I am already missing the Olympic games. What a tear jerking moment it is when the flame is finally extinguished. I had the experience this time of watching the games both in Australia, when most events take place late in the evening, and back home when the excitement is mainly in the morning. The Aussies have not enjoyed our success, which really hurts, and I found that their coverage was rather more biased than ours back home. I hope that this sets us up to win back the Ashes next year! One of the wonderful things about the Olympics is that we are reminded that other sports other than the usual football and cricket can also be very exciting. I have really enjoyed the volleyball (not just the beach variety!), the cycle pursuit and the tae kwon do. I had never heard of it before!               

What an experience it must have been to be cheered into the huge Bird’s Nest stadium at the start of the games and to be present as an athlete or spectator at the closing ceremony. Even if you had not won a medal simply to be part of the whole experience must have been priceless. I am already looking forward to London in 2012 and considering which sport to take up. The Olympics remind us that there are so many choices!

                This visual spectacle was all in contrast to last Sunday when the low congregations at St. Andrew's reflected that it was August Bank Holiday Weekend. Yet the day before I had officiated at the wedding of a friend’s son in deepest Suffolk and thrilled to meet up with so many good friends whom I had not seen for a long time. Gatherings of happy people with good positive aims are wonderful and inspirational. This is why I enjoy the ‘big’ services so much – Ordinations, Inductions, Weddings, Baptisms, Confirmations, Christmas and Easter celebrations and so on. It is so uplifting when large numbers of Christians collectively raise their voices to give praise to Almighty God.

                 So with the packed Olympic Stadium in mind consider the final book of the Bible - Revelation Ch.5 verses 11 and 12 'And I saw, and I heard the voice of many angels, who were in a circle round the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and their number was ten thousands of ten thousands and thousands of thousands; and they were saying with a great voice........

"The Lamb, which has been slain, is worthy to receive the power and the riches and the wisdom and the strength and the honour and the blessing”.'

                Now that really is the ultimate place to be! The chorus of praise is then taken up by countless hosts of the angels of heaven. They stand in a great outer circle round the throne with the living creatures and the elders and they begin their song. St. John the writer of the book continues his vision, 'And I heard every creature which was in the heaven, and upon the earth, and beneath the earth, and on the sea, and all things in them, saying.................

"Blessing and honour and glory and dominion for ever and ever to him who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb."

And the four living creatures said, Amen; and the elders fell down and worshipped'.

                This is all far greater than even the Chinese genius that created the breathtaking Opening Ceremony of the Olympics. What especially appeals to me is that everybody is there. Obviously in the Olympics there can only be very limited winners, but at the end of our time all who have travelled and shared in Christ’s sufferings are the victors. The book of Revelation is a strange and cryptic work, full of imagery and symbolism. It was written towards the end of the first century when the Church was facing persecution so violent that it seemed to many that it could not survive. St. John, the inspired writer dares to draw aside the veil that shrouds the mystery that lies beyond sense and sight and beyond space and time. In his visions he sees the final downfall of evil and the triumph of good, the end of suffering and sin and death, and the fellowship of God with their Lord in the heavenly New Jerusalem.

                I seem to have come a long way from my original observations on the Olympics. Very few of us can ever expect to compete let alone win a medal and I guess it will be very difficult to get a ticket for any of the events in four years' time. However to those who choose to follow Christ there is first a cross but then an everlasting crown, which no one will take away and the assurance of the greatest prize of all, a place at the Heavenly banquet where the flame is never extinguished.

Affectionately,

Michael

 There is a very ancient story, found in some version or other, in many religious traditions.

               Once upon a time there were three brothers. In the fullness of time their parents died and they were left to decide what to do with their lives.

                "I am going to nurse the sick and cure the injured and reform the health service," said the first, "it only needs a bit of energy and enthusiasm and all its problems will be solved." And, without delay, or pause for thought, he rushed out.

                "Everywhere I go," said the second, "I see people at loggerheads, arguing and fighting, road rage and trouble. I am going to reconcile them. I shall force them to be friends and lead peaceful, kindly lives." And he too packed his belongings, and full of enthusiasm, hurried off.

                "I think I'll stay here," said the third brother.

 After a couple of years the two brothers returned.

                "It's hopeless," said the first. "I can't cope, there are too many problems, as fast as one gets sorted out a new one arises. I give up."

                "Well what about me?" said the second, "I'm torn to shreds, I can't sort out even a few of the world's problems. I have no peace in myself , let alone any to bring to others."

The third brother got up and filled a bowl with muddy water.

                "What do you see?" he said.

                "Nothing," they answered, "it's all obscured by mud."

                "Let it stand quietly," advised the third brother. 

 Later they looked again and sure enough it was clear and bright for the mud had settled. The brothers could see themselves, as in a mirror.

                "When the water is always being disturbed, it's muddy," said the third brother," nothing is clear. It is the same with you. Only when you are still and reflective can you see the way you should go. Only then can you know your true selves."

 The story is not saying that caring for the sick or acting as a peacemaker is wrong. It is saying that we cannot help others if all we offer is busyness and frustration. We are all tempted to think we must always "do". As Christians it

is also important to "be". August, the summer holiday month, could give us all the opportunity to "be still and   know........."

 Have a lovely holiday whether you are "vacationing" or "staycationing" and give yourselves a chance to re-fuel your engines for the winter that will surely come!

The Last Word

 Be still and know.....

 But they walked and they ran,

And they marched and they rode,

And they flew and they drove,

And they bussed and they commuted.

 Be still and know that....

 But they gathered and they met,

And they communed and they congregated,

And they assembled in circles,

And lined up in rows and they organised.

 Be still and know that I.....

 But they conversed and they spoke,

And they shouted and they shook,

And they cried and they laughed,

And they murmured and complained.

 Be still and know that I am....

 But the marchers went forward

And the buses rolled on,

The circles went round,

The lines kept moving,

And the shouts and the sighs

And the laughter and the cries,

And the murmurings and the complaints,

Grew louder and stronger

Whirling and swirling

Faster and faster

Until suddenly......it stopped........

And everybody fell off.

 Be still and know that I am God.