This is Thom – with ‘Mr Fox’. He, and some of his friends, have made their own puppets to tell the story of ‘The Fantastic Mr Fox’ (amongst other tales). He’s offering puppet making lessons at ‘The Seagull’, the local community theatre that I’m involved with.
Puppets can’t think for themselves. They can only do what they’re made to do, speak the words that they’re given…
Thom and his puppets…
Our friend Gill is staying with us. Gill trained to be a teacher with me; a group of us became friends then and stayed in touch… We all got jobs, moved to different parts of the UK…
Whilst the rest of us were pursuing our careers, Gill was teaching Missionaries’ Kids in the middle of Brazil. She thought for herself, following where she believed her God was leading her.
Gill took responsibility for her life…
It’s the Tuesday before Easter. Some Christian traditions remember Jesus’ discussions and disagreements with the religious leaders: ‘You hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs…’
Jesus then told stories about God’s kingdom and being ready for it… like the story of the man who entrusts his servants with talents and goes on a journey. On his return the man holds his servants accountable; he expects them to have used their talents wisely…
Taking responsibility, acting responsibly…
In ‘African Pearl’ Pamela Brown-Peterside describes leaving her secure in New York, to work in rural Uganda. She’s asks Dr Jonah how he lives with frequent deaths:
‘We do our best with what we have, but sometimes it isn’t good enough. We have to accept that… Death is part of life whether you work with medicine or not…
… If I didn’t have a deep sense that this was my calling, that this is where God wants me to be, I wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t be able to do this day after day.’
Pamela, Dr Jonah… living responsibly because of their faith
Musing… Puppets… taking responsibility… acting, living responsibly… faith…
malcolmsmusings.org 