About this time every year I find myself becoming insanely addicted to what is in fact, a rubbish teen reality television programme called 'Shipwrecked'. In short, it is a programme about young adults (all of whom are coincidentally beautiful and wear very little) marooned on two rival desert islands in the South Pacific, encouraged to go a bit bonkers and perform some amusing, made for television moments resulting in a cash prize. It's great stuff - even my Mum likes it!
However, this series watching this programme has become more interesting - as one of the Island arrivals is a young Christian university graduate. For some reason, this made me uncertain. I became very conscious of this new arrival, and began to think about what it could mean for my own faith. 'Doug' could either be really cool and make me feel proud of my faith, or be totally embarrassing with legalistic and confusing theological ideas.
However, as the weeks have developed, and more inhabitants have joined the Islands, I have noticed increasingly and interestingly that 'Doug' is frequently absent; his opinions are rarely broadcast. I began to wonder why this was. Perhaps it is because Doug has very little of interest to say. Perhaps it is because what Doug does have to say would be too controversial for television broadcasting. Are either of these good things?
I began to wonder what I would be like if I was marooned on an island with complete strangers - who probably wouldn't be Christians. Would I grasp this great evangelism opportunity and totally trust that God has the situation in his hands, or would I forget that God even could hold situations in his hands. And then what really worried me is the thought that I wouldn't need to be Shipwrecked to believe the latter!
One of my favourite Tim Hughes Songs 'He's got the whole world in his hands' says this:
'I'll fear no evil, for you are with me. Strong to deliver, mighty to save'.
I remember the first time I heard this song played, at the leaving celebration of the first youth worker I ever knew and grew to love. It seemed so poignant at the time - and the lyrics of that song definitely spoke into my heart, my youth leaders heart, and the hearts of my youth group as he left to go onto bigger and better things in the Church of England.
Just over a month ago, I heard that I too had got myself a new job, starting in November. Whilst being amazing and exciting news it leaves me feeling a bit 'Shipwrecked'. I will be moving out of my family home for the first time and moving into a house with strangers. I will be leaving behind my church, the youth that I love and adore, and some incredible people. But at the same time I will be opening a door to some much needed new experiences and opportunities. The difficulty, I have found - is now: the interim period. I know that I am leaving but also know that it won't be for a while. I am reluctant to start new projects and get passionate about them because I know that in a few months they could disappear into nothingness. It is in the interim that I understand how Doug might be feeling as he is Shipwrecked.
It is hard to find God in the interim periods. It is hard to hear his voice, to trust in him and to believe that he has the situation in hand, and is probably working in my uneasiness, through my anxiety and insecurities. But then, no-one ever told me that following a guy who got nailed to a cross and tortured to death was going to be easy.
Recently I have been re-reading this book, 'Lost Women of the Bible'. It's a favourite of mine and this time the story of Mrs. Noah struck me in a new and interesting way. Here was a woman that isn't mentioned in the Bible. Noah takes all the glory with his big extravagant ark and eccentric animal collection. But she is there. What is more important is that you only have to look contextually to find out all you ever need to know about Mrs. Noah:
1. She was her husbands only wife in a society when polygamy was rife (so she must have been doing something right...)
2. In a society when a woman's value was measured by the number of sons she bore - Mrs. Noah had three. Another ticked box.
3. Noah couldn't have done what he did without her help, support and understanding. Noah's weird boat building hobby was incomprehensible by those that God was wishing to clear from the earth - yet Mrs. Noah comprehended it.
4. Finally, she must have been the only one to see Noah at his weakest. As any one in any form of leadership knows, it's not easy and there are times when you can feel very low. Mrs. Noah must have been one of the only people who was privy to Noah's 'freak outs' and anxieties - and it must take one hell of a woman to uphold a man with such a massive mission, like Noah.
I don't think that Mrs. Noah found her life very easy. I think I would go barmy trapped on a boat with my whole family (and the entire population of the animal kingdom) for an extended period of time. And I'm sure that as the rain continued to pour and there was no sign of any promise being fulfilled, Mrs. Noah found it equally hard to hear God's voice amid the strange squawkings and roars, and equally hard to trust that God had a plan. But as every small child knows - there was a plan. And it was fulfilled with far more than just a pretty rainbow.
I need to be more like Mrs. Noah, and NOT just in the interim period. My prayer is that God will give me the grace and strength to keep sailing - for I know that my own rainbow is more than on it's way. And I'm sure that Shipwrecked Doug would agree.
I remember the first time I heard this song played, at the leaving celebration of the first youth worker I ever knew and grew to love. It seemed so poignant at the time - and the lyrics of that song definitely spoke into my heart, my youth leaders heart, and the hearts of my youth group as he left to go onto bigger and better things in the Church of England.
Just over a month ago, I heard that I too had got myself a new job, starting in November. Whilst being amazing and exciting news it leaves me feeling a bit 'Shipwrecked'. I will be moving out of my family home for the first time and moving into a house with strangers. I will be leaving behind my church, the youth that I love and adore, and some incredible people. But at the same time I will be opening a door to some much needed new experiences and opportunities. The difficulty, I have found - is now: the interim period. I know that I am leaving but also know that it won't be for a while. I am reluctant to start new projects and get passionate about them because I know that in a few months they could disappear into nothingness. It is in the interim that I understand how Doug might be feeling as he is Shipwrecked.
It is hard to find God in the interim periods. It is hard to hear his voice, to trust in him and to believe that he has the situation in hand, and is probably working in my uneasiness, through my anxiety and insecurities. But then, no-one ever told me that following a guy who got nailed to a cross and tortured to death was going to be easy.
Recently I have been re-reading this book, 'Lost Women of the Bible'. It's a favourite of mine and this time the story of Mrs. Noah struck me in a new and interesting way. Here was a woman that isn't mentioned in the Bible. Noah takes all the glory with his big extravagant ark and eccentric animal collection. But she is there. What is more important is that you only have to look contextually to find out all you ever need to know about Mrs. Noah:
1. She was her husbands only wife in a society when polygamy was rife (so she must have been doing something right...)
2. In a society when a woman's value was measured by the number of sons she bore - Mrs. Noah had three. Another ticked box.
3. Noah couldn't have done what he did without her help, support and understanding. Noah's weird boat building hobby was incomprehensible by those that God was wishing to clear from the earth - yet Mrs. Noah comprehended it.
4. Finally, she must have been the only one to see Noah at his weakest. As any one in any form of leadership knows, it's not easy and there are times when you can feel very low. Mrs. Noah must have been one of the only people who was privy to Noah's 'freak outs' and anxieties - and it must take one hell of a woman to uphold a man with such a massive mission, like Noah.
I don't think that Mrs. Noah found her life very easy. I think I would go barmy trapped on a boat with my whole family (and the entire population of the animal kingdom) for an extended period of time. And I'm sure that as the rain continued to pour and there was no sign of any promise being fulfilled, Mrs. Noah found it equally hard to hear God's voice amid the strange squawkings and roars, and equally hard to trust that God had a plan. But as every small child knows - there was a plan. And it was fulfilled with far more than just a pretty rainbow.
I need to be more like Mrs. Noah, and NOT just in the interim period. My prayer is that God will give me the grace and strength to keep sailing - for I know that my own rainbow is more than on it's way. And I'm sure that Shipwrecked Doug would agree.
