Monthly Archives: July 2018

Amble round Amble

The date is 684AD. Someone has to convince Cuthbert to return to Lindisfarne as Bishop. That task falls to Elfreda, Abbess of Whitby.

The tide was still falling, a breeze was skimming in from the sea and the Cuddy Ducks, the males in their distinctive black and white plumage, were bobbing along the channel carved by the River Coquet as it met the sea.
Having agreed to meet here, for sometime they said nothing. The grey sea and sky merged somewhere in the distance and they stood together admiring the gentle harmony.
As they did so a dog otter, sleek and brown, emerged from the surf below them and seeing the Saints came up to salute them, sniffing the air as he got nearer. Then winding his slim body between their legs, made off back to the rocks.
Elfreda let out her breath. Cuthbert turned and smiled. ‘Do you have a speech prepared to convince me to come back to the mainland and assume the office of Bishop’, he enquired.
‘No I don’t’, she said. ‘There’s nothing I could say would make the role more attractive than the Hermitage of the Farne Islands that you know and love so well, where the birds return in their season to raise their young, where you can praise the Creator of All every day without ceasing, the sea and sky your cathedral, where wild creatures seek you out for your company not your wisdom. No human being could ask you to leave that for the trivial problems we have here’.
The wind makes eyes water and theirs were no exception. ‘Come then’, he said. ‘You are coming back with me to be Bishop’? She queried. ‘Well I’m here am I not?’ He said. ‘And you are right, only God could call me from there to here, a migration for a season’.

Janet Lees, Amble, 16.07.2018

Elfreda of Whitby and Cuthbert met on Coquet Island near Amble in 684 AD.

Why Benedict?

You’d not think a rule by a bearded man would have much appeal to the rule-challenger that I like to think I am. Whilst it’s true that I’m not very good with the great men, I have a place in my heart for Benedict and for the communities of Benedictines that continue to welcome and nurture me. These sisters and brothers have been most kind and worshipping with them has been renewing.
My remembered version of the Rule of St Benedict concentrates largely on the beginning with a few bits in the middle. What I remember is it’s not supposed to be onerous or harsh and that’s how I try to interact with it.

When felting wool I take a few strands and lay them down, and then I take a few more and lay them down and then a few more and so on. It isn’t until quite a few layers are built up that I add the warm soapy water that will felt them together into a new project. Benedict doesn’t mention the community felter alongside cellarer, porter and prior or abbess but that role of taking strands and bringing them together is a community role. It’s one I enjoy and in my community felting I bring together different layers of the remembered bible, remembered rule and remembered stories and silences of all kinds.
So today I remember all those who engage with the Rule of St Benedict in whatever way, whether written down, remembered or felted and I give thanks for hospitality and worship felted together over hundreds of years, new communities emerging in new colours and prayer and silence still nurturing.

In our life and our believing
The love of God

11th July 2018

Were the Gyrovagues really that bad?

There was a group of monastics frequently condemned as dissolute by early church leaders: the Gyrovagues. These wanderers were judged as taking more than they gave in their peripatetic life style going from monastery to monastery. St Benedict wasn’t keen on them.
But then why would he be? He was trying to establish a rule for settled communities. If being a Gyrovague looked too good, who would bother with his Rule. Everyone would be off like a shot leaving behind the dour brethren and repetitive roles of these communities for the more attractive life of the Gyrovagues.
Just imagine, you turn up and you get welcomed. People listen to your stories and feed you. You see new places and experience worship in different settings. For an early monastic this must have seemed a winsome option.
I’m about to become a Gyrovague. On and off for the last few summers I’ve done a bit of wandering, physical and spiritual. This has often involved walking a way somewhere: St Cuthbert’s in the Borders, the Cleveland Way in North Yorkshire and the Hadrian’s Wall Path have all been completed.
Next year I will attempt my end to end. I’m in training for it with my 1000 mile challenge. If I complete it, I shall be the third member of our family to do so. It all began in 2003, when Bob, then 50, walked LEJOG as it is affectionately known, ‘via the margins’ for his sabbatical. This walk has fed us ever since. Hannah was 9 years old and determined to do it herself one day. On this day in 2012, aged 18 and having just completed her A levels she began at Land’s End, finishing in September at John O’Groats before going to university.
I shall retire at Christmas and intend initially at least to become a Gyrovague and do my End to End, from Spring 2019.
This weekend in Hereford has been an interesting introduction in many ways. The newly launched St Thomas way is more than just a walking route. Ideal for Gyrovagues of all ages, it includes on line exploring for those who’s digital footprint is easier to access than their physical one
Here in the Mobile Chapel of St Scholastica, where there are at most two of us to share a host of roles, this weekend has been a blessing of welcome and worship, food and education. Did we give much back? I doubt it. We were enthusiastic and there is this blog, but essentially we were Gyrovagues, dissolutely taking more than we gave, and we are grateful for the opportunity.

In our life and our believing

The love of God

What would Scholastica say?

There are few sayings attributed to St Scholastica, the twin sister of St Benedict. He is known for his Rule and she is remembered for a few stories embroidered around the edges of his life.
Of course that’s not all that unusual. Few women had their words recorded at the time and some would think it pointless to pursue the question.

Some attribute these words to Scholastica:
I asked you and you did not listen,
So I asked God and he did listen.

They are recalled alongside the story of Scholastica trying to influence Benedict to change his mind about the pair continuing a conversation together. He wanted to get on with something else and sent her away. She still had things to say and wanted to stay. A thunderstorm arrived to settle the issue and she stayed.

It seems he struggled to change his mind. Being intractable seems to be a singular mark of poor, but so called strong, leadership. It’s found in many places. Daniel wouldn’t have been in the Lion’s Den if it weren’t that the king couldn’t possibly change his mind. Japheth’s daughter would have grown up and pursued a happy life if it wasn’t for the fact her father couldn’t change his mind. None of this demonstrates good leadership.
Good leadership reflects, shows remorse when necessary, learns, adjusts, and yes, changes its mind. Without the need for thunderstorms. Scholastica, I think, would agree.