Thin Places

Having the mother-in-law in town has been great! This morning, she and the rest of my family went to Dublin Zoo. I'm not really into zoox (opps - typo. I meant zoos, but zoox is a cool sounding word so I'll leave it in even though it doesn't make sense), so I went off elsewhere in the park to find a cafe and read some more (three days in a row now!)

The reading was good. The latte was too. Made by an Italian guy who, when I asked him where he was from said Cork. I guess he is asked that quite a lot and so decided to be a funny guy. (I heard the same gag said to the man in front of me when I went to pay.) Anyway, he made one of those swirls on top of the froth. I'd like to know how that is done. If it hadn't got busier I'd have asked.

After my coffee I went for a walk in the grounds so I could pray. I'm not very good at praying, but I thought a walk and some music might help. It did. I turned up my mp3 player and listened to Edge Hill by Groove Armada while I stepped into the sunken gardens. There's a beautiful moment in the track where the strings kick in and the music lifts you to another place. I found myself singing and harmonizing and creating heart-language lyrics as I listened to this instrumental piece - all for God's praise and glory.


When ancient monks spent time in prayer, meditation and worship while out in nature there were occasions when a real sense of the presence of God was felt. Like the curtain between this world and eternity was held back a moment as if you could reach out and touch... They called these 'thin places'.

Today, for just a couple of minutes, I think I stumbled into a thin place.

Do you save water?

I had an enjoyable hour drinking coffee, reading my book about the message of Jesus (see below) and watching the world go by at the bench cafe in Ballsbridge. (I think I was in Ballsbridge - one of the posher areas of Dublin, anyway. Not far from the beautiful Herbert Park where my wife and children were meeting another mum and toddler.)

I managed to get a seat at a small table outside, right on the main road. Although it was quite loud, it helped me to put my reading in perpective. I couldn't help wondering what people's perception of Jesus Christ was and if they read what I was reading would it alter their view and ultimately their lives? (You really should get a copy of this book!)

A bus went buy with a big poster on the side encouraging people to conserve water. Can people be bothered enough to do just that, I thought, let alone radically transform their worldview through the kingdom of God perspective that Jesus brings? I really hope so. That's what I've dedicated my life to. That's what I long to see happen.

By the way, some of the architecture on Baggot Street is great. Well worth the price of a coffee.

Deeper Meaning

My mother-in-law is staying with us at the moment which gave me an opportunity to go out for coffee. Wahooo!

I went to my local coffeehouse and took a few minutes to look at the art work that was for sale on the walls. It's alright (just). A bit abstract. Some of the images made sense while others, perhaps, had a deeper meaning to the splashes of oil on canvass. I guess I just didn't get it.

Most people don't get Jesus either, according to Brian McLaren. I'm reading his latest book, The Secret Message of Jesus. I've read some of McLaren's other work and met him recently at a seminar. I like what he has to say. I think I'm going to enjoy this one as well.

For quite a while now I've felt like I wanted to know Jesus better. Discover new insights and learn what it really means to be a radical follower of this first century political, social and religious revolutionary.

The basic premise of the book is that for hundreds of years the Church has packaged Jesus in a particular way which is faithful to some aspects of his life, teaching and mission, but has fallen short on the fact that living life the Jesus way is about truly changing an individual's life - or even the life of a city, country or the world.

I like the way McLaren reminds the reader that Jesus didn't come to start a new religion (Christianity), but to tell people about the Kingdom of God - a way of experiencing fullness of life not just for eternity, but something that is within reach now. Today!

There is so much more to Jesus than the short glance we often give him.

"The time has come. The kingdom of God is near"
- Jesus (Mark 1:15)

Desperate for Coffee

Sorry I've not written for a while, but life has changed (once again). Six weeks ago we celebrated the birth of our second child, a boy! Needless to say, finding the time to go out for coffee, let alone write about it, just hasn't happened. That's ok. He's more than worth the lack of sleep and access to a regular latte.

Things are starting to settle down a little bit now so perhaps I'll be writing again soon...