Heading back to my Roots

I did an historic thing the weekend just gone - I attended a Salvation Army Roots event for the first time. Historic for that reason in the personal sense, yes - but the event itself was also historic, in that it was the very first such 'Regional Roots' event ever to have taken place, and certainly the first of its kind in Scotland.

(Until 2009, it always took place in Southport, you see. Now, I've nothing against going to Southport- it is a pleasant town indeed; but because it's a long way from home, I'd need accommodation - and transport - and, added to the cost of the event registration itself; well, it's always been beyond my means. Besides, I was always told that regular attendeed booked up from year to year, so it might prove difficult to get accommodation there anyway. In other words - in that ever-so-unintentional way that such good Christian folks often have in relation to such things - Sod off, we were here first...).

Words just about fail me - and I say that as one with a reputation for always having something to say. Certainly there are no single words that come to mind as even remotely adequate, to sum up just how wonderful it all was; and so I feel I must record my thoughts about numerous aspects, save I should forget their detail in my efforts to make some sensible semblance of them all...

Now, I've already doing some stuff that's pretty out of character for me - as a direct consequence of my attendance, and involvement at this Roots event! Last night, I posted a religious prayer - a verse of a song I've known for a while and used on-and-0ff by myself, for many years - within my facebook status box. I know some people do that kind of thing all the time - but, be honest, don't you think that's a bit weird? Because I do - if I was a non Christian or at least a non practicing one, more often than not leaning towards the sceptical side and given to using the questions around the absolute mysteries of faith and the many apparent contradictions of the Bible and the existence of God versus the troubles of life arguments as obstacles that prevented my fuller subscription or participation to it all; anyone I met who not only calls themself a Christian but who also does such weird stuff as constantly post religious texts in the facebook status boxes in what seems like a direct attempt to get right up my nose where they've not been invited - well, let's just say they'd not likely win much of my favour...

I am the kind of Christian who absolutely embraces what Christians refer to as the Great Commission - those lines found towards the end of the Gospels that quote Jesus Christ's instruction that we should not keep it all to ourselves, but go out and share our experience and knowledge with the whole world. But, unlike many Christians, I am realistic enough to know that with many people, there is barely a single chance - and if, by coming across as too weird and outside of their experiences I botch it up, then the task will surely be all the more difficult for those Christians whom they encounter after I'm gone.

I therefore don't normally use the biblical tracts and public prayers approach. I want people to be able to recognise me as a man of faith, a follower of Jesus, a regular worshipper and - some way down the line, a soldier of The Salvation Army; whom they can readily identify with! I want them to be able to look at me and think that if I can be and do all of that and yet, still appear reasonably normal - then maybe, just maybe, so can they! I don't want to be distant or aloof, I don't want to appear disapproving, or any kind of kill-joy; I don't want to imply you have to jump through a thousand hoops and lose most of the things in life that you value, in order to truly come into a really good relationship with Jesus Christ and be filled each new day with God's presence and life-giving Holy Spirit - because you know, you don't! You don't have to change who you are or how you live, to have these things!! I want people to know that my God is no more distant than I am; and that he's even more prepared than I am, to go to where they're at in their lives, share their values and do the the things they like doing. I want people to know that if there any any hoops to jump through, then it's God who will be doing the jumping...

Linda Bond, the current General of The Salvation Army, absolutely rocks! See - I told you I had begun doing things I don't normally - for saying somebody absolutely rocks really isn't part of my usual vocabulary. But my goodness - that woman is something else; the likes of which I've never seen or heard before. At various points over the weekend we were encouraged to identify what had been the highlights for us; and I think the General's input is pretty near the top of everyone's lists. For me, it wasn't just what she said; but also the way in which she said it - authoratively, yes - but not in a bossy way. Not angry, not flippantly: just very, very matter of fact -ly. This is the Salvation Army that we have, she repeated over and over; and it's not what we're called to be! This is the 21st Century - she reminded us of that fact many times over too, and how it is completely wrong to keep referring to those things that blessed us as an organisation 75 years ago. "You'll all have been blessed by your Easter celebrations last weekend," she told us. " But that was then - and this is now. You've got to move on..."

"The Holy Spirit refuses to be contained. He just refuses to be contained in time, or in any event - for He's here, now." "It would be great if we could have all middle-class, high-earners; all the best-educated people. Really, it would be wonderful. But that's not who God calls us into being to be there for! God calls us to be there for the people who nobody else wants."

"I love worship. I could sit here and sing all day with this band - really, it is so wonderful; but that's not what we're called to do."

Her examples went on and on. Fortunately, most of her (and other) speeches were recorded and sold to delegates so that we could come home, remind ourselves of them and share them with others - thanks to modern technology. Thank God for it, in fact.

She spoke at length of her vision for one army, moving together, now in the 21st Century. She spoke of examples of corps where people are turned away on the basis of their age, others where they're judged, not welcomed, or that they can't relate to because of all the religiosity - and in her very matter of fact, not quite blunt and not emotive other that a clear sense of disappointed kind of way. They may share our symbols, wear or uniform, look like us in every way, have wonderful bands, wonderful songsters, she told us. "But they're not The Salvation Army."

'Religiosity.' That's a wonderful word, isn't it? That's why I don't normally use my facebook status box and suchlike for outwardly evangelical purposes - for me, that would be religiosity - and frankly, I think it turns people off!

I could listen to my CDs and quote so much more - and over time I likely will do so. But for now, my thoughts are turning to lunch - the thoughts of a plain, ordinary sort of man.

Today is a public holiday where I live in Edinburgh, and I had thought as I approached the Roots event that it would be my recovery day - for no matter how positively, these events can be so draining - physically, mentally, emotionally. Yet I really feel pretty full of energy today - suprisingly so, in fact! Sure - I'm using the time to just stay home, take it easy and digest it all; as well as take such risks as the facebook status, writing this blog - and thinking about what I need to share with others, and apply myself to in due course. And yes, I was so saturated with information I could barely speak to anybody last night and would probably still struggle in conversation even now - so forgive me, those friends whom I've directed here: I want to share all my experiences with you, I just need some time and space to disseminate it all so that I can do so more effectively...

I awoke early this morning with the same phrase I'd had in my mind as I drifted off to sleep:

The Spirit of the Lord is on me; he has annointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release the prisoners from darkness. (Isaiah 61: 1)

Along with a large number of others, I prayed at the front of the tent which was our worship hall yesterday, that God would transform my prayer and bible reading experiences, from something that often seemed just like mere words, yesterday afternoon. I prayed he'd give me a real sense that his Spirit was with me: a sign of confirmation, as he's sone before. I can only conclude that he heard my prayer indeed - for why else would I have awoken with sufficient fragments of such a passage in my mind that I was able to fully identify by simply typing a phrase into Google?

At some point, I shall be back, dear reader. Thank you for taking the time to read what I have to say!