Rev. Ian Cruickshank’s Thought for this week 22.08.2019

22 August 2019 There are less than 80 days before, as it stands, Brexit will occur. For the past three years, Brexit has dominated the politics and conversation of people in the UK and has been on the radar, in some form or another, of several other countries in the European Union. Depending on who you ask, the consequences of Brexit will be, similar to falling off a cliff, the most catastrophic event that could happen to the UK with unemployment rising, shortage of necessitates such as food or medicines or, it will be the greatest opportunity the country has had since the days of the industrial revolution to show entrepreneurship leadership and what made the UK such a world force in the arena of commerce. What is certain, is that life will be affected for those in the UK and others in the European Union for good or bad there will be changes in people’s lives, covering all aspects of their daily living. Even after 31st October if Brexit does occur in whatever form, in a very real sense it will only be the beginning of an event, not the finale. Here are some verses from the gospel of Luke which was part of the set readings from a few weeks ago and here’s what it says. Sell your possessions and give alms. …….For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. When reading this we tend to focus on the idea of providing for others less fortunate than ourselves. Sell your possessions and give alms. Which is true, but looking at other parts of the reading, the reason for selling possessions is to give freedom from earthly assets. To have a focus which is not encumbered with earthly belongings. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The passage moves on to say……… See to it that your garments are fastened about yourself with a belt and the lamps, that they are burning constantly The words used evoke important scenes from Hebrew history and culture. See to it that your garments are fastened about yourself with a belt. To the original hearers, it would have recalled one of the greatest moments in the history of Israel when they gained their freedom from Egypt. For generations they had been enslaved with no sign of rescue, they cried out to God who sent Moses as their deliverer. Before their release from Egypt they are told to get ready for a speedy departure, so tuck your cloak into your belt so that you can move quickly. Things will happen fast. Have lamps that are burning constantly, simply put is a warning to be sure that if you have to move quickly and it’s at night-time, you won’t be stumbling in the dark, but will be able to see and go. All this instruction is preparation for one event as the passage continues with, And as for you, be like men looking for their own master when he should return from the marriage feast, so that, having come and knocked, immediately they might open to him. That event is the return of the master, which we know will happen, but not when, but which we need to be prepared for. The image is relating to the second advent, the return of Christ to earth, and this time his return is to finally begin putting into place the restoration of all things in their proper order. Heaven fully knew and experienced on earth. I’ve mentioned two events and one of them surpasses the other. If our treasure is fixed on the heavenly it will enable us to handle the earthly. Less than 80 days to go, and we can have a form of readiness to handle whatever Brexit will bring, by having an assurance of a certain future, that comes with an awareness of God’s design and his fulfilment, not men. Blessing keeps and live the faith.

Thought for this week 18 July

Written by The Rev Ian Cruikshank (Rector of Killane Union our neighbouring parishes)

I’m the revdian. How things have changed for me profoundly over the years and a section of one of readings for Sunday 21st July is key concerning that change. And here it is.

Part of the letter the apostle Paul wrote to the church in Colossae states this concerning Christ. Reading from the Message a Paraphrase of the bible.

He was supreme in the beginning and—leading the resurrection parade—he is supreme in the end. From beginning to end he’s there, towering far above everything, everyone. So spacious is he, so roomy, that everything of God finds its proper place in him without crowding. Not only that, but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the Cross.

Years and years and even years ago when I started primary school I found it natural to hold my pencil with my right hand, but rather than having it positioned between my thumb and index finger, I held it between my index finger and middle finger. No problem then, except that my teacher felt compelled to correct my error by hitting the back of my hand with a wooden ruler and press her knuckles into my back. This was only done when she saw me in error which unfortunately was several times each day, as I found it natural to hold my pencil my way, a different way from my teachers and apparently it seemed the rest of the planet. It was only with hindsight years later that I realised this was possibly the cause of a most horrendous stammer that I had developed. Hard sounds caused the main problem letters such as C, K, P, T, Q, but once in the zone I could have difficultly was almost any word. So today you may have heard “Good morning I’m the reverend Ian From Killanne Union of Parishes hear in  County Wexford.

Life was extremely challenging, that’s being diplomatic it was hell. Give someone with a speech impediment the last name Cruickshank and see what happens. Better still place him in a street called Cairnfield Place and ask him to phone for a taxi. The basic and most commonly requested forms of information you could ask anyone is their name and address, and I was well snookered with both. 

In School we learnt our reading and spelling by saying it publicly in class, so because of my experiences I developed a difficulty with books and education generally. Time goes on and in my mid-twenties I came across the passage I read earlier and especially this part ‘ but all the broken and dislocated pieces of the universe—people and things, animals and atoms—get properly fixed and fit together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the Cross.

I realised that I hadn’t been created with a stammer, but it was the result of bad circumstances, and I looked to God to fix this broken part of me. I had already developed a personal faith, reading, and learning had become an important part of my life, but now I became more able to do what I really wanted to do. The ability to be a mouthpiece, verbally communicating God’s love, peace, mercy, grace and hope to all who was interested. I have engaged in third level education and continue to learn. I spend my time every day in circumstances where one of my main functions is to speak on a one to one, but also to crowds of people. So be encouraged, look for the reality of the broken and dislocated pieces getting properly fixed and fitting together in vibrant harmonies, all because of his death, his blood that poured down from the Cross.  I am overjoyed to be able to do the simplest of things that most take for granted, to say my name, Ian Cruickshank. If you can look up a song by Hillsongs called Broken Vessels. Blessings and Amen