Our trip to Spain was, well, in a word, Amazing. Flying into Madrid, maneuvering the public transit system – taking a bus to visit the fortress of Avila (and the accompanying churches and cathedrals); continuing the trek to Segovia , physically touching the Roman aquaduct that’s in excess of 2000 years old, witnessing a real, honest to goodness castle (Disney’s castles definitely pales by comparison) and taking in more chapels and cathedral of Segovia; wandering through the museums of Madrid (the Prada, The Thyssen, and Renia Sofia) visually touching the artwork spanning the past 2000+ years; dining in a variety of plazas, one of which saw an array of public spectacles from bull fights to the Spanish Inquisition (I hadn’t expected that.); taking photos of the wonders, the buildings, the people, the fountains (lots of fountains) the sculptures, the waterfalls, the gardens, the stonework, the plazas (we have lots of photos, some 550 digital images); swimming in the pool@ University Europa de Madrid; meditating on life and ministry in the Rogue Valley; praying for the people sitting in the pews of 1st PC Phoenix, those being served home communion, as well as those declining to be served home communion or who’ve decided to not be present with us in worship, those who partner with 1st PC in reaching out to impact the Phoenix/Talent communities, those who are impacted by this partnership outreach. It was an active time away in another part of the world.
I need to extend a word of thanks to the kind, compassionate people of Spain who put up with my broken (nonexistent) language skills. I am intrigued by the idea of going through life (well 10 days of life) really not understanding the background noise of what’s being said around me. We spent the 10 days riding the subway and public buses; people talked, laughed, shared, lived – and I was oblivious to much/most of what was going on verbally around me. When you think about it – we spend much of our time dropping eves on conversations around us – hearing tidbits of experience simply by proximity to those around us – the shopping center, the check-out lane, passing by the street; it was almost as though I was on an informational blackout.
This lack of auditory/informational stimulus helped me realize that this venture overseas was very much one of ‘place’ rather than one of ‘relation’. I didn’t get to talk with people – find out about them, who they are, hopes dreams, failures, successes, and fears. I sat with ‘place’ and ‘images’ - to reflect on how these combine to in part meaning, from an outside, uneducated perspective. And in this vein, I can share what I saw, as well as what I did not see.
Notably, I did not see many persons living with obesity (fellow tourist or resident); I did not witness the authorities rousting the street peddlers on the street corners; I did not observe overtly visible reminders of the terrorist subway bombing from March of 2004.
What I did see was stone: lots and lots and lots of stone. From fountains to buildings to walkways and roadways; from constructions handed down through antiquity to those of recent genesis; from the floor coverings in the most lavish palaces and cathedrals to those in a less-than-highend hotel (and even university dormitory). Stone was everywhere and everything I saw – there carried an air of precision, of permanence, of intentional planning for the future.
As the church, we too have a foundation on stone or rock. Jesus is the Rock of our salvation; he is the stone which the builders cast aside, but has become the cornerstone of our life in faith together. How is it that Jesus the Christ, the incarnate mercy of God that is the fulfillment to the Law, the subject and object of the Good News (Gospel) extended to all; how does this Stone draw this same pervasive hold upon all we see, all we do - all we build? Could it be that this Stone, as it gives shape and meaning to life, holds the key to who God hopes (intends) for us to become?
In months to come, the images of permanence, fluidity, and intentionality will enter into my reflections through these newsletter articles. I welcome your thoughts, observations, discussions. Peace,
Rev. Mike
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