the Language of Blessing

Recently I have been doing some theological wrestling! Back in September/ early October an encounter started me out on a journey. Two years ago whilst I was in Lancaster I was given a car. It came from the family of a supernumerary- who had recently died- they had no use for it and said to the Superintendent to give it to someone whose ministry it’d enhance. So the Superintendent asked would I appreciate it- it was a great gift and I saw it as a blessing from God and God providing for my needs. Indeed it did help with foundation training and with my preaching appointments. As some people know I am not the worlds best passenger in the mornings, this was sometimes a challenge- arriving after having been driven round the twists and turns out into the Lune Valley! So having a car meant I didn’t arrive at preaching appointments feeling sick and also meant that I was able to have freedom on my placement- especially with visiting in Silverdale. So I saw my car as provided by God- providing for my needs.

Any way so back early in my time in London, I was asked one night if I would sit outside the shower room in MCH whilst a homeless person used the shower. The woman clearly hadn’t had a shower in weeks and asked was it possible to have one. So without any time to prepare I was sitting outside one of the bathrooms. If I had known in advance I would have had a book to read. But the experience made me stop, think and be challenged.
I had, had 2 showers on this particular day. I began by looking at how fortunate I was- how blessed by God I was. I’d had 2 showers that day and had access to clean water, to showers without having to ask anybody, I could use them with dignity- not having to plead with someone to use their shower. As I sat, I thought- however if I am blessed by God then why should I be blessed by God and not others- EVERYONE ever created I believe is made in the image of God and is a child loved by God. So why therefore do I have the basic necessities that I need to live and not others- ok some people would say well you don’ t need a shower to survive- well no- but at the same time- people are actually dying on the streets of London because they have no shelter.
So I was challenged how do I handle my experience of God as provider and loving all people side by side? Especially in the light of this experience. I wrestled and asked lots of questions- at the moment I conclude that God provides for the world in the widest sense of the word- it is thus important that Christians engage seriously themselves and encourage others to consider what they have, how they steward it and share with those less fortunate, as well as engaging politically with social justice campaigns- to create change. Stewardship is often spoken of- that we might be a blessing to others.
(At some point I’ll add the flow chart I made to work through the issue).
So yes God blesses- but not in some kind of magical way! For too long I think I’ve been in fantasy land! God blessed the world- in creation, in his omnipresence- but God also gave stewardship and free will to humanity. I think there is also the bigger question of how we look at blessing- here its been very focussed on the material things needed for life. Yes perhaps this is wrong- but there are certain things that we do need for life, that a lot of people don’t have.

Following this and being aware that often in the congregations I am in there is the presence of those less fortunate materially- I have also been challenged on the language used about blessing in worship. Especially with reference to the offertory prayer: So often these are done extemporarily and make sweeping comments about God giving us all that we need. How when we make such sweeping comments do we include those who are on the margins of society? This is part of a much wider debate on language and inclusion- it isn’t just masculine/feminine language that is an issue!

As well as developing my understanding on Blessing, the experience has challenged me on a number of areas-
A) to be more aware of sweeping comments we make- they can sometimes be excluding and don’t necessarily express what we really mean when considered in depth.
B) To ask the basic questions of things!
C) Rather than just inheriting and excepting lots of teaching and theology- that what I believe is made my own- that is specific rather than so sweeping and broad!