I could have used a number of titles for this entry. I was strangely drawn to ‘Everything Changes But You’ but quickly realised that I risked someone mistaking my homage to Take That for a ‘Graham Kendrick style’ love song to Jesus, and we definitely cannot have that.
This month’s theme is ‘Wind of Change’…. We started, as we usually do, in the world. Beauty and the Beast provided us with an introduction, the bit where the beast is transformed into a ‘handsome’ prince. An outward change to reflect the inner turning from self centred arrogant monster into lovable heart of gold cuddly pet. A bit corny but, as with most Disney productions, gets the point across.
I took the children into the hall where we talked about how they might like to change themselves. I asked them to name a super power that would enhance their lives. We then dressed up as our new super hero self but discovered that, whilst we had the look, the super power eluded us. Thus the only way to change ourselves was from within.
This is, interestingly, in contrast to the other, older, group who, at one stage concluded that you could chnage the person you are by changing the way you look. Evidence for this came from the likes of Trinny and Susanah who take dowdy shy unconfident ladies and transform them into bright shiny bold women a with just a visit or two to M&S and a few well chosen word of support. I think that is where the real work is done, those few well chosen word of support. It would be interesting to see how the partners and families of these new women reacted to their mum/wife going from comfy, cosy, docile and reliable to sharp, cool, active and independant. And how long the new her lasted back in the context from which she was first removed…
What it does demonstrate is that it is within us all to be the people we want to be, for some it needs a bit more TLC to bring it out. Here is the space that spiritual people of faith need to be operating in.
I heard a story in the radio this morning about a catholic priest who fell in love with a widow in his flock and had a 22 year relationship with her. The rest of the congregation are in full support of this but the church has decided it is unacceptable and he must go. They have appointed a replacement but his masses have been boycotted by er… the masses. One woman was quoted as saying how hard it is for everyone because they are torn between their love of the priest and their duty to God.
Surely their ‘duty to God’ and ours is the love and support of this priest and people in general who need it?
