DANNY'S DESK - by Cherie Gilmour
‘Vax' is the Oxford dictionary word of the year, one small syllable heavy with meaning. Other years have been 'selfie', 'youthquake' 'post-truth' and 'unfriend'...each word capturing a glimpse of our rapidly changing culture and values.
'Vax' is the murky waters we've been wading through for the past almost two years. First, there was that strange word 'Covid' which ended up dominating our lives and news with daily headcounts of the sick and the dead. We suffered disaster fatigue, too tired to watch the news but too concerned to put out heads in the sand.
And now we've arrived here, to 'vax'..(or not?) and it's dividing us, both literally and figuratively. 'Have you been fully vaxxed?' 'are they an 'anti-vaxxer?' How easily does condemnation spew forth from either camp, especially online? It just seems so obvious, why wouldn’t people see it my way!?
My children were born into Covid, or 'Covid-babies' as people like to say, like we were so bored we decided that having kids would help us pass the time.
In the hardest grind of lockdown in the middle of winter with two small children, I would walk. I would pack the kids into the pram and hit the pavement. And who would I see? People from church. I felt like we should have a secret handshake or something.
When someone asks how you know so and so and you say 'from church..' it feels like dropping a bomb. A word just as loaded as 'vax'. The church which once was the moral cornerstone of society is now regarded with suspicion, a crumbling institution trying to foist their values and political stance onto others.
But it's been during this time, I've realised just how important the word and institution 'church' is.
We're not defined by our stance on speaking in tongues, or communion, or how we decide to worship.
We're not defined by our political views, which are as diverse in the church as outside in the broader community.
At the end of the day we are defined by what brings us together, we are the body of Christ, not a collection of bodies who have been vaxxed or not.
And not being together has made us realise how valuable it is. How much power there is in gathering.
This community, tendrilling into Torquay, connecting us all. I think of all the lovely faces carrying steaming trays of dinner on our doorstep at 5:30pm every night in the blurry early days of having a newborn.
I think of our WhatsApp worship team sharing songs and jokes and our passion for music.
I think of the pleasant surprise of seeing a familiar face smile behind a mask at the supermarket, eyes twinkling in the secret hope shared that there is something more than this.
In the dark days of isolation and uncertainty, the church community has been a light, a hope that all of us weirdos, some of whom we wouldn't willingly hang out with are brought together by one thing - Jesus. There is strength in that, as there is strength in people marching together through the streets of Melbourne.
And spare a thought for Danny, our personable pastor who would much rather be ministering to people over a cuppa or a meal than trying to work out how to engage the congregation over Zoom.
As we head into Christmas we have so much to celebrate. A return to normal, a return to being together again but let's not lose our gratitude for the freedom to meet, even if we're not fully there yet.
The 'hello's' and 'how's your week been?' of a Sunday morning small talk are so much more than that. As Louis Armstrong croons, 'friends shaking hands saying how do you do, they're really saying I love you'.
We can look each other in the eyes in the knowledge that our gathering together is not to be taken for granted. Something to fight for. Something of a superpower. ... See MoreSee Less
DANNY’S DESK
Declare Jesus – Develop Disciples – Glorify God
“He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armour and protection.”
Psalm 91:4 NLT
Hello!
A little boy decided to go for a swim in the creek behind his house. In a hurry, he dove into the cool water, not realising that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, a crocodile was swimming toward the shore. His mother was looking out the window and saw the two as they each swam closer and closer. She raced toward the water, yelling as loudly as she could. Hearing her voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his mother. Too late. Just as he reached her, the crocodile reached him. From the pier, the mother grabbed her little boy by the arms just as the crocodile snatched his legs. An incredible tug-of-war between the two began. The crocodile was much stronger than the mother, but the mother was much too passionate to let go. A farmer happened to drive by, heard her screams, raced from his truck – and ‘disposed’ of the crocodile with a well-aimed shot.
Remarkably, little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal, and on his arms, were deep scratches where his mother's fingernails dug into his flesh in her effort to hang on to the son she loved. A reporter who interviewed the boy asked if he could see the scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, "But look at my arms. I’ve got great scars on my arms, too - because my Mum wouldn't let go."
In some way, I reckon that each one of us can identify with that little boy. We may not have scars from a crocodile attack - but we all have scars of some kind. The scars of a painful past; the scars of something lost - even the scars from a great victory. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret and yet some of them remind us of a great triumph in our life. But if we can stop and look at it in a way that some of our ‘scars’ are actually because God has refused to let go of us, we will see Him right there in the midst of our struggle. Whatever it was - He's been there holding on to us. Scripture teaches that God loves us (John 3:16); that we are children of His (Romans 8:16); and that He wants to protect us and provide for us in every way (Psalm 91:4).
Because we are human beings – being what human beings often ‘be’ – there are times when we foolishly dive into dangerous situations without first considering the ramifications. The ‘creek’ of life is filled with peril - and we can forget that there is a very real enemy waiting to attack the moment we let our guard down. That's when the tug-of-war begins.
Jesus wore the scars of His love on His body – for us. So, if you have the scars of His love on your ‘arms’ (like the little boy) be very, very grateful. Why? Because in the struggle - God did not (and will not) - let you go.
Our God is in the very real business of not letting us go. Ever.
Have a great week!
Danny ... See MoreSee Less
DANNY’S DESK
Declare Jesus – Develop Disciples – Glorify God
“For I have given rest to the weary and joy to the sorrowing.”
’Jeremiah 31:25 NLT
Hello!
There is the story of a man who discovered a hummingbird buzzing around his garage repeatedly bumping its head on the ceiling. He watched for a while and then tried to coax it out of the garage door. It didn't understand his waving arms, and finally landed on the rake hanging on the wall. He asked his wife if she had any ideas. They got one of the flowerpots from the yard and put it on the floor near the door where the sun was beaming into the garage in the hope that the bright red flowers would attract him to the opening and help him see how easily he could fly away. But the bird wouldn't go near the flowers. They took both cars out of the garage to make sure the view to his freedom was totally unobstructed. They went into the house for a while hoping he'd find his own way out, but when they came back out, he was still there. Nothing was working! Finally in desperation, the man pointed his finger toward the door and said loudly, "Go that way!" The bird did! Instantly! They were stunned. It seemed as if on that one simple command the hummingbird immediately followed his finger and flew straight out the door.
Why am I telling you this story?
If you’ve read my contribution to the annual report, I mentioned that the last 12mths particularly has taken its toll on me. Now I’m not saying that the toll on me is any more important than the toll COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns have had on any of you. What I am saying though, is that I am exhausted and that this pandemic has me feeling like that trapped hummingbird -- so close to where I belong, but not quite able to get there. In Matthew 11:28 Jesus tells us: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
I need rest and so I’m going to spend some time ‘coming to Him,’ because I cannot be the Pastor Jesus has called me to be among you if I am ‘operating’ at such a low ebb. And having felt such a clear call from God to "Go that way!" have decided that that I will be obedient to that command and take a break for the remainder of 2021 to rest and recuperate. I want to be clear that this is not a holiday – this is medical leave and I have put some things in place that will help me to restore and refresh both myself and my family.
You are in good hands while Julie and I are away. The Leadership Team; Michael and the Pastoral Care Team will all be available. Please support them as they seek to support you.
And please pray for me (and for Julie) as I continue to seek to realign myself to what God has called me to be here at TCF - a Pastor who came to teach you and to love you.
Bless you.
Danny ... See MoreSee Less
