Rob Nicholls

Just thinking about a comment by Sam Radford (samradford.com) about rhythm and repetition. A good friend of mine just completed the Kokoda Track which is a very long and arduous journey across the highlands of New Guinea. He had to train long and hard to go on the walk (he is my age) and got very fit doing so. He said that one of the topics of conversation was the issue of rhythm vs repetition. On that work you can be climbing up rocks at one stage then wading through water soon after. The terrain constantly changes and the surface demands different muscles. If you lose your rhythm, it gets more exhausting, especially as you encounter those changes. Maintaining rhythm is essential. Walking repetitiously is very tiring as you don’t adapt as you go. Holding rhythm requires adaptation whilst holding the timing. Jesus issues an invitation to “learn the unforced rhythms of grace”. I realise as I think of Terry on the Kokoda Track that I need to learn to recognise when I am rhythmic and when I am repetitious. To understand that I should stick to the areas where I have rhythm and stop when I am out of it.

An advertisement for next week’s Compass program on ABC TV (Australia) contained exciting news. A breathless voice told us that we live in exceptional times. This is apparently because we can now access a whole range of religious teachings and choose what we like from the full range of beliefs. On next week’s program, we will be able to learn how to choose and to avoid getting caught up in just one system of belief. We will meet “multi-faith ministers” who are trained at theological schools that offer such multi-faith. This celebration of pluralism is indicative of what has been called the “spirituality revolution.”This is exciting but only if we get serious about it. I can see that this can be simply playing about with “spirituality” as if it is just another recreational opportunity; an exercise of the mind and emotion. The existence of “friendship” on Facebook mirrors (to me) that lightness that is reflected in contemporary spirituality. I think it also reveals the true yearning for authentic friendship and relationship with God. If so, where are we, the followers of Jesus, in all of this. Hopefully, right in the middle; sensitive and responsive.

Being a voice in the city can feel like being voiceless. So many different things being said and so many responses to make. How do you initate rather than just react? I hope being part of voxtropolis is different. To listen to another is a wonderful gift to that person and I am very interested in hearing the voices of this city.