Broken Pieces

There is a partially-repaired ornament in our downstairs toilet. I had got used to it, a toothbrush-holder. I used to think nothing more about it. But something made me wonder if visitors ask themselves why we hold on to it. And that something was the way my wife understands the damaged item, as told to friends recently.

The holder is in the shape of a duck, its neck gracefully shaped to form a handle. It was bought in a pottery in Aberdeenshire at a time when a student grant did not permit the buying of many ‘nice’ things. Not long after we moved to Alness the toothbrush-holder fell and smashed into many pieces. It was gathered together into a tidy, but disjointed heap, on a bit of kitchen-roll. To make a return trip to replace it was out of the question.

For some reason, though, it was not thrown out.

One day, my wife came home to find that our 5 year-old son had taken a tube of Bostik and done a not-too-bad job of putting it back together. That is why that ornament is now invaluable. Most males, sadly, are too insensitive to appreciate what mothers grasp so clearly.

My wife told that story to show how God views us. We only need to scan the newspaper or hear or see the news to understand that the human race is disjointed. It seems unrecognizable as the most perfect part of God’s creation; indeed, it is capable of much that is revolting. You would need to be in serious denial to reject that fact. The original ‘production’, as it came from the hand of God is in a pretty smashed-up state. And yet, as with the ceramic duck, for some reason, it has not been totally rejected and thrown out. God has not gone ‘back to scratch’ to start again.

There the duck lay, bits of it clearly recognizable as something special, but no way able to do what it had been created to do – hold toothbrushes! And along comes a hopeful and enthusiastic mind, determined to ‘have a go’ at some restoration.

God has done far more than ‘have a go’ – more than just some hopeful or enthusiastic repair work. And He has done far more than go ‘back to scratch’ and start the human race all over again. He has done something far more creative and awesome. By coming in Jesus Christ He offers to take the broken pieces. He then, by His grace, quietly and patiently, takes our whole lifetime to bring us back to our original condition.

Are we here, ‘thinking nothing more about it’ or do we realize that we are loved by God?

We all have possessions, similarly precious, though damaged. Let them speak to us of how God views us!

 

‘The Pursuit of Happyness’

‘The Pursuit of Happyness’ is a good film, even a great one.  Will Smith is Chris Gardner, flogging  unsellable medical equipment.   Debts increasing, he obtains a place on a non-paying stockbroker programme for trainees. As his marriage fails he finds himself, homeless with his 5-year old son [played by Smith’s real-life son], living in ‘flophouses’ and subway lavatories. Not to spoil the ending for you, I’ll just mention a sub-theme, that of fathers determined that their children do better than they, themselves, did.  

Gardner is driven by this. His own upbringing was miserable, enduring abuse at his  step-father’s hands. He was well-acquaint with foster homes whilst his mother was in jail, most notably for attempting to burn down the house with her abusive partner still inside. Chris grew up determined to avoid alcoholism, domestic abuse, child abuse, illiteracy, fear and powerlessness. He resolved that he would, someday, become a loving and dedicated father to his own children.

And so, how do fathers make sure that their offspring avoid the mistakes that they, themselves, made? This brings us to, what for me, is the heart of the film: the relationship of Smith to his son [voluntarily abandoned by the mother].   Smith dreaded the boy ever going through what he had experienced.  Maybe if he became sufficiently brilliant . . .

But it dawns on him, somewhere, somehow, that he cannot make his boy cleverer than he, himself, is. It all depends on what is in the genes. And the film, in a subtle way, shows us a wee, 5 year old who is not particularly bright.   Ordinary, average, yet in a loving, trusting relationship with his dad. Should we, as parents, want more than that? I don’t think so! We can’t live out our lives through our children or grandchildren. God bless them, they may turn out to be as limited or even more limited than we are! We need to accept them for who and what they are. Christopher Gardners are a small minority of achievers but God simply asks us to be good “stewards” of the precious human beings He has entrusted to us.

The film takes some liberties with the actual story, notably the way it compresses into a short period events that spanned some years. Although it does not go beyond the early 80s Gardner has since gone on to be a [very] wealthy man. In 2002 he won a Father of the Year award.

A good, even great, film, but the unvarnished story is, in a way, even more remarkable, told in Gardner’s book The Pursuit of Happyness [misspelling explained in book and film]. There is also a good Wikipedia article on Gardner on the internet.

The Highland Clearances

A recent lecture in Croick Church, Strathcarron on the Highland Clearances showed that many minister did more than popularly thought to bring about change in favour of the landless people. It was a very enlightening talk. Croick Church is notorious, of course: the church that kept its doors closed to about 90 evicted people, who sheltered in the graveyard for about a week before emigration and who etched names and heart-breaking messages on its window panes. The Free Church, in particular, it seems, did much more than was realised to alleviate the suffering of the people. They agitated to change the law which would make crofters more secure. This led, eventually, to the formation of the Scottish Crofters’ Union, today’s Scottish Crofting Foundation.

During these tough years some ministers encouraged ‘passive resistance’ to landlords and to watch out for their wily ways. And not one life was lost during the whole of this organised opposition.

More than ever is, today, being written about the Clearances. It is lamentable that many of my generation and previous generations went through school being taught so little on this period in which so many of our forefathers suffered. Alness, in particular, has a prominent place in the ‘agitations’ of the 1800s. In this year of Highland Culture it would be good to be more aware of that, wouldn’t it?

Passive resistance: the determination to not shed blood in pursuit of a just cause. It is an attitude requiring a steely resolve, wholehearted commitment. Today we associate it with Ghandi, Martin Luther King, etc. And surely, it can be used as an illustration of the ‘good fight of faith’.

Paul said that sin would not have mastery over believers. Great! But that implies that they must always maintain a watchful, vigilant attitude lest their gains be lost. Christians need to have determination, a steely resolve in face of the readiness of sin to claw back, in a wily way, the freedom that Christ has bought for them. It is tiring work: the Bible says we are at war with spiritual forces ranged against us.

When my grandfather returned to Skye from the Great War he, like many other Skyemen, was allocated land by the government as a tenant. Once, he was busy at work when a government official arrived. He said, ‘I’m here to put the rent up’. ‘And I’m here to keep it down’, was the veteran’s unsmiling reply. Quite how he intended to do that is not clear, but he won, temporarily, at least !

Resist the world. Paul wrote ‘our struggle is. .against the world forces of this darkness. . therefore take up the full armour of God that you may be able to resist . . and stand firm’. Ephes. 6:12,13

Spring Poem

Last month’s ‘blog’ concerned the life, career and faith of my late friend Charles. After his death a poem was found among his writings which consist of of hymns, etc.

The poem was read out at his funeral and projected on to screens around the church so we could all follow it. It does need that wee bit thought that you don’t get just by hearing it read.

I reproduce it below as a testimony to his unsuspected ability in this field. It would be for someone more able than I to analyze the poem but it is clear, [even to me !] that it points to Christ, whose coming to us in this world is like the joy and exhilaration of spring, but summer is what we’re really longing for. And, of course, an unending summer. I certainly think it’s worth a reflection or two.

It is hoped to produce a booklet of his work some time in the future.

Spring Poem

Spring !

Why say more?

Suddenly ! Welcome at the door !

The windows open wide,

For fine fresh air inside,

And light.

Bright,

Hearts excite. And flutter, prefacing a flight

Of preening, cleaning, days

And less lethargic ways

And song.

So long !

Silent heart

Overflows. Despondencies depart.

New melodies amaze;

Join un-aforethought praise.

Today.

Say !

Life began

Years ago. In one new ancient man.

No fading fireball He

Illumines constantly And wins !

Oh sins !

Twisted feet ! !

Slow me down until this treatment meet

Then run, remove my aching

Return the love I’m taking

This day.

How good will summer be ?

C. Falconer.

I hope that you like it.

Charles

 

 

Charles died earlier this year. 50 years of age, this talented and sensitive, single guy had just begun a career as a Secondary School science teacher. Outwardly, life was a catalogue of disappointments. Twice misreading signs of romance he flew hopefully but pointlessly, once to Australia, and once to Israel.

Careerwise, this holder of a Master’s in science, whom York Uni wanted to study for a PhD, thought so little of himself that he never applied for suitable jobs but ended up fixing computers and other IT stuff, or doing gardens. Asking him to fix your fridge, he would frown, implying it was impossible but, of course, he did it no bother and left you with the impression that it was a sheer miracle he had managed! Once, applying for an IT job in Dingwall, he was asked why he should be given the job, Charles, the supreme ‘underseller’, reflected and , no, indeed, they should probably offer the position to someone else. Charles could, of course, have done the job with his eyes shut!

‘Ascetic’, tall, thin as a rake and bearded, this one-time dux of Nairn Academy who was almost afraid of being ‘contaminated’ with material things worked for a while on a kibbutz in Israel. He once sold his attractive flat and ended up in a grotty caravan above Loch Ness. Then bedsits, more rented accommodation and, in between, living with his dad, in Auldearn.

All the while, he was producing cassettes of his own music: he played guitar, keyboard and flute; wrote all the lyrics. HHHis latest offering was a CD, produced more professionally, but still under his own ‘label’, Poor Music Ltd.

You might have already written him off, [if you have read this far], as one of life’s misfits; in a way, he was. But he was a true friend. He would visit us, unannounced, in Aberdeen, arriving after a day’s work in Inverness, reluctantly stay the night, then rise at 5 a.m. to drive back north and another day’s work.

But there was more to this man that will outlive his talents and compensate for his heartaches. He loved his Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. A couple of weeks ago, when the brain tumour was making coherent speech pretty hard, he was nevertheless able to pray with friends with almost faultless speech! What we most value stays with us to the end. For 25 years prayer and the Bible mattered to him, daily. For many, they become important only when there is nothing else left. For Charles, there was nothing else.

I expect Charles’ funeral to be big. And, as he looks down from heaven, he will be amazed to see the esteem in which this chronically self-depreciating man was held by all who knew him.

Service

Kerrash !!! B- o - o - m ! ! Wh -o- o - sh!!

The enemy bombardment was very heavy. All senior NCOs were out of action. Sam was now in command, holding an isolated trench. A runner ran for assistance; huge shells fell within 20 yds of him, but he continued to dig out casualties in full view of the enemy and at close range from the German trenches. For the courage which saved at least 4 lives in November, 1915 in France, Corporal Samuel Meekosha was Leeds-born but claimed by Bradford as its first VC of WWI, he was the son of a Polish father and English mother, awarded the Victoria Cross.

Every VC winner is special; what marks him out?

Samuel was 25 when the Great War ended and so young enough to volunteer for WWII. His unusual name led people to ask him: ‘Aren’t you the chap that won the VC?’ As with so many holders of that medal, Samuel was very modest and dismissive of the act that earned him it. But the continued attention forced drastic action - he changed his name! He shortened his mother’s maiden name, Cunningham, to Ingham.

But the drastic action went painfully-deeper than taking scissors to mam’s name! Samuel had been immensely proud of his dad’s, Alexander’s, Polish roots. But the last traces of that had to go, too, if he was to get rid of the glare of publicity.

I was reminded of Sam Meekosha when reflecting on Jesus’ advice for those who want to be great in God’s Kingdom, who want to be first, even. Maybe you are surprised that He gave such advice. But, hey, we are human and God will not deny the basic instincts of human nature, one of which is the entirely laudable desire to do well, do better, be the best! The mother of two brothers, disciples, asked Jesus to give her boys pre-eminence in the coming Kingdom. Now, Jesus couldn’t grant that, as it happens, but when the others, angry at feeling outflanked, protested, Jesus outlines the way to greatness, superiority: it is by going down low, as low as you can!

What is the lowest a human being can go? Serving others. Serving sacrificially from the heart. That is to be the Christian’s ambition. Now, is that radical, or what? All the drive and thrusting eagerness to get to the top, sacrificed to exalt others rather than self.

Sam Meekosha sacrificed the surname which meant so much to him. That was preferable to popularity. Jesus sacrificed much more than a name, both as an example and so that we could get in to that Kingdom. Who’s up for this life?