Neither Here nor There

Last Friday, Les and I passed another milestone on our journey to Cockermouth. The removal men came to our flat in Dalton (60 miles south of Cockermouth, in Cumbria) and we completely emptied the place of all our furniture. I must admit, tears came to my eyes as we left it for the last time - at least for the time being. Over the past 7 years, it has been a place of rest, refreshment and retreat, not just for us but for family members and friends. Somehow, just 24 hours there seemed enough to recharge my batteries. We've concluded that we are unlikely to use the place while in Cockermouth. Although not that far away in miles, it takes almost as long to get there from Cockermouth as it does from Liverpool, and since we often used to drive there late at night it's not a journey we would relish. Also, because all our family and many friends remain in Liverpool, we imagine - indeed have promised! - that short breaks will often happen back here. Jude has kindly set up her spare room with us in mind! Whether or not we retire to Dalton eventually we'll have to wait and see, but meanwhile we're renting it out so the income will come in handy.

It feels like a kind of limbo at the moment. Neither here nor there. The process towards appointing my successor is under way, and of course I have no part in that. Plans are being made for the future, which pass me by. The diary is fairly empty as I attend fewer meetings, though we have enjoyed many social engagements. And there are various 'last times': my last wedding last Saturday, and my last visits to St Barnabas and Mossley Hill churches last week and my last christening yesterday. Have I taken my last funeral? Don't know. That's not a request by the way!

Meanwhile, there are phone calls and emails to Cockermouth as plans are made there for the move, for the licensing service (17 May) and for the first weeks in post. Rota-planning for the next 3 months is well under way. It's an in-between time for many of us, at the threshold of new beginnings.

The same could be said nationally. Auspiciously or not, we move into our new home on Election Day! Currently we are in between governments, and like many others I find much of the electioneering very dispiriting. So much of it seems to be point-scoring against one another, and the appeal to the electorate often seems based upon our self-interest (who will make us wealthier?) or our baser instincts (who will deal with immigration?) There is little to inspire us with a vision of a more just, equitable, healthier society, and almost nothing to do with Britain's place in the world. A complete absence of foreign policy, it seems. Meanwhile, we hear of hundreds of desperate refugees drowning in the Mediterranean Sea met with silence from our leaders (the Archbishop of Canterbury excepted), when there must surely be a role for a compassionate Britain not only in helping with rescue but, more importantly, addressing the causes of such mass migration. Of course, one cause is our own historical foreign policy.

We have the dilemma of whether to vote tactically or for values and principles. Les and I will have a postal vote for the first time, as we shall no longer be in Liverpool on Election Day, but not quite resident in Cockermouth either. Neither here nor there.

There's a new book I must try and get hold of. It looks like someone else is picking up on our theme here of the church being for the blessing of the world. Graham Tomlin's book, 'The Widening Circle - Priesthood as God's Way of Blessing the World' has just been published, and although it's particularly about ordained ministry I hope it's also about the priesthood of all believers, called as we are to be 'communities of blessing'.

Being neither here nor there has a theological significance too. We are citizens of heaven while inhabiting the earth. Learning to live as belonging to one while living in the other is a real challenge to Christian people.  Next Sunday will be my last here, and - as it follows our Annual Meetings - the morning service will include a special prayer of dedication, as we all face our different futures. It includes the following words:

May we be at home in any place, for the whole world is yours.                                                            

May we, with our hopes set on eternal peace, live also as strangers in the land.

Perhaps because of my being 'in between', I have returned to a song which meant much to me years ago. It includes the title 'anchor of my soul', addressed to Jesus. This may not be your style of worship, but go to this video, and I hope you will be inspired. The singer is Lara Martin, and the song is entitled 'Voice of Hope'. You can find the lyrics elsewhere on YouTube, but they are clear enough in this live recording.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5n_1B4VpXhI

Enjoy!