There is a conversation happening right now. It’s about “munn-nee” – it’s about weird ideas – it’s about God. It’s about “why God” and “how God”. It’s about a concept that I have been pondering for a long time. It is about prayer, it is about worship, it is about church, it is about all these words we spray around in the misplaced confidence we are speaking clearly.

It’s about when I say “Money is good” and you hear “My knee is God.”

Many years ago before money was invented (but way after my knee was looking good), how did one “buy” anything? Were there any shops? Would there have been any “customers”? Would the very concept of “paying for things” been more than a joke? Would “Black Friday” have been more than an odd weather forecast?

“Munn-nee” – what’s that all about – we don’t need that – we are all doing very nicely thank you – keep your weird ideas to yourself, thank you!”

What is munn-nee – or my knee – or money? It’s not gold any longer. It‘s not necessarily piles of paper and coinage any more. It’s not anything really. And yet I can count numbers and know we are going broke. I can count numbers and know we are solvent.

“Solve ant” – what’s that all about … “

Before money was invented how would I explain that “money” is not really “anything” at all – but it is! And how would I illustrate that I was rich? How would I explain to someone that I was rich when all I have is a few grubby coins in my pocket – and a piece of plastic?

Would I show them my computer?

“Come put her” …. Where?  And … why would you want to … ?”

Would I show them my bank account online, all the transactions in and out – and the surplus left over? Would I take them “shopping” and “buy things” and watch their confusion grow as this “piece of plastic” is handed across and back again? Would they think this piece of plastic was God? That I carried God in my pocket and didn’t even worship Him? Just took God out when I wanted something? And then shoved God back in my pocket with all the other tat? Would they be convinced I was totally sane? Would they think I was God – oh crap … now there is a thought! What if they worshipped me and not my plastic? What would I do then?

“You see Paul, when you are “unconditional love” and always have been – you kind of take it for granted. So I understand when you get all hung-up on the trivia. I can see why you might worship the “wrong things” in the “wrong way”. I understand that “unconditional” is a weird “munn-nee” concept.

So what would you do if you were Me? “Exterminate them” for getting “it wrong”? Run in the other direction as fast as you could? What would you do – what do YOU do?

If they and Me connect, if they and Me relate, if they and Me talk … they might just allow. They might allow Me – or they might allow darkness. Because once you “connect” – you always allow something. And that is where you come in. That is where all of you come in. That’ what this “make disciples” malarkey is all about. It’s about connecting.

But you are no more able to “convince” than I am. You are no more able to “close the deal” than I am. And I will NOT “close the deal”. Nor should you. Because you have here a small glimpse of “munn-nee” as money. But you have such a smaller glimpse of love as “LOVE”.

So when you try and explain LOVE … how do you explain what it is, why it is, what it can do, how it can do, where it can do, why it can do? Love is just like your “munn-nee”: Where is it? How do I touch it? How do I know it is Love?”

Thanks, God.

I wonder … story-time …

A bunch of us are completing some fundraising for a friend. This fellow has over 300 Facebook friends! This fellow has met all his Facebook friends personally. That makes him “celebrity” in my book!

And this fellow is the friend with whom we stay in Turkey. And he was in need. And his “friends” were thousands of miles away not in Turkey. And we offered our best wishes on Facebook as you do.  But He whispered: “Fundraising … crowd-funding … JustGiving … Paul.”

So I did. A page of words with a number. A page on a computer screen. Press a button and by magic it is on your computer screen. Those same words and that same number. And all the people who were offered those words chose to pass by or to respond. My friend has over 300 Facebook Friends. Those words and that number were read by many (many!) more.

So far 85 have responded with munn-nee. And it is enough. The number has been met (and exceeded). And that number is munn-nee. Money that will make a massive difference – it already has and they (he and his family) have not yet seen a penny. The words and the number and the response of so few (or so many?) has already made a difference. It has connected something deep in each of us with something deep in each of us.

And what was important throughout was to offer a journey.  To embrace those who joined this small journey.  To allow all to join the walking together.  And to celebrate community.

But what about those who “passed by”? Are they not wrong?

Let me ask you this …  in a world full of need, in a global community all asking for help for someone or something … how many times do you pass by?  I know I do.  I pass by many times.  And sometimes I don’t.  Sometimes I connect.  This occasion it was “CONNECTION” for me.  But not for all.  Does that make “them” wrong? I don’t think so.

So this morning I wonder – does my story make any sense in this confusion we call “God” … ?

“When you try and explain LOVE … how do you explain what it is, why it is, what it can do, how it can do, where it can do, why it can do?”

Let’s allow – not disallow. Let’s connect – not insulate. Let’s be gentle with each other. Because when we do – we might just see what is deep within each of us.

And then we won’t need words.

—————————————————————————————————————————————-

NB:
Where is the conversation taking place? My little chatter today is prompted by the wonderful comments below this post: Secret Santa Worship Day II

What is the fundraising all about? If you are interested in the details, here is the link with an explanation
—————————————————————————————————————————————-