we living out that response? How are we sharing all that we have discovered?

Brendan’s story captures me because of his willingness to GO despite fears and trepidation; to go and put his trust in God’s protection and provision.

Sensing the call to leave the shore and the safety of home, Brendan climbs the mountain alone and searches his heart to test the truth of what he feels. And this was Brendan’s mountain prayer:

Shall I abandon the comforts and benefits of my home,

seeking the island of promise our father knew long ago,

sail on the face of the deep where no riches or fame

or weapons protect you, and nobody honours your name?

Shall I take leave of my friends

and my beautiful native land,

tears in my eyes

as my knees mark my final prayer in the sand?

King of the mysteries, will You set watch over me?

Christ of the mysteries, can I trust You on the sea? *

The need to test the call is imperative, to test our hearts and to count the cost. Many times through the gospel accounts Jesus calls people to follow him and many times does he also talk of counting the cost, speaking of the realities of the call and what we must be willing to leave behind. And then the invitation, the beautiful encouragement, is to bring our doubts, fears and worries along with us too. We don’t have to pretend they don’t exist or shamefully diminish them in some way. Jesus invites us into the boat to leave the shore, he invites us out into the storms amidst fierce winds and fears, and then he invites us to get out of the boat in trust, to walk upon the top of our fears!

Christ of the heavens,

and Christ of the ravenous ocean wave,

I will hold fast to my course

through the dangers I must brave.

King of the mysteries, angels will watch over me,

Christ of the mysteries, when I trust You on the sea. *

Brendan’s heart posture moves from ‘Can I trust You’ to ‘when I trust you...’

Storms will no doubt arise on this frontier journey of pioneering, that’s when we grow in trust. We grow in trust, and then we draw closer to the heart of God. This happens because we know the call of God, we know the voice of the Good Shepherd. This is central. We MUST always be found to be following the call. Otherwise, what are we following? An idea of our own devising? A missional endeavour we’ve cooked up ourselves? Be mindful dear friends, of the subtle temptations of personal ambition and our own ego. They can divert you off course.

To truly follow God’s voice, we must be willing to also hear when to stop, when to rest, when to retreat. Brendan’s inspiring sea voyage captures the yearnings of many adventurous hearts and many apostolically minded pioneers. And yet the story doesn’t end with leaving on mission. The story comes full circle.

A messenger comes to him and says: 

Return, your mission now is over.

God who did call you here, now bids you go.

Return in peace then, to your native shore

and tell the mighty secrets that you know. *

Hey pioneers, would you be willing to hear this too?

Like a sea turtle who returns to beach from which they were born, sometimes we are called ‘home’, the journey’s final destination is back where we started. We, however, are different, forever changed from the things we’ve seen and experienced, from the trials and challenges we’ve encountered and overcome, from the ways we’ve matured and grown in wisdom and revelation. We are now overcomers, water-walkers. True followers of the one Walter Bruggemann calls wild, unfettered and free. Deeply connected to place, land and people, we are all called to be storytellers as we share with others about the adventures we’ve been led on and the riches we’ve discovered. It reminds me of 1 John, where John’s desire is clear, he can’t wait to excitedly share all they have experienced with Jesus, so others can share in their joy!

How might Jesus be calling you today?

To get in the boat and leave the shore?

To face down your fears in the storm?

To trust him and get out of the boat amidst the waves?

Or maybe to return home? To rest a while, share your new wisdom?

Go dear ones, in grace, favour and peace. But know this, one day the small still voice might call you full circle.

Shalom,

Jon Timms

Director: Scotland and Northern England

*Celtic Daily Prayer, Book 1.