Life

A number of years ago I watched the film 'shall we dance'. It is about a character, played by Richard Gere, whose life had lost its spark and so, on a whim, he takes dancing lessons. J.Lo is the exotic dance instructor with whom you expect him to, eventually, as these films go, have an affair. The twist of the film, and a pleasant one too, is that he uses his new found dancing skills to romance his wife, Susan Sarandon, and re-kindle the flame in their relationship. It is what I might call a resurrection moment: out of a death, new life begins.

This week, at 'connecT', we are looking at the last sign in John, 'the raising of Lazarus' (11: 1-44). A moving story, Jesus weeps, his friend is dead, but he calls him back to life. Resurrection is something we expect at the end of time, but in the midst of life we can, if we have a our faith (sight) eyes open, catch these resurrection moments. Dead faith to a living 'fresh expression'. Tired relationships breathed with new life. Moving out of depression into hope. All small glimpses of what Jesus means by 'I am the resurrection and the life' (John 11: 25).

Chris

Water

Just last night I was watching 'myth busters' with my son, and the myth they were trying to bust was 'walking on water' -well, running actually. Apparently, there was 'you-tube' footage of a some people doing it. The 'myth-busters' tried, but concluded it can't be done. They also concluded that the 'you-tube water runners' must have had something just submerged under the water that they ran on. The footage certainly looked like that, because they all fell in to the water after running a certain distance. It is unteresting, though, that Jesus' 'sign' still gathers attention.

At 'connecT' we have been looking at the signs in John, including the one where Jesus walks - not runs - on water. (Jn: 6: 16 - 25). I personally have long given up - never really held these views in the first place, I must admit - thinking that Jesus was walking on a sandbank, had ancient water skis, special shoes, flippers, carried by fish, the apostles had a collective fear induced vision, ate magic mushrooms, whatever, whatever...They sound as unbelievable as walking on water to me. No, I am happy to take the sign at face value.

Also, I don't expect to walk on water any time soon, but I do know that during times of rough seas Jesus comes to me and I sense a calm. Sometimes Jesus comes to me in worship and prayer; other times, and quite often, through other people. Looking at water itself, especially the sea, reminds of Jesus' calming presence and the amazingness of God's creation. Signs all pointing to the reign of God in our midst. What signs work for you, I wonder?

Chris