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A Bridge between the Nations Steve Lavery, a member of the Scottish National Service Team, shares about what he feels is the calling of the Charismatic Renewal of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, to be a bridge of unity between the countries.
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When our small sub-committee of two Scots, two English, two Welsh and two Irish get together, there is an overwhelming feeling of family. We sense a special grace of God among us and that we are but instruments in the hands of the great craftsman. We feel the way forward for our four nations must not be hampered by the past. Forgiveness and reconciliation must be sought. History must be grasped, owned and forgiveness must be sought and given. I was thinking about this particularly recently as I took myself off to the Highlands of Scotland to pray. Driving to my destination I crossed two Wade bridges. These bridges were built by General Wade's men to allow access to the Highlands during the suppression of the clans, in the 18th century, leading ultimately to the Highland Clearances, which caused so much anger and bitterness between our two countries. History must be grasped, owned and forgiveness must be sought and given Yet today these wonderful stone structures are the means by which tourists and visitors have access to the Highlands where the welcome is somewhat more warm than it was for the General's redcoats. If these stones could speak, I wonder what they would remember - that they were quarried to be used for invading soldiers or would they speak of the pleasure of seeing so many who come to share the beauty of the native land from which they came? I feel very much in this "New Springtime of Christian Life" that the Pope has so often spoken about, that the way forward must be in a true spirit of reconciliation and that we, in Charismatic Renewal, should look to the social sins of the past, take ownership of them and pray for forgiveness. Each of the four nations carries a heavy load - baggage from the past - but empowered by the Holy Spirit we can free ourselves by releasing these burdens so we can move on together. Tom Mullen, the chairman of the Scottish National Service Team, has suggested that as a preparation for the coming conference that we must imitate the people of Israel in psalm 106. We should all take time to read, pray and meditate on the words of the psalmist, confessing the sins of our forefathers so that the bonds are broken. I believe that the Renewal in our islands can be a beacon to the Church and our countries and that healing of past memories and reconciliation is possible. The scars of events of the past which have both consciously and subconsciously effected attitudes towards each other will disappear in a great healing river enabling a new unity. The healing waters of love will unite all the brothers and sisters of the four nations. "You have stripped off your old behaviour with your old self, and you have put on a new self which will progress towards true knowledge the more it is renewed in the image of its creator; and in that image there is no room for distinction between Greek and Jew, between the circumcised or the uncircumcised, or between barbarian and Scythian, slave and free man. There is only Christ. He is everything and he is in everything." (Col 3) Saying "yes" At our first meeting of the National Service Committees at Brentwood in May 2003, it was recognised that each nation brought a gift. Scotland was seen as bringing a particular prophetic gift. The most important thing is that we come humbly before our God bringing our gift saying "yes" to His call. Yes to what... I know not. Yes to why.... Its not for me to know. Yes to when.. it's the Lord's time - all I know is that the united YES of the four nations is somehow very important. This brings me back to the symbol of the bridge. I believe that we in the Northern Isles have been called to be a bridge between nations and Churches; a bridge over which others can walk and meet; a bridge that can form the link for those who have never met or even wanted to meet. Four nations pillars of the bridge This bridge must be strong and stable. It must not be like one suspended from wire which can be blown this way and that. Our bridge, the bridge we are to be, must be firmly fastened on to the bedrock. I have a vision of our four nations being the four strong pillars of the bridge that is firmly planted on the "rock of our salvation". Each pillar is secure, straight and firm, held together in Word and Sacrament. Each brick in each pillar is fixed with the mortar of forgiveness and love. The pillars are linked with four girders: prayer and praise, forgiveness, reconciliation and love. Then the path the Holy Spirit has planned can be laid across and those whom he wants to cross can come. If our four nations can move forward as one, free of our history, we can turn outwards to others and invite them to follow. In Charismatic Renewal we are in a fairly unique position in the Church in that we can turn to our brothers and sisters of the other churches and find common ground. The evangelicals will understand our love for the Word, the Pentecostals, our praise and use of the spiritual gifts, the Europeans our Catholicity. These groups can use the bridge to meet the Catholic Church. Accepting that this could be God's will for Renewal in the Northern Isles, we must be aware of what is going on in our Church and in others. The political climate and its influences are important and if we are willing to bridge gaps as God calls, then we must be aware. Not necessarily involved but at least awake to hear what is going on. I believe that our examples of reconciliation, co-operation and faithfulness will be a beacon. If we in our four nations can overcome our history - and if I can forgive General Wade - anything is possible. Willingness to be a bridge, however, will mean that you will be walked over and stretched and that even sounds painful. Are we prepared for this? To accept the pain of rejection, the pain of isolation in Jesus' name? Can we persevere in still believing that the Lord is at work? At this time there is political tension and mutual suspicion between the US and European countries. Rather than being caught up in this and taking sides, maybe the Lord would use the relationship our isles have with both, because of our history, to help in creating a bridge of unity between the two great continents. Through our belief in this New Life in the Holy Spirit we have common ground with other Christians on which to build, which is above all politics, denomination and nationality. If we don't these tensions, I believe, will hamper, if not block the work that the Spirit is wanting to do in our world. My feeling is that, our four small nations, united together as four pillars will be so well supported and strengthened and bound together that not only will we persevere but all things will be possible. As one body we must continue to pray, discern and follow the Father's will and be prepared to follow His Way of the Cross for the good of our all nations and our world. "For past troubles will be forgotten and
hidden from my eyes. For now I create a new heavens and a new earth,
and the past will not be remembered, and will come no more to men's
minds. Be glad and rejoice for ever and ever for what I am creating,
because I now create Jerusalem " Joy" and her people "Gladness".
I shall rejoice over Jerusalem and exult in my people." (Is 65:
16-18)
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The
image of a bridge has become very important in the prayers, deliberations
and planing of the NSCs of the Northern Isles - England, Wales, Scotland
and Ireland, over the past year or so. Representatives from the four
nations have been meeting to build bridges with each other and we are
currently planning a consultation in June 2005. This will look at renewal
across these islands and help us discern where we are through prayer,
discussion and listening to the Spirit of God.
