Phenology, anyone?

 

One of my abiding interests is wildlife, and in particular birds and butterflies.  Since moving to Lode six years ago I have kept a record of the number of different birds and butterflies I have seen in the parish.  The overall total of different bird species currently stands at 75, and for butterflies it is 20.

 

The thing I love is the wonderful variety of size, shape, colour and character of the birds around us – from the majesty of a heron in flight to the tiny goldcrest; from the regal plumage of the peacock who strolls around Lode like the lord of the manor, to the subtle browns and greys of the humble sparrow.  For me, as a Christian, it is a constant reminder of the wonderful beauty and variety of God’s creation.

 

Being an artist I am fascinated by the boundless creativity – the pattern and design – which is to be enjoyed all around us.  Sunsets and butterfly wings; the colour of ripe sloes; teasels and oak trees.

 

The BBC and the Woodland Trust are currently doing surveys to track the changing seasons and it was through these that I learned a new word – PHENOLOGY – which ‘is the study of the timing of natural, seasonal events, especially in relation to climate. It is recording when you saw your first bumblebee in spring or first ripe blackberries in autumn. This can then be compared with other records.’ 

(Find out more at http://recording.phenology.org.uk/autumnwatch/ )

 

One indicator of seasonal changes is the timing of the migration of birds, and the AutumnWatch survey is studying when the last sightings of swifts are made as they begin their long journey south for the winter.  How is climate change affecting the traditional times of migration?  Are the birds leaving earlier, or staying longer?  And what will be the consequences of that?  In Lode we have a colony of swifts which can be seen and heard screaming up and down Mill Road on summer evenings in July and early August.  As I write this article they have left, with the exception of a few stragglers, and all is quiet again.

It amazes me when I realise they have been coming and going like this for countless generations, so perhaps I shouldn’t have been surprised to find the following verse in the Bible, written by the prophet Jeremiah some 2,600 years ago – ‘Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migrations.’  [Jeremiah 8:7]

Jeremiah’s verse continues with these words – ‘But my people do not know the requirements of the Lord.’ 

 

The change of climate in our society in recent times means that many people have now lost contact with God.  They neither know nor care about Him, or what He requires of them.

But although times and seasons may change God’s word to us does not.  God is patient in waiting for us to turn back to him and receive all the blessings he offers.  Continuing to ignore Him, as the seasons roll on for each of us, carries a consequence which is stated simply and graphically by Jeremiah – ‘The harvest is past, the summer has ended, and we are not saved.’ [Jeremiah 8:20]

 

Harvest time is a good opportunity to reflect on the beauty and bounty of God and to turn to Him with thanksgiving and praise.  There will be Harvest Celebrations in all our local churches in the next few weeks.  Why not come along and help to change the climate again?

         

 

 

 

The Politics of Hate

The arrival of suicide bombers on British soil has brought into focus the corrosive and destructive power of hatred.  It is not difficult for most people –whatever religious, political, cultural or ethnic group they belong to, or identify with - to recognise such acts as unspeakably evil.  Also evil are the random acts of retaliation aimed at places of worship, or individuals of a particular ethnic or religious group.

 

Currently being debated in Parliament is a new Bill which sets out to curb the excesses of religious intolerance.  It is called the ‘Incitement to Racial and Religious Hatred Bill’.  Whilst the aims of this bill are worthy, there are serious concerns about its effect and the way it may be misused if it becomes law.  At the simplest level, many see it as a serious blow to the freedom of speech which we have long cherished and enjoyed in this country.  Will our freedom to criticise or challenge the beliefs of others be curtailed?  Will preachers or evangelists run the risk of a seven year prison sentence because their words have caused offence to someone of a different faith?  What exactly constitutes incitement to religious hatred?

Evidence from Australia, where similar legislation has been passed, suggests that tensions between certain religious groups have increased, rather than diminishing, as a result.

 

Religion has always been flashpoint in human relations and the more passionately a belief is held the more tragic are the consequences of any resulting conflict.  However, I am not convinced that religious passion can, or should, be controlled by government legislation.  We already have laws which cover incitement to violence or criminal damage – any new laws, which may well muzzle our rights to voice our opinions, seem unnecessary at best and potentially dangerous at worst.

 

The Founder of my faith proclaims a life based on love as opposed to hate; on reconciliation as opposed to retaliation; on forgiveness as opposed to vengeance.  He teaches his followers to - ‘Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.’  [Gospel of Luke 6:27-28]

 

Jesus deliberately replaces the politics of hate with the politics of love.  This was, and is, and always will be, hard and radical teaching, and it cost Him His life.  If only we had the courage and will to embrace it we could transform the world.

Wilson, Bruce and God Almighty

Just recently I watched two films on consecutive days.  One was ‘Cast Away’ with Tom Hanks, the other was ‘Bruce Almighty’ with Jim Carrey.  Both had as their central character a man who was lost.

Tom Hanks was the sole survivor of an plane crash in the Pacific Ocean.  He was thrown back entirely on his own resources for his survival.  Completely alone, he painted a face on a football with his own blood, and then used to talk to it.  When the football, ‘Wilson’, was washed away in the sea Hanks was distraught – grieving as though he had lost a real friend.

 

In the second film Jim Carrey’s character, Bruce, was lost in a very different way.  Completely self-centred he was constantly dissatisfied with his life, blaming God for everything that went wrong.  Eventually, Bruce got an appointment to meet God – interestingly portrayed as a black caretaker in a huge, empty building.  As a result of their conversation, God decided to take a holiday and handed over all his power and resources to Bruce, with the one proviso that he must not interfere with anyone’s free will.  Bruce had a great time using his power to gratify his own desires and to get revenge on his business rivals.  However, there were serious problems with having unlimited power.  When he moved the moon closer to create a romantic backdrop to an evening with his wife he caused a tsunami in Asia, of which he seemed quite unaware.  He began to hear hundreds of clamouring voices in his head, which he discovered were people praying.  He used his power to download the prayers onto his computer, but when he tried to answer them they were coming in faster than he could reply, even typing at supernatural speed!  Eventually, he solved the problem by answering ‘Yes’ to all the prayers.  The result was chaos!  So many of the prayers were for a win on the lottery that the payout was in pence rather than pounds and the disgruntled ‘winners’ were rioting in the streets!

 

These two films seem to reflect aspects of our human condition. Some of us see ourselves as cast away, totally alone, with only our own resources to rely on, adrift in a fathomless universe with no one to talk to.  Others of us have a notion that maybe there is Someone, or Something, out there Somewhere but, if so, we haven’t really had a very good deal.  Or God is only a caretaker, aimlessly polishing floors while the world gets on with its own life without him.  Some of us expect God to answer all our prayers with a ‘yes’, however self-centred or self-gratifying they may be.

 

Those of us who put our faith, hope and trust in Jesus Christ know that we are not alone and that we have a God who is intimately concerned and involved in every aspect of our lives.  A God who doesn’t always answer ‘yes’, because he sees a bigger picture and he knows what is best for our ultimate and eternal well-being.

 

Tom Hanks was rescued from his island but went back to a world where everything had moved on without him.  Bruce handed the power and responsibility back to God and was more content with his lot in life.  Both men were profoundly changed by their experience.

 

For me, coming to faith in God, through Jesus Christ, has also been a profoundly life-changing experience.  God’s offer of hope in a hopeless world is open to everyone who is willing to look in the right place.  The Bible tells us that those who hope in the Lord will not be disappointed.

‘Put your hope in the LORD both now and forevermore.’ [Psalm 131:3]