It's all over
Well, it's all over. Not life, you'll be pleased to know, but another year at Spring Harvest. If you've no idea what I'm talking about, Spring Harvest is a big Christian festival/conference type thing that takes place simultaneously at Minehead and Skegness Butlins, drawing together some 35,000 people over the Easter holidays. It's a wonderful experience, great fun for the kids and a big faith-filled boost for the adults. I've been speaking there now for 14 years and love it; love seeing people inspired and God touching both the guests and the speaking team.
This year we were looking at the idea of Jesus being a rabbi and what that would've meant in his context. As rabbi, those who follow him are his apprentices and so we spent the week looking at what it means to be his apprentice today. I think the thing that came out most strongly, and that seemed to strike a chord for most people in my seminars, was how embedded we are in dualistic thinking and the damage that that has done. And so we spent a lot of time looking at how 'spiritual' doesn't equate with 'non-physical', but that it equates with 'God-breathed' or 'God-indwelt'. So, being generous or choosing to walk instead of drive are both as much spiritual disciplines as prayer or solitude.
My favourite moment this year was with my two daughters, Mali (8) and Jemba (5), watching the Saltmine Theatre Company's production of the events of the Easter weekend, who moved the egg?. 1500 people watched in silence as the Last Supper took place and the tension rose. Jesus told his betrayer to do what he had to do quickly. The poignant moment came: Judas stood up, walked over to Jesus and kissed him on the forehead. Before she could help herself, Jemba exploded, 'yeuch!!'. The whole place collapsed with laughter and gave me a moment I'll never forget.
Well, it's all over. Not life, you'll be pleased to know, but another year at Spring Harvest. If you've no idea what I'm talking about, Spring Harvest is a big Christian festival/conference type thing that takes place simultaneously at Minehead and Skegness Butlins, drawing together some 35,000 people over the Easter holidays. It's a wonderful experience, great fun for the kids and a big faith-filled boost for the adults. I've been speaking there now for 14 years and love it; love seeing people inspired and God touching both the guests and the speaking team.
This year we were looking at the idea of Jesus being a rabbi and what that would've meant in his context. As rabbi, those who follow him are his apprentices and so we spent the week looking at what it means to be his apprentice today. I think the thing that came out most strongly, and that seemed to strike a chord for most people in my seminars, was how embedded we are in dualistic thinking and the damage that that has done. And so we spent a lot of time looking at how 'spiritual' doesn't equate with 'non-physical', but that it equates with 'God-breathed' or 'God-indwelt'. So, being generous or choosing to walk instead of drive are both as much spiritual disciplines as prayer or solitude.
My favourite moment this year was with my two daughters, Mali (8) and Jemba (5), watching the Saltmine Theatre Company's production of the events of the Easter weekend, who moved the egg?. 1500 people watched in silence as the Last Supper took place and the tension rose. Jesus told his betrayer to do what he had to do quickly. The poignant moment came: Judas stood up, walked over to Jesus and kissed him on the forehead. Before she could help herself, Jemba exploded, 'yeuch!!'. The whole place collapsed with laughter and gave me a moment I'll never forget.
Leave a comment