Our Advent #Posada2018 has begun.
#Posada2018 begins on the banks of the Mersey
The small figures of Mary, Joseph, and Deborah their donkey began their journey at Chorlton Water Park in South Manchester, on the banks of the River Mersey.
On Saturdays a walk is often organised for members of our Church language classes for the trafficked, and homeless. Alan chooses different locations for the walks, and is encouraging volunteers to join too. Not only are these walks good for conversation in English, its also an opportunity for exercise, fresh air and mutual encouragement.
As the Posada figures joined the walk the conversations centred around travelling – both locally and across nations. For the trafficked people journeys are an integral part of their life stories.
The setting of the walk following the flow of the River Mersey gave a sense of flowing energy in the river, a glimpse of the drive and flow of life, and our part in something greater. This year our #Posada2018 has a particular focus,’Seeing God’ (for more on this see an earlier post – click here) and we are encouraging one another to look for, and talk about, glimpses of the divine, the presence of God, around us. Pausing to look at the flowing river encouraged a sense of continuous flowing energy around us. The beauty of the walk in the many colours of late Autumn, and the animals around pointed to something greater than our small, frequently narrow, lives. A surrounding beauty.
The walk allowed people of differing background and culture to connect with one another, to share stories, and to learn from one another.
In our Christian faith we so often meet people different from ourselves, whose life can enrich our own. This can be a great blessing.
The companionship of the walk was further strengthened by sharing drinks of hot chocolate, resting after the walk, and listening to one another.
The story of the journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem joins so many different people, and opens our eyes to seeing God journeying with us, and sensing the flow of God’s love around us and guiding us.
Think of a time in your life when you shared a walk or longer journey. What do you particularly remember about it? What did you gain from the sharing and the journey?
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