Advent 2 - The kingdom of God is at hand

The Kingdom of God is at hand
Take a look at your hands and think
What is within my reach?
What will be with in my reach today?
Who and what will I touch?
What mark will I leave? For better? For worse?
What will I give? What will I take away?
What work will I do and which master will I serve?
One of things within our reach is the Kingdom of God, in the normal everyday things of life there are keys that can open us up to a world of possibilities and to a deeper life- will we find them?
Your kingdom come .. your will be done


Adviento 2 - El reino de Dios esta a tus manos
El Reino de Dios está cerca;
Echa un vistazo a tus manos y piensa
¿Qué está a mi alcance?
¿Qué va a estar a mi alcance hoy?
¿Quién y qué voy a tocar?
¿Qué marca voy a dejar? Para bien? Para mal?
¿Qué voy a dar? ¿Qué voy a llevar?
¿Qué trabajo haré y Que maestro serviré?

Una de las cosas a nuestro alcance es el Reino de Dios.  En las cosas normales de la vida cotidiana, hay llaves que pueden abrirnos a un mundo de posibilidades y una vida más profunda, vamos a encontrar ellas?
Venga tu reino .. Hágase tu voluntad

Advent 1 -Jesus in the hardware store

So my Dad was in the West Bank helping a Palestinian family re-build their house which had been bulldozed by Israeli authorities. He was looking for a particular tool so he went into Bethlehem's local hardware store. The shopkeeper was naturally curious as to why a white westerner would be looking for tools in Bethlehem, so he invited him to sit down for a coffee and to explain. The shopkeeper, surprised and enamoured with the explanation, looks my Dad in the eyes and asks 'So do you believe- I mean really believe?' and my Dad tentatively replies that he is a Christian. The shopkeeper as Muslim believer continues, 'then when is Jesus coming back? Because we really need him to return'..

I wonder what Jesus' return would have meant for this man and why he hungered for it so much. Was it a longing for justice, peace, dignity? And if so, is it possible that Jesus can come back in small ways every day? Like in a visit to a hardware store looking for the tools to rebuild a broken dream.

Adviento 1 - Jesús en la ferretería
Así que mi papá estaba en Cisjordania, para ayudar a una familia palestina a reconstruir su casa que había sido demolido por las autoridades israelíes. Él estaba buscando una herramienta en particular por lo que fue al ferretería local de Belén. El tendero, naturalmente, tenía curiosidad de por qué un occidental blanco estaría buscando herramientas en Belén, por lo cual lo invitó a sentarse a tomar un café y explicar. El comerciante, sorprendido y encantado con la explicación, mira mi papá a los ojos y le pregunta "Entonces, ¿usted cree-me refiero a realmente creer" y papá tentativamente contesta que él es un cristiano. El tendero como creyente musulmán continúa, “pues entonces cuando va a volver Jesús? Porque realmente necesitamos que vuelva "..
Me pregunto lo que el regreso de Jesús significaba para este hombre y por qué estaba hambriento de ello. Era un anhelo de justicia, la paz, la dignidad? Y si es así, es posible que Jesús pueda regresar en pequeñas cosas todos los días? Como entrar en un ferretería para encontrar las herramientas para reconstruir un sueño roto.

Simple Pleasures

1) When you can walk around a city - no parking tickets at the end of the day
2) When the barman gives you an extra plate of tapas - just for the heck of it
3) When you go to the cinema - and can see over the head of the person in front
4) When you drink good coffee- and it's not Starbucks

5) When people who have only just met you treat you like an angel that's fallen from the sky -                         and offer the hand  of friendship

How do you remember your childhood?

Have spent the last couple of days in a conference about Children and Young People at Risk in Spain. An amazing privilege to hear heart felt views of professionals in this sector and get an idea of how they do it Spanish style. There was a strong emphasis on the role of family and education, as well as young people being encouraged to take responsibility for their actions and create their own initiatives. There was also a refreshingly spiritual touch with talk of how love and value is the most important gift we can give a child and even Jesus got a quote in 'whoever welcomes a little child in my name, welcomes me'. We were left with the question 'How do you remember your childhood? And how would you want the children of today to remember theirs?'

A little bit arty

Check out my wares :-) - some interpretations of the Burgos landscape. Ideas for new pictures welcome!

Inspired much

I have been in Spain just over a week now and have had the privilege of having my socks well and truly inspired off by the amazing work of the 'Asociacion Hechos' here in Burgos. Hechos emerged from a movement looking to meet the needs of local youth on a difficult estate in Burgos and now impacts 100s of young people and is a catalyst to other projects globally. In Burgos currently, Hechos has a house for 10 refugee children which seeks to meet their social needs and assist them in education and integration. There are also 2 move on flats for young people progressing into independent living. The Association mentors young people in such a way that, as they grow older, they too take part in the formation of new initiatives - such a the community bank, or the technology and art projects that are just starting. In a couple of weeks, Masar, 20yrs old from Senegal, will be speaking at the TED youth conference in Madrid about his experiences and the projects he is now involved in. What strikes me most about Hechos is that it feels more like a family than an organisation and the immense love and belief invested in the young people is evident in the atmosphere of the place- you can taste the hope. One week with these guys has made me a believer again - 'together we can change the world'. Gracias Hechos! www.hechos.eu

Puente

One of my favorite Spanish institutions is 'hacer puente', literally, 'to make a bridge'. The basic principle is that, if a festival day falls on a day such as Tuesday - e.g. All Saints Day, as was the case yesterday, it is thought prudent not to go back to work on Monday and thus interrupt the flow of the festivities, but rather to 'bridge' the gap with an additional day off. When it comes to fiestas no one knows what they are doing quite like the Spanish! The double bridge is the one to watch out for, this is where both Tuesday and Thursday are festival days and therefore Monday and Wednesday are for grabs for some bridge action, leaving Friday as the only obligatory work day. Sadly, I am told, this could become a dying art in Spain as purse strings are tightened in the light of the current financially crisis.