Most people feel better when the sun is out and the ordinary around us becomes beautiful. Then, the rain appears, skies are grey and we can quickly forget the warmth of the sun.
We have just celebrated Pentecost, a moment of high drama in the story of the disciples and the event that many see as the beginning of the Christian church. For a while afterwards, everything went really well. The church grew and the community lived in harmony, sharing all they had in common. Then human nature, the need for structure, not to
mention persecution and imprisonment, started to take their toll on the utopian vision that the early followers of Christ had for the church. Paul and the other apostles kept having to remind the disciples of the new life that they were called to in Christ and the difference that the Holy Spirit was making in their lives.
In our own faith journeys too, we have moments of great fire and passion - God seems close enough to touch. These are the moments that we need to remember and cherish, when our life is more challenging and difficult.
Deep under the city of Newcastle runs the Victoria Tunnel. In
some point in its history, in the midst of the darkness and damp, someone made a small crucifix and placed it on the wall in the tunnel. It is an amazingly beautiful and touching symbol of faith to find in such an extraordinary setting.
The tunnel curators do not who put it there or why, but it offers a lasting tribute to the faith of someone who wanted to have something to remind themselves and others of the presence of God, even 85 feet below ground.
May you feel the warmth of God’s love, just like the sun, this
week.
God bless,
Cecilia