Easter has come and gone. But has it? Every day is potentially a day of resurrection - new life, fresh hope - and every Sunday celebrates the first Easter. As the sun penetrates the clouds, as a plant penetrates the frozen earth of winter so God's Kingdom penetrates our lives. If only we will see it!
On Friday, Les and I went to see 'A Day in the Death of Joe Egg' at the Liverpool Playhouse. Catch it if you can: it's on till April 27th. It's described as a 'black comedy', and was first performed in the 1960s. It has that feel about it. Brian and Sheila struggle with their marriage as they care for their 10-year old child, disabled from birth. The play reveals much about attitudes to disability, as relevant now as 40 years ago. The stage in the first half is dominated by a huge finger pointing downwards, which gives a rather ominous tone to the dialogue. Who's the greatest baby? Brian (the dad) or the disabled child? Guilt, shame, blame, cynicism abound. We loved the way the actors interacted with the audience and played a play within a play at times. There was even some theology! (I hope I'm quoting reasonably accurately). 'Faith is not believing in fairy stories. It's having a receptive mind. Always looking for signs.'
There is something very isolating about pain. As Job found - like Brian and Sheila - friends aren't necessarily the best help, try as they might. (That's the story of the second half). What dies in the play, for me, is hope. There have been many definitions of hope. For me, it has something to do with believing the best while facing the worst. And ultimately it's about a gift to aid us in our struggle.
In October, we are planning a special week of mission. Not that we're not in mission the whole time, but to raise our game, so to speak. Our themes are 'Heaven, Hope and Hospitality.' Watch this space.
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