Bishop's letter - June

Last Updated on Tuesday, 29 June 2010 10:50 Wednesday, 16 June 2010 22:18

What Does God Smell Like?

It is the sort of provocative question Barbara Brown Taylor encouraged 230 of us to consider at the workshop in the Cathedral, which was sponsored by the Wallis Trust. The point she wished to make was that we too often think of our Faith in abstract terms. For instance love, mercy and forgiveness are abstract terms. By way of contrast Barbara reminded us that Jesus tended to use language that contained images of substance: ‘I am the light for the world’, ‘You are the salt of the earth’ and ‘the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed’.

I heard of a Priest who on the morning after the workshop asked the congregation what did they think God smelt like. I am told one person volunteered, ‘the smell of freshly washed sheets’! When we start to think in that way God is no longer distant; but close to us.

The same morning I was visiting a Parish for a Confirmation and when we came to the part called ‘Commitment to Christian Service’ – it struck me how abstract it sounded. I tried to rephrase the statement – so it was more of a story – about getting out there in the world, rolling our sleeves up and getting stuck in. You might like to consider what sort of an image you see when you think about your own commitment to Christian Service.

What is it that we do when we forgive others, seek to love our neighbour as ourselves, strive for peace and justice, accept the cost of following Jesus Christ in our daily life and work, and share the Good News with others? Christian Service is about taking these ideals and with God’s help, giving them life and form.

Barbara Brown Taylor reminded me how easy it is not to do what we say, but just say it – not to walk the talk, but just talk it. With the world watching us and God waiting, there is a need to roll up our sleeves and get stuck in; and I know when we do that we are not alone but we are in the company of a very special friend.

+Tom

Bishop