V is for Vision
During the joint Advent service various members of the congregations spoke on subjects starting with the letters from the word Advent . Joel Swadling spoke about Vision . Here is what he said .
V from Advent . V for Vision . Asked for my variation upon Christ ’ s vision for the world - aware of thousands of years , of millions of words , on the subject - all I am capable of is an expression of the personal vision with which Christ impels me to live , as an individual within the Christian faith .
A vision , my faith , which has little if anything to do with a next life ; with what happens after we , I , die . Living for each other on this earth , in this time .
‘ On Earth , as it is in Heaven ’: the freedom to dream , to envision a creation fully enlivened by God ’ s profoundly dazzling capabilities . After the dream , the shared responsibility of enacting , embodying , this creation . Recognition of a place to start . In terms practical and pragmatic , human and multicultural . An end to pollution of the planet , a movement towards protection of its resources , its myriad gifts of nature , species and wildlife . Of material resources , money a means to an end , not a goal in itself . To that end , the elevated and established equality of all , diminished excesses of the unjustly wealthy .
Of societal issues , ‘ personal is political ’. Transcending history , even the history of our church , of our pre-existing Biblical interpretations . Driven by a compulsion towards comprehending spirituality across the broad human range of experience : to seek , recognise and acknowledge commonality , to celebrate our equality .
Seeing ourselves of many tribes : religious , racial , en-gendered , national . But also of one human family . Locally of one country , but citizens of the world . Opening the fold , exponentially increasing the protection and defence of those of other countries , other faiths , other races , different sexual orientations .
Locating and identifying the resonance of the term , ‘ ambitious compassion ’. Aspiring to ever greater heights of interpersonal understanding , kindness , humility . The need to forgive one another , that we may be worthy - each in our own eyes - of forgiveness from God . Driven by the desire and ability to feel predisposed towards , worthy of , God ’ s forgiveness .
This , the essence of Christ ’ s mortal and immortal sacrifice : levelling the field between each human and his or her creator : that forgiveness exist , expressly given and received , God to one person , and then one to another .
Ultimately , the vision of an immediate existence in which difference is recognised and celebrated , human collectivity defended .
Images on these two pages by Brian Rope St Margaret ’ s News 6 December 2016