The Stranger Seeks Sanctuary
Preamble
Peace and Refuge. Related, corresponding and intertwined, but not identical concepts. Peace and Refuge. There are spiritual, emotional, social and personally physical aspects to each of these.
Act 1, Scene 1, Pre-conference
Peace and Refuge have been coursing through my mind since Monday, thanks to Rev. Thomas Brauer, who is in attendance at this conference. Thomas has explored these themes through photography and graphic art, and has lent eight pieces to me for an upcoming worship service. In placing the art, we sought a configuration to stimulate thoughts about the interplay between Peace and Refuge.
Act 1, Scene 2, Pre-conference
Sensitivity to this was heightened on Tuesday when I swung by the King’s Fold Retreat and Renewal Centre to pick up some items and meet with friends. King’s Fold has a well established ethos of ministry through hospitality, rest and retreat – and in a very real way provides a place of Peace and Refuge in all three contexts spoken to in the preamble. My short visit there stirred further thoughts: Thomas’ pieces – beautiful photographic art with gorgeous graphic layouts – reflections on Peace and Refuge – mountains, islands, rainforest scenes, wading birds. I presumptuously assume that my resonance with Thomas’s art is something of a cultural norm… that we would all readily see Peace and Refuge in Thomas’s art, and then ponder: ‘How is it that I do not imagine of churches as symbols of peace and refuge, let alone places of Peace and Refuge?
Act 2, Scene 1, Conference
Michael Frost – Wednesday keynote presentation: ‘If your church was taken out of your neighbourhood, would the neighbourhood grieve, mourn the loss – would it even notice?’ I wonder: ‘If churches were perceived of as places of peace and refuge, would their absence be grieved or noticed?’ I wonder: ‘Do the churches fail to be places of peace and refuge? Is that why their absence is at risk of not being noticed? I wonder: ‘Do people living in our consumer driven, spectacle distracted, addiction riddled, narcissistic society even know there is such a thing as Peace, or Refuge? If not, how does that shape a starting point in our missional task? Can we consider the birthing of awareness and desire through a foretaste as being mission enough for the present moment?
Act 2, Scene 2, Conference
Stuart Murray & Juliet Kilpen: ‘Who are the shalom seekers in your neighbourhood?’ We are encouraged to make them our Kingdom allies.
Act 3, Scene1, A theme I have aspired to, that I wish to share. To be read slowly.
‘True justice is the harvest reaped by peacemakers from seeds sown in the spirit of peace.’ (James 3:18 NEB)
Act 4, Scene 1
What script do we write?