Last weekend I finished going through the book of
Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament. I’d read it before, but never worked my way
through it slowly and thoughtfully. In some parts it seems almost outrageously
cynical or pessimistic, at other times humorous; in places it’s incredibly
poetic – the description of old age towards the end is brilliant, and that
comes from somebody who is not usually affected much by poetry.
What has really fascinated me is that the writer, most
probably King Solomon, has tried just about everything, and observed the
intricacies of life, and keeps on repeating his statement: “It’s meaningless;
it’s pointless. What I see just doesn’t make sense.”
His conclusions as to how this all relates to God and our
relationship to him, read for yourself, but that a book like this is in the
bible is wonderful. It’s OK to ask hard questions like, “Why did this young
person die?” Or, “Why do natural disasters happen?” No, we can’t make sense of
them; that’s also OK, we don’t have to.
At a more personal level, what I find encouraging is that
when next week I have yet another go at making various plans that affect other
people’s lives, then it’s OK that it won’t work out as I expect The one
certainty is that it will change because the unexpected will happen. I don’t
understand the whys and wherefores, but making those plans is not pointless
because even in their failings and incompleteness, they still move MAF, other
people and ourselves forward.
I must remember these deep thoughts at the end of next week
when the recently reworked plans need changing 24 hours after I thought I’d
completed them!
*************
Over many years MAF
has worked closely with the Nazarene Mission, which is a denomination that
is strongest in the USA and which grew out of the same roots as the Wesleyan/Methodist churches. The hospital at Kudjip, our first point of call for medical treatment 40km east of Mount Hagen, is run by them and is one of the best hospitals in PNG, if not actually the best. It is also where the Nazarene Church has their last mission station in the world, as in all other locations responsibilities have been handed over to local people.
is strongest in the USA and which grew out of the same roots as the Wesleyan/Methodist churches. The hospital at Kudjip, our first point of call for medical treatment 40km east of Mount Hagen, is run by them and is one of the best hospitals in PNG, if not actually the best. It is also where the Nazarene Church has their last mission station in the world, as in all other locations responsibilities have been handed over to local people.
The MAF Leadership
Team, of which I’m part, had arranged for one of the missionaries at Kudjip to
come and facilitate a day retreat on Friday. Coincidentally, because we didn’t
know about it when the retreat was arranged, this last week was the 50th
celebration of the Nazarene Health Ministries in PNG.
Friday was a very worthwhile day; it’s far too long since
the Leadership Team took time out to reflect, think, talk and pray together. It
will be repeated with a much smaller gap than there’s been since the last one.
*************
On Saturday Nicki and I drove out to Kudjip to be part of
the final day of the celebrations. When we arrived we were asked if we’d like
to join in a song the Kudjiptians (as they call themselves) were doing!
Fortunately it was one we knew and it was a nice to be actively involved.
Friends
from times past were also there, which was one reason why we’d gone. Neville (top photo) and Joyce Bartle whom we lived next door to for the best part of eight years
were there. They came to PNG in the late 1960s and left in the early 2000s and
taught us a great deal about PNG from their incredible depth of experience.
Verne (lower photo) and Natalie Ward were there. They were the
missionaries who were based in Dusin during the 1980s and by the time we came
in 1994, Verne was the Nazarene Field Director. Later they moved to Singapore
as a Regional Director and is now the Global Director of Missions for the
church. It was a delight to see them again. On Tuesday we hope to fly them out
to Dusin for a few days. I think it is great that they still have their hearts
based in a remote community in the mountains of PNG, which they influenced so
greatly, but which has also influenced them just as much.
*************
Returning to my philosophical reflections. Our highlands
blackberries are fruiting incredibly well but are covered in vicious thorns.
Why are the thorns, both on the stems and the backs of the leaves so vicious?
It’s an incomprehensible and meaningless question, but it isn’t pointless.
Groan.
I hope that sets you up for the week!
