How beautiful are the feet of them that preach a gospel of peace

To prepare for our arrival in Northern Ireland, Doug sent us a briefing paper on the history of Northern Ireland. The paper was supposed to outline for us the history of the country and explain somewhat the history of the political situation. It seemed like Greek to me when I read it page by agonizing page back in the summer and I was comforted when my roommates told me they couldn't understand it either. Even after explaining it to us, I'm sure Doug got a few blank stares. But lately it's become apparent to me that I can't endeavor to work in this country for peace, change, and passionate Christ-like action if I don't understand the current situation. Just because I've realized the need for my own political education, doesn't mean that I now know everything, but my ears have been more atuned to what people say, what's going on in the news, the front parts of travel books that have history portions, and the vast information on websites. In the next few paragraphs I hope to endeavor to share with you some of what I have learned and I'll take the approach I always take with my students- if you find the teacher's mistake you get to put a bean in the jar (you get bonus points!). So look into the situation yourself and email me with your comments and findings, because as we learn about the situation together you will feel what I feel, that all of you who take the time to read this blog and support me with prayers and thoughts are involved in this year with me.

Now is an interesting time in Northern Ireland's history. November 24, today, was to be the deadline for choosing a first minister and deputy minister for the devolved government of Northern Ireland. That means that Britain had set today as the deadline to choose those 2 positions from the leading political parties of Northern Ireland (DUP and Sinn Fein) so that Northern Ireland can make it's own political decisions here in Northern Ireland, at Stormont. There were smaller deadlines along the way that were not met, or were only met in portion. Skepticism and apathy are two emotions that I've heard in conversations with people about the power sharing agreement. Part of me understands those emotions. I recall how I felt such a sense of hope when I thought about the possibility that in my time here Northern Ireland could really make strides in working together in government. Then as decisions come down or deadlines pass, I've seen parties still approach government with an "if they do this, then we will hold up our end" mentality. I can see how people are disillusioned and skeptical about the progress of their government. One woman remarked today, "Catholics and Protestants are just different kinds of people. There is something just different about how they work [think]." This is a divided society where people still keep to their own communities and avoid certain activities or areas because they feel unsafe or unwelcome.

I don't understand it all, but people are willing to talk if you're willing to listen and approach with humility. They talk about times when they had to call loved ones at work and warn them to go home by another way because or road blocks or bomb threats. People will tell you about the feelings they get when they walk through a "different" area. Those are the stories that tell about what people are dealing with, what they carry as they try to face the issues of their country.

I think especially of the youth, the ones that I see at Whitehouse and the ones in the area that I hope I will have the chance to work with. I've been encouraged that the congregation of Whitehouse really sees the youth as the future of their church and really does value them. I wonder if the youth themselves see the crucial role that they play. I went to a conference last Saturday entitled "Deal or No Deal" and it was about the upcoming political deadline, sponsored by the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and focusing on the role of peacemaking. A youth worker mentioned that some youth do not even know what the Troubles were. They are left to sort through and make the most of the baggage of a time they know very little about. I hope that I'll have the chance to talk to them about what they think about all of this and what they hope for their future. I hope that they would see their place in all of it, as peacemakers and dearly loved children of God, in communicating the attitudes of Christ in all areas of change in Northern Ireland.

On Tuesday I attended a "Building Blocks" conference with Liz and Doreen. Marlene LeFever, from Cook Communications in the US, was the speaker for the conference and author of several books about education young Christians using their various learning styles to create more effective lessons. I was miffed by a few things that Marlene said. First, that she didn't give any credit to Howard Gardner for his theory of multiple intelligences, which was really what she was talking about except that she had condensed it to 4 learning styles. Secondly, she said that no one was one specific style, but she forced us to choose a preferred one for ourselves and then gave descriptions of each that were very distinct and almost made you feel embarrassed about your choice. But I benefited from the conference in a lot of ways also. Once again I saw the harshness with which some Americans can attack an issue or discuss a topic. (Of this, I am also guilty so this is no pot and kettle situation.) I was reminded of learning styles and how exciting the implications are for education and the individuality of learners. As a teacher, it means that you have good reason to be creative and varied because your learners are too! I gained new energy for the youth and children's programs that I'm involved in at Whitehouse and even for when I return home, because I was reminded to apply my teaching knowledge to a different setting. If we create a boring environment in our churches for youth and children they will learn to see church as they do school. Then we will have lost the potential for sharing the message of Christ simply because we lost the vision for the learner before us.

Lastly, we took a look at youth during the conference. At one point I was even given the role of a Northern Irish youth and had to describe my weekends, my favorite things, and my challenges. I talked about the things I had observed about the youth I work with over the past 3 months. As Marlene stated some of the characteristics of this group that makes up 1/2 of the world's population, I thought about how we can sometimes be too eager to observe for fear of joining in and getting dirty. I've observed the young people I work with and slowly crawled out of my comfort shell to start enjoying life alongside them, but there is so much more to be done. This group is characterized as

• taking consumerism for granted
• having seen enough advertizements to expect that you are lying
• self-reliant, do not trust their elders
• rely on family, but define family as anyone in their set who loves them and takes care of them
• not as pessimistic and cynical as perceived
• into American stuff that is exported
• have pride in their nation, but feel their place in the worldwide sector
• want to see the world and make friends with people all over the world through mass media
• mediavores
• nonlinear cognitive system learners
• 93% watch TV
• 93% prefer to be with friends
• conscious of saving the world, on their terms in their space
• want to save their block (or immediate area, neighborhood)

Those last two really struck me. If youth in Northern Ireland really do feel that way then now is really their time. They have the chance to affect change for peace in their neighborhoods by doing practical things and if Marlene is right and they want you to tackle tough issues with them and do practical service and mission projects then we have work to do and things to talk about.

I feel like I'm coming out of a fog that was my settling in time. When people are faced with difficult tasks they revert to their basic learning style. I think mine is analytical, because I'm sure those of you out there that know me well will agree that I severely analyze things and I am a fan of the list. My system of operating was shocked when I moved here and I reverted to my basic learning style: observing, being rational, deferring to authority, and being very thorough. Now as I get more comfortable I'm able to add in the style of learning that I'm glad is part of my personality, imaginative: people-oriented, asking the mental question of why, creating a colorful atmosphere, and learning by talking.

One of my greater challenges has been not being the smart one. I am not valued for my knowledge of teaching methods and research, my liberal arts education, or any of the other academic parameters which used to define me and validate me as an intelligent person. I am laughed at when I say something that is culturally a different word. I am valued for hard work. I feel embarrassed when I misspeak because I don't understand the politics or the history of this country. I am humbled and it has taken me 3 months to be okay with it, even though I said all along that I was ready for it. So now I want to meet the challenge of being humbled with the attitude of Christ, reaching out to "make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." (Ephesians 4:3) I want to learn about the politics of Northern Ireland so I can talk authentically with the youth and challenge them to see the possibilities of the future and their place in it. I want to learn about the complexity of a divided society and infuse the places I encounter with the presence of someone who believes peace will be accomplished. But I want to tread softly, not with huge American boots, but with the soft feet of someone who wants to search for the good news with all the people I meet, seeking to live a life worthy of the calling.

Count Your Many Blessings

One of my first Monday nights at Girls Brigade, some of the leaders mentioned that the Seniors would like to put together a Thanksgiving dinner to learn how to prepare some of the traditional dishes, earn an entertaining badge, and comfort me on a special holiday when I'm far from home. We spent several Monday nights planning the menu, the guest list, learning about Thanksgiving in general, and even making sweet potato casserole! The girls were surprised that sweet potatoes could actually taste so sweet.


Preparing for Thanksgiving with the Seniors and leaders Maragaret, Sarah, Kim, and Janice made me feel not so far from home. I got to learn Mom's recipes when I desperately emailed her for them before GB one night. I shared a bit of Southern American culture by cooking with the girls, a tradition that I have enjoyed in my family throughout my life. And even if trying out a new holiday still felt awkward to some of them and they turned up their noses at the cinnamon in the sweet potatoes, it was fun for me and it dulled my heartache a bit. All along it was obvious to me that the girls and the leaders were really putting a lot of effort and thought into the celebration and it humbled me that they would do something, try something different with such grace and generosity.

So tonight was the big night and when Doreen and I arrived we were seated and served sparkling juice (red or white) by the girls. The table was set and as the guests arrived we chatted and enjoyed the relaxed fellowship of pride in what our Girls Brigade Seniors were doing.




We were seated, with placecards even, and our starter of melon and orange was served.

The girls were our servers and the leaders had taken time off work to come in early and be sure everything was ready. All the guests were folks who helped out with GB in various ways and we were all gushing over how well the girls were doing in their service.

When I got up to take the picture above, Liz made a comment when she was asked to join the picture. I told her that for Thanksgiving you suck in for the pictures and wear your elastic pants. Well, there I go again, forgetting that pants are underwear. The whole table was in stitches and it took me awhile to realize that I wasn't really funny. So for the rest of the night, Raymond laughed with me and made jokes about his pants and elastic pants. He will forever be "Uncle Raymond with the pants" and I will never live that one down!

Throughout the meal we heard jokes, talked about our families, talked about what a typical Thanksgiving is like, and enjoyed each others company completely. Somewhere between the brussel sprouts or turkey, talking about the beauty of South Carolina or the enormous blessing of family reuniting in a holiday specially designed for thanks even before Christmas, I paused long enough to reflect that this new extended family of mine had created an evening of thanks that gave comfort and joy to my heart in a way that was truly humbling. They captured the true spirit of Thanksgiving. We talked and laughed, shared a meal prepared by loving hands, and gave thanks throughout the evening with fellowship and genuine friendship and love. At the end of the night, the girls brought me a Willow Tree Angel of Friendship and said that they hoped the night had been a blessing for me, since I was far from home on a special holiday. My eyes filled with tears and my heart was overflowing thinking of my new friends and the amazing night they had given to me, and to all present. I am overwhelmed with gratitude, humbled by the grace of God in surrounding me with incredibly caring people who reached out to me and joined in the joy of celebration.

They are my family, this church and all the people I have met in Belfast. Only three months away, and they are my family. They laugh with me and at me, they surround me with love and thoughtfulness, and they walk with me as I stumble to follow God's will and join His purpose here in Belfast.

I think of the spirit that always was so palpable in Old Stone Church on Thanksgiving Day or in our kitchen as we made dinner. The ache of homesickness won't go away during the holidays and I live with it most days. It helps me to talk to God like an old friend and it helps me to be reminded to look for the beauty and joy in each day. But I felt that spirit, the Holy Spirit, there with us tonight in the lounge at Whitehouse. Thanksgiving came to us today, on a Friday, with bluegrass hymns in the background, friends gathered, laughter shared, and for these and many other blessings, Lord I am truly thankful.

Finally, at my Grandmother's memorial service we sang "Count Your Many Blessings." I cried and laughed my way through the song, because my mother's maiden name is Blessing and the hymn was also a pun about the vast number of our family, the Blessings. I often count my blessings here in Belfast and mostly my journal entries are just lists of things that have made me happy. This day will truly go down as one and I pray for all of you that read this, that your Thanksgiving will truly be a celebration where you can count your many blessings name them one by one, count your many blessings, see what God has done!

A Maze of Walls

Yesterday was Rememberance Sunday, which is much like our Veterans Day. It is a day when people commemorate lives lost in the World Wars, the Troubles, and in present struggles around the world, inlcuding Iraq. In Belfast people wear poppies to remember the Battle of the Somme where the field was stained with the blood of fallen soldiers and now red poppies bloom. To some people wearing the poppy is not only an act of remembrance, but a symbol of allegiance to the Queen of England. This was more true during the times of the Troubles, but even today you are less likely to see someone from a Catholic/Nationalist background wearing a poppy than a Loyalist/Protestant.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/remembrance/
This BBC site has some interesting information on Remembrance.

With a tense history surrounding Remembrance Liz took a different approach and chose to focus on peacemaking and forward movement into a shared future. Whitehouse launched a discipleship course, “The Gospel in Conflict” on Sunday evenings and Liz wanted to echo that in her sermon on Sunday. She asked me to do the children’s focus and discuss what it means to love your neighbor. I was very nervous, because I feel like children’s sermons are like teaching in front of a lot of evaluators. So Doug gave me some advice on our retreat and with a few practice runs on Doreen, the deaconess, and my roommates I was ready to go.

The service started with the Act of Remembrance which includes laying of wreaths, a bugle call with a poem read, silence, prayer, and the National Anthem (“God Save the Queen”). I did my children’s sermon and felt an amazing enjoyment being there with the children. When I asked who their neighbor was one wee boy replied, “Eugenia and Alex!” I talked to them about how some people don’t know the love of God and their hearts are cold like ice cubes. I have never seen such excitement about touching an ice cube! But Jesus calls us to love our neighbor, which is everyone, and that means surrounding their hearts with our warm love. So each child held an ice cube and felt it melt. I also talked with them about how the water in their hand is like how we always get something in return when we love someone. It was such a blessing to be there with them, to see the genuine excitement of approaching the Kingdom of God like a child. I truly hope they made the connection and will endeavor to surround their neighbor with warm love.

Then Liz stood to give her sermon. She began with a story about an Indonesian man who had gone to England to study and was living with a family. He went to his minister and complained that he needed to be moved because he was not getting on well with his host family. He explained how the woman looked down on him. On one occasion he was eating an orange. As he began to peel she instructed him to get a plate, knife, napkin, be careful, and so on. He remarked that she looked on him as an uncivilized fellow because he did not know how to eat an orange. He looked upon her as an uncivilized woman because she did not know how to enjoy an orange. The point was that it is amazing how small differences can get seriously out of proportion and be difficult to sort out.

If an orange can create a barrier, how much more a wall…
Liz showed slides of the Great Wall of China, the Berlin Wall, and the wall being erected in Iraq by the Saudis. She talked about the lives sacrificed in the building of the Great Wall, the hope of the day when the Berlin wall came down, and how even Mary and Joseph would be stopped in their tracks by the wall now going up on the way to Bethlehem.

And then she showed a picture of a Belfast peace line. There are now 41 peacelines or district barriers in Belfast, not Northern Ireland, but Belfast alone. Peacelines are used to separate Catholic/Nationalist areas from Protestant/Loyalist areas.

Houses along the lines became derelict because of petrol bombs and other objects thrown over them. There are even a few peacelines that you can drive directly through, but they are closed during times of tension. Peacelines can be a blaring, high, barbed wire wall or even a wall that has since been covered with growth to make it less stark. It has always been ironic to me that you need a wall to have peace. There are over 20 kilometers of peace wall in North Belfast.

Walls here are also covered with images, murals of allegiance and declarations of belief.


These physical markers stand, but there are also invisible barriers. People are reluctant to travel in areas where there used to be tension, in neighborhoods less like their own. Liz even mentioned me and where I live. Sometimes people in the congregation have expressed sympathy for me when they hear that I live in the New Lodge area, which is strongly Nationalist. People say that an area “used to be nice” when they are simply referring to the fact that the Loyalists have moved out and the Nationalists have moved in. This movement can also be referred to as “the greening” or Catholics moving into an area that used to be largely Protestant.

Race is also increasingly becoming a barrier in Northern Ireland and sexual orientation. The Community Relations Officer of Newtonabbey reported that she has been out 24 times to victims of racial attack. Barriers are created where difference is noted and in an effort to increase our security, making an “us” and a “them” we put people in a box or behind a wall.

In Ephesians Paul writes that Christ is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. Christ has broken down the dividing wall! When Jesus died, the temple curtain was torn in two, proving that God cannot be contained within walls, even the walls of the temple. God’s love is not within bounds, walls, or divisions and He calls us to join him in breaking them apart. “There is no longer Jew or Greek, slave or free, men or women, for we are all one in Christ Jesus.” Jesus calls us to abandon our prejudice and trade it for a shared vision.

As Liz delivered her sermon, which I’ve sort of paraphrased and added my own embellishments to here, I was struck by the bravery of my minister. How she stood with enthusiasm before the congregation and delivered a sermon that artfully, unwaveringly, faced the issues before all of us. In my first months in Northern Ireland I have observed a dichotomy. People who want to talk about the Troubles, talk about the current issues in government, society, and even our own communities. I have also observed people who dance gracefully around everything and keep peace by layering silence on top of it. I think what I have learned most from this dichotomy and from the bravery of Liz’s sermon yesterday, is that we in the United States could really learn a lot. Here, the lines of division are raw, painted, flagged, and labeled. There are also the divisions that bubble under the surface and are exchanged in a glance. In the States, we have a few labels on our boxes, a few defined divisions, such as race, gender, sexual orientation, and political view. Most of the time we don’t have much trouble talking about them, but we do hesitate to make much of them.

“History is going to judge us in this country,” Liz said. “Our grandchildren are going to ask us, ‘What did you do to make a difference?’”

History will judge us in our own country as well. What did you do to make sure that all people were treated equally? What did you do to stand up for what you believe in, in a way that affected change? What did you do to eliminate and break down the walls that built a maze around you? What did you do to ensure that there is no longer them and us and share the message that we are all one in Christ Jesus and God’s love knows no bounds? What did you do to make a difference?

How do you know when the night has passed and the day has come?

When you can look into the eyes of every person you meet and see that they are your brother or sister, because until you are able to do this, the night will never end and the day will never dawn.

Miracle Maker

Children as young as 3 develop prejudice, noticing physical and racial differences. 1 in 6 children in Northern Ireland are making sectarian comments by the age of 6, that's a comment that relates to a characteristic of being Catholic or Protestant. From this age there is only an increase in discriminatory perception in children. NIPPA, NICIE, and Queen's University are working together on a media initiative project which has recently launched a series of children's cartoons that focus on a group of children, some of whom have physical, ethnic, and background differences. The idea is that through nursery schools, parent programs, and other public awareness initiatives children will be exposed to positive images, be able to recognize exclusion, and be given the tools to begin practicing inclusion exhibited by a willingness to include others.
www.mifc-pii.org (for more on the Media Initiative)

Last week, I attended the "Respecting Difference" seminar at Ulidia Teacher's Centre with at least 20 other participants from Nursery Schools around Belfast. The first day we examined our own attitudes by looking at prejudices against cultural groups that we carry as we seek to introduce a program of respect to our children. The second day we looked at the materials in the packets we will receive. They include the DVD of the 3 media messages, each one dealing with a different topic. We spent time at 3 different tables with the materials associated with each media message. In small groups we discussed the developmental appropriateness of the materials, usability, and other aspects. We concluded the day by talking about how we would implement the program, make the parents aware, and inspire parent support.

Over the two days I noticed some interesting comparisons between the Northern Irish school system and what I know of the American school system. Firstly, all teachers desperately want the support of parents. We truly do believe that parents are the first and best teacher and we want to be unified with parents to help children succeed as people. Second, even in Northern Ireland, teachers feel pressed for time. I heard more than one group say, "I just keep wondering where I will have time to fit this in with everything else." The challenge of implementing all the programs that will benefit our children is something that educators worldwide deal with and it takes humility to discern what to prioritize. I found solidarity in talking with the other teachers and nursery workers there. It reminded me what it feels like to be a teacher and I actually found comfort in discussing some of the same struggles that I was running from when I applied to be a YAV.

I learned about the conflict over the two days as I listened to people from both sides react to the portrayl of the different groups in the materials. In conversation with the people in my group, they taught me about customs of the culture and their hopes for the future. The third media message is entitled, "Playing the Same Game" and it shows one group of children playing with Loyalist/Protestant band equipment like a drum and a baton, while the other group of children is playing with a Hurling stick and ball, usually associated with Republicans/Catholics. Puzzles to go along with the message where intend to portray the cultures of the two groups by showing celebrations or festival photos. There was a photo of an Orange Order parade, which everyone felt looked too busy and most children who had used the puzzle thought it was a funeral. There was also a photo of St.Patrick's Day and the majority felt that photo made it look dull and trite. As an observer and an outsider I tried to make generic observations and filter my comments through an educational lens, but you could feel the tension in the room at times. I was reminded that in all cultures, even in ours in the United States, there are cultural tensions just under the surface. There are wounds of bitterness, stemming from differences in understanding or lack of understanding that permeate all cultures. Yet here I am with the unique opportunity to learn from another culture and how they are positively surrounding children with ways to address difference. Bill told me that because of the Troubles Northern Ireland would have had less immigrants in the past 30 years. Now as the number of immigrants increases and the religious and political differences of the Troubles are coming into the light of open and productive dialogue, there is much to be learned from progress in Northern Ireland.

We could learn to recognize when someone is left out
We could learn to remember the anguish of being excluded
We could reach out to someone in need
We could value others
We could accept religious differences
We could lay bitterness aside, sacrifice it for the sake of peace and progress
We could forgive
We could break the circle and include everyone

The weekend before I attended the seminar, I went to a concert with the youth from Whitehouse to see Delirious. Nothing has inspired me so much about the future of Belfast as when I saw the youth gathered on the floor at that concert praising God. At one point they sang in a unified voice about God at work in their city through them. As I've gotten to know the youth at Whitehouse, the children at the 174, the teachers at the seminar, the other people I work with at church and the Trust, I am humbled by God at work in Northern Ireland.



There are days when it's difficult. Days when I feel more acutely the sting of being separate from everyone I love and the places that defined me. There are days when I feel misinterpreted, because English is not always Southern English and being laughed at isn't always easy to shrug off. Moments of isolation when I want people to know who I am and how much I care, but I'm not sure where to begin. But God reminds me, in all those people I mentioned above and in new experiences everyday, that His power is perfect in my weakness. He doesn't need me to show how good He is, He would accomplish it anyway, but being here is a gift because there is so much I can learn if I only open my eyes to the work of the Miracle Maker.


Miracle Maker

I’m waiting here for my life to change,
When the waters stir you can rearrange me.
Just one touch is all I need,
I’ve nothing much but the wounds I feel,
I’m looking for the hand of the miracle man.

Holy, you are holy,
Who was and is and is to come.
Holy, you are holy, Saviour, Healer,
I’m standing at the feet of the miracle maker.

I’m holding on, with your life in mine,
Living water’s come,
And you’ve rearranged me.

Holy you are holy,
Who was and is and is to come.
Holy, you are holy,
Saviour, healer,
I’m staring in the face of the miracle maker.

Holy, you are holy,
Who was and is and is to come.
Jesus, precious Jesus,
Thank you, Saviour,
I’m walking in the shoes of my miracle maker.
I’m standing with the faith of a miracle maker.

Written by Delirious? ©2005 Curious? Music UK