I had grown up as an evangelical, so it came as a surprise that I ended up in an Anglican church in college, but I discovered gifts of church tradition there that I had never encountered before.
What does being Christian entail? What distinguishes the Christian community from other communities? What do the diverse Christian traditions hold in common?
Last Tuesday I had a morning with the Dorset Army Cadet Force, at their annual camp. I reminded them of a Russian proverb: "Dwell in the past and you’ll lose an eye. Forget the past and you’ll lose both eyes." We are here today to remember.
Formed in the image and likeness of God, / We rejoice; / Fired by violence and facing away, / We recoil; / Defaced, despairing, curved in on ourselves, / We cry; / Remaking, repairing, curved into the world, / You come, the Image of God.
The riven earth trembles / As up-bearing angels / Host him unaware / Who dashed foot and hand and heart / With five open wounds, / Wine-staining his garments red / A shame to Massless spirits.