Message given at Durham Friends Meeting, July 7, 2024
My working theme for this message has been integrity, journey and courage. This past month my thoughts have been on national voting impacted by Brexit, a day of remembrance for those killed in the troubles, a weekend seminar on Borderlands.
Following the result of the Brexit referendum, Corrymeela produced biblical resources to enable Christian faith communities to talk about the nature of borders and belongings and the difficulties thrown up by Brexit. These resources have been used for catalysing conversation about all manner of borders we make between ourselves.
One such resource is that of Borderlands which met for a residential a few weeks ago. I was able to attend part of the sessions.
Outside of the residential Borderlands is a monthly gathering in Belfast of those who are exploring the edges of faith, the borderland of faith and our society using stories, poetry readings, music, songs, courageous conversations on faith, doubt, questions, meaning outside of traditional church, for people to come together to explore faith on the edge, at the borders of where faith stands – in a bar. Borderlands creates a brave and bold space for people to explore difficult – often life-changing – moments from their personal lives to help others find solidarity and healing, to be agents of peace and change in the world. To be a safe space and also a courageous space for those who ‘don’t sit comfortably in or feel excluded from the traditional spaces of faith. Space for meaningful encounter, sacred stories, using scripture to open and extend courageous conversations rather than close them.”
Borders. Edges. Frames with edges. If you move the frame you are looking through the picture changes. What you see and understand changes. Borders. That which makes us stop and go no further. To declare this is us and there is you, the other. Where we encounter our perceived limits, walls, frames.
Each time we come to the edge or borders we can choose to go beyond or to stand and ponder, to figure out what this edge means, how it defines and defined us and what is beyond. Can we go beyond? Do we want to go beyond? Why? Why not?
At our borders we can choose to move beyond us-them divisions to ‘we’. Many of you in this room are doing just that in the courageous conversations, seminars, writings, facilitation of different groups and more.
The Borderlands gatherings provide a space for courageous conversations along with safe places.
Quakers were and are often on the edge. They pushed borders, boundaries, pushed the limits of society and established churches throughout history.
So also with the Beatitudes. These new words and invitations were and are challenges and inspiration from Jesus to expand our understanding of others and ourselves in our struggles and poverty. An invitation to shift our understanding of God’s love for all and enter into courageous conversations and relationships rather than close them with walls and borders. The Beatitudes were presented to the crowds, blessings that were on the edge. A reading from ‘First Nations Version. An Indigenous Translation of the New Testament. I was inspired to purchase the book after a visit from one of the authors of the book The Gatherings.
A new road, beyond the borders of the writings of the Old Testament. ‘You have heard that it was said, an eye for an eye … but I tell you …If some one strikes you on the cheek, or if someone wants to take your tunic give it away along with your cloak. If someone forces you to go one mile, go two miles. MT 5:38
We are called to go beyond the expected. Go beyond our physical, social and psychological borders. To be courageous. To share the love of Spirit, God, Jesus to all. ‘A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.’ MT 13:34 This is illustrated further in the parable of the Good Samaritan.
‘I am giving you a new road to walk’ he said. In the same way I have loved you, you are to love each other. ‘ First Nations version.
My personal borders.
Talking to another who has a different opinion than my own. Where our passions contradict each other. At least at first then we see our commonalities. We share our truths. Not in anger but in sharing our experiences of love of those who are a part of our stories and experiences.
There are 2 woman who sit in the Coleraine town square. On the ground. I assume they do not have a home or much money. My personal borders are raised high when I pass by. What keeps me from doing anything? What might I do to help? How might I best love my neighbour? What walls and borders keep me from acting, reaching out?
My sense of belonging where I live now. Struggled for many years to come to terms with a desire and a need. Limited in my frame which indicated my picture was only to be in the states but now see that the frame can be moved to include the US and where I live now. As a good friend once said – when you know where your home is then home is everywhere.
My discomfort with the borders of the zoom frame which limits my ability to fully engage and connect with others in worship.
It takes courage to look though the walls, to break them down, to build windows in them, to look beyond the edge of our personal borders.
What truth is yours? What truths are yours? What borders do you come to in living your truth? Borders of standing still and waiting for more insight or borders of courageous conversations?
I offer this final reading from John Lampen, who, along with his wife Diana, was the Director of Quaker House in Belfast during the Troubles. A house where people from both sides of the walls and borders came together for courageous conversations.
An old Greek priest, a refugee, dreams that a small bird perches in front of him on a branch, singing so beautifully that all he wants is to catch it. As he tiptoes towards it, it flies away to another branch, still singing. He follows it: and again it flies a little way off. The dream lengthens out to days, to years, to the length of his life, and still it is out of reach, captivating him with its song. Jesus, brother, enchant us too with your singing. Stay beyond our grasp, do not let us put you in a cage. Lead us forward. John Lampen, 1985 [From Quaker Life and Practice: A Book of the Christian Experience of the Religious Society of Friends in Ireland, 1.110].
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Available on the Corrymeela website is Exploring Brexit Through the Lens of Ruth
