I've been thinking today about how different people live in different
situations, sociologically. I feel that I am most myself and most at
home in a place where I have a few strong friendships, where, over the
course of a few years I have built up close relations with a few mates
and its always great to know that I have someone I can drop in at at
reasonable time. But I was thinking today about where I'm at and where
I might go from here. I've often thought, as the 'Wild at Heart' in me
projects, what it'd be like to travel indefinitely, or even uproot
myself (again) and place myself somewhere where I have no close
relation to anyone around me. I've met some really brilliant people
over the last few years who thrive on travelling, their independence
and on constantly meeting new people. The majority of which were Solo
musicians who have been travelling the world telling their tales
through the medium of song. Something inside of me jumps when I think
of travelling and living by the mantra 'wherever I lay my hat, that's my home'
but in reality I think it would be short lived, but nevertheless
exciting. I'm still trying to discover what kind of person I am (if its
possible to categorise oneself in such a fashion), am I a wanderer or a
settler. I'm undecided!!! But feel like I am ready for both. I think
ideally, these categories wouldn't be considered completely independent.
Tonights cell group was about acting justly, twas interesting overall
and I took a lot away from it. Something that has stuck in my mind
though, is the mention that actually our church (in soton) is full of
middle class people (much like my church in Cambridge) and that its difficult
to practice Social Justice or even realise it in a realistic sense
because the majority of the church are completely sheltered away from
it. There are projects run such as a refugee charity and a debt advice
service that may give a few volunteers the oppurtunity to meet people
who are 'in need' but otherwise the best we can do is buy fairtrade tea
and bank at the co-op. While these actions of Social Justice conscience
are paramount, I can't help but think that this distances us further
from where the real (social) action is, i.e. the hands on work, getting
along side 'undesirables' [sic], as Jesus did.
This links in with
thoughts I've written of above; the early church, I imagine, where much
in the same predicament, thus, they decided to give up their homes and
belongings in order to be in a position to reach out. Most of them
became 'wanderers' in order to fully engage in social action and to
meet people's needs. So, my thoughts of 'wandering' may not be just
about adventure and independence but perhaps could also be about Old
Skool Social Action.
