Tattoo's, stretched ears and piercings...

Driving through Chippenham the other day and noticing the droves of young people coming out of college with various tribal accoutrements covering their bodies got me thinking; if I was a teenager today wouldn't I be covered in tattoo's, have my ears stretched to the size of saucers and with piercings covering every conceivable appendage? The answer to that question would be yes! In my youth I was very expressive and expressed myself in the way I wore my hair, the type of clothes I wore, and the various other fashions accessories that were distributed about my body. I remember getting my ears pierced, yes "ears" in the plural, in 1976 for a boy to have both ears pierced was very radical. Today that wouldn't even get you a second look! Back in those day people would avoid me, make fun of me, or even abuse me as I strolled down the road with my orange (or burgundy, or red) hair, wearing a baby blue and white jump suit, with red suede winkle-pickers. Today I probably wouldn't get noticed if I was among the crowds leaving Chippenham College, or hanging around Monkton Park, well I would if I was dressed like that at my current age (don't worry, I have no desire to relive my youth in that way). But underneath that technicolored fashion explosion of the 1970's was a sensitive young man, with a troubled upbringing and even more troubled home life. A person who worked hard at the school-work he loved, worried (mostly) about how other people felt, and had ambitions that he had no idea how he was going to achieve. He needed love, understanding and support, which he didn't get until he came to christ nearly 25 years later.

So that 13/14 year-old Simon has come back to life in my mind and reminded me of a lot. The young-people of Chippenham may sometimes look a little weird and unwashed, but beneath all that metal, ink and dye may be a young person who needs our understanding, patience, love and support. Perhaps we should read Galatians 3:28-29 a little differently: "There is neither Punk nor Goth, neither Chav nor Grebo, nor is there Skater and Pikey, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise." And once we understand that, we should strive to see more of these young people, whatever their tribe, come to into the tribe of Abraham.

Reverends Log: Star date 110914

It had always been my intention to recommence a blog once I had taken up a position as minister. I got quite into blogging when I was in training and found it helped me to unpack things that may be challenging or troubling me. Those of you who read that blog know that I have no problem with sharing what is on my heart. So here I am a minister, eleven days in, starting my blog. Am I going to be more circumspect in what I write? Nah! Although I may use bigger words J

As a student I said I had the best life in the world, I loved what I did! Now as a minister I can’t say much has changed I LOVE WHAT I DO! Over the past ten days I have had so much joy in serving the Lord with all my heart, body and soul, I amaze myself constantly that I am actually a minister and serving God in this way; ‘Are you really sure about this Lord?” And I am really blessed by some of the encounters I have had during my short time in the minister’s chair. Like this evening when I had cause to visit someone on a mental health ward; because of the nature of my business in the world I wore a clerical collar (which I think looked really cool with my bike leathers) and this really did have an impact. As soon as I arrived on the ward I was approached by a couple of patients calling me “father” and asking me to spend time and pray with them. I did pray for a number of folk, but one young man really broke my heart; I wont divulge his name but he was agitated, young enough to be my son, told me his father died when he was little and that his mum couldn’t cope with his illness. Some time after I had prayed for him in a group he sheepishly approached me asking if I could “set him free?” From what I asked, “from all this” he replied with a sweeping gesture seemingly to indicate the hospital, his illness, his troubled mind. I prayed with him and hope to see him when I visit again, actually I don’t! I hope and pray that Christ will respond to his heart-felt prayer and set him free.

This has taught me two lessons at the beginning of my ministry (1) that spiritual provision for those in mental health facilities is extremely important (2) that wearing a “dog collar” gets you noticed….and that’s a really good thing!