Vacare Deo – Page 4 – Learning to live in the unforced rhythms of grace

Grey

This morning, in our reflections, Lois and I were using a practice called Terra Divina which we came across in Ian Adams’ helpful book, Running over rocks. Adams encourages us to pause and contemplate the natural world around us, to ‘read the text of the landscape. [This is] like reading a book, except now it’s another language that you are reading – of clouds and birds and trees and sunlight.’ We seek whatever catches our attention and accept that as a gift.

As I looked out of our window on the damp summer morning, I was drawn to the flat, grey sky beyond the trees. All was dull, shallow, grey. There were none of the usual dawn colours of the sky; none of the depth of blues and golds and pinks. The trees were lacking their usual green vibrancy. Even the birds were muted in their morning symphony of praise.

As I lingered with the greyness, I thought of the young couple I visited yesterday evening. For them this morning will bring no leaping green trees, no blue dream of sky[1]. Just the dull reality of life without their little baby; the steady trickle of rain and tears; grey.

I trust that, one day, hints of colour might start to creep back into their lives. But for now, all I can do is hold them in my thoughts in the grey of this day.

Kyrie Eleison

[1] From ‘I thank you God for this most amazing day’, Chapel of Tarore Songbook, Ngatiawa River Monsatery

In the footsteps of a carpenter

We have just returned from a weekend celebrating my father’s 80th birthday. A truly wonderful occasion for an amazing man. Those 80 years have taken him from the rural idyll of a childhood in Sussex, to 18 exciting years in Hong Kong, urban ministry in Gravesend, and the stillness of the Acorn Healing Trust in Hampshire before further spells in Hong Kong and eventual retirement in the equally idyllic Buckinghamshire countryside.

To celebrate, we put together an album of photos and memories. Take a look at In the footsteps of a carpenter (you will need to register with Snapfish to do so, but it is a free service).

Continue reading In the footsteps of a carpenter

Going Green

Frustrated by the outcome of the general election, the apparent pervasiveness of what comes across as an inward-looking, focus on ‘what’s best for me’ in our society, and the gradual merging of the main political parties into a somewhat right-of-centre common ground, I decided this week to join the Green Party.

Having spent some time before the election reading through some of the Party manifestos, it seemed to me that the Green Party was the one party that is actually prepared to challenge the status quo of global capitalism and exploitation, to question whether protecting our economy really is the most important value for our society and government, and to dare to suggest that there could be alternatives. There is something about the principles on which the Party is founded that resonates with the values to which I aspire: a concern for justice for all; care for our planet; care for those in our global society who are most vulnerable; an emphasis on health in its fullest sense; and a commitment to non-violent approaches to tackling the problems we face.

Continue reading Going Green

Pride

Yesterday, Lois and I watched Pride (BBC Films, 2014), a truly inspirational film which I would highly recommend (thank you Kevin Finnan for your recommendation). A small minority group, hated and victimised, struggling with their own weaknesses and infighting, choose, in spite of that, to look beyond their own problems to recognise and do something about the needs of another oppressed group. In doing so, these ordinary, vulnerable human beings find something of their true selves, the immortal diamonds within. They, and the group they choose to help, discover within themselves, the capacity to show compassion, to see beyond the stereotypes and prejudices, to identify with others who are, perhaps, not so different from themselves. And, in doing so, they make a stand for justice that has an impact.

Continue reading Pride

On the eve of the general election

On the eve of the general election I find myself increasingly exercised by the issues of justice that are at stake here. This election isn’t just about who we would like to govern our country, it is about how we, as a country, and the people who govern us, treat our fellow-citizens, particularly the most vulnerable in our society: children, the elderly, disabled people, immigrants and asylum seekers, those living in poverty, those with mental health problems… the list could go on.

Over the past three weeks I have spent a lot of time preparing and delivering lectures on child mortality, both in the UK and overseas. While there has been incredible progress over the past 25 years in reducing child mortality, we live in a country in which over 5,000 children and young people die each year, and in a world where over 6 million children die each year before their fifth birthday. One aspect stands out above all others:

there is a consistent inverse relationship between child mortality and socioeconomic status.

The more wealthy you are, the less likely your child is to die. This finding is persistent across time, and geography, and holds true regardless of whether you measure socioeconomic status at an individual or societal level.

Continue reading On the eve of the general election

Borrowdale

I am feeling most blessed after spending a weekend with friends in the peace and beauty of Borrowdale in the Lake District. To share good food, wine and laughter in the company of friends, to appreciate the beauty around us: the bleak fells opening up before us as we climb through a blizzard (yes, nearly May, but there truly was a blizzard) to the top of High Raise; the towering crags of Langdale Pikes; the stunning panoramas of peaks and dales. Continue reading Borrowdale

2015 Wiley Prize for the best papers published in Child Abuse Review

It is a great pleasure to announce the 2015 Wiley Prize for the best papers published in Child Abuse Review. Jane Appleton and I have selected three papers, published between 2011 and 2014 which we believe are all outstanding papers, reflecting innovative thinking and relevance to practitioners. The quality of papers published in the journal is always very high, so selecting three out of all those published isn’t easy.

The three winning papers are:

Kirsten Stalker and Katherine McArthur. Child abuse, child protection and disabled children: a review of recent research Child Abuse Review Volume 21, Issue 1, January/February 2012, Pages: 24–40

Vic Tuck. Resistant Parents and Child Protection: Knowledge Base, Pointers for Practice and Implications for Policy Child Abuse Review Volume 22, Issue 1, January/February 2013, Pages: 5–19

Susan Alderson, Nicole Westmarland and Liz Kelly. The Need for Accountability to, and Support for, Children of Men on Domestic Violence Perpetrator Programmes Child Abuse Review Volume 22, Issue 3, May/June 2013, Pages: 182–193,

The child at the centre of care

Placing the child at the centre of care requires professionals and organisations to adopt a position that recognises and responds to the child or young person’s best interests (Appleton, Powell and Coombes, 2014, unpublished report to NSPCC). As Munro (2011a, 2011b; p6) stated in her review of child protection, the child protection system needs to focus not on procedural aspects and bureaucratic systems, but on ‘doing the right thing’ and ‘checking whether children and young people are being helped’. This was the message from recent research that highlighted that a child’s missed health care appointment should be regarded as ‘a window of opportunity for intervention, to keep the child at the centre of care, and safe and well ’ (Appleton et al., 2014, unpublished report to NSPCC; p55). Keeping the child at the centre of care is crucially important in all frontline work with children and families.

Keeping the child at the centre of care is a theme in the latest issue of Child Abuse Review, now available online.

We feature an excellent paper by Brigid Daniel considering why we have made neglect so complicated and offering some fresh perspectives on how we can notice and help the neglected child, as well as research on child welfare, protecting unborn and newborn babies, shaken baby syndrome prevention in Turkey, engaging fathers, and professionals dealing with complexity.

For the full contents list, and to download any of the papers, click here

New Directions in Child Protection and Wellbeing

Today is the last day of the BASPCAN Congress. Over the past three days I have had the privilege of meeting some awesome people from around the world – friends and colleagues old and new, united in one purpose: to make this world a better place for children. We have heard some inspiring talks, considered new research, and discussed novel ideas. It has been a really great congress.

While we may discuss and debate important policies and procedures, reflect on groundbreaking research, or consider different approaches to teaching or practice, what stands out to me is that what really makes a difference to children is individuals being themselves and doing what they care about: being passionate and compassionate; being present to children and families, empathetic, caring. And it is that care that I’ve seen in peoples faces as I have wandered around the congress. These 800 people, like me, want to make a difference.

A tribute to Helen by Hennie Johnston

Today, Helen’s Birthday, I look back to the words our friend Hennie spoke at her funeral:

I first met Helen, Peter, Esther and Jo when they moved up to Coventry from Bristol, and made their home here at Holy Trinity, when I was the curate. I can remember one of the first things that struck me, as a family, was their incredible love for Jesus, and how that love impacted their public and personal lives. Of course very soon after they arrived we were to learn about their involvement with Servants, their time living & working out in Cambodia, and Helen’s continuing work in the UK Servants role, as well as her involvement abroad. It didn’t take long for me to realise Helen’s own servant heart, and her passion and compassion for the poor and oppressed. What broke Jesus’ heart, broke hers.

Continue reading A tribute to Helen by Hennie Johnston