Clarion: Journal of Spirituality and Justice

A HAWK TOOK FLIGHT by Brian Thomas

A HAWK TOOK FLIGHT: STORIES BEHIND THE SONGS OF BRIAN THOMAS
Listen to the song here.

A wedding is a special event, especially when you have watched the relationship grow from a small beginning into a lifelong commitment. This wedding was one I was not going to miss, even though it was halfway across the country in a little town south of Winnipeg called Winkler, Manitoba. I had barely enough gas money to get there, and I didn't know how I was going to pay for the trip home, let alone buy food for the journey, let alone pay my rent when I returned, yet I was determined nonetheless not to miss this beautiful occasion.

THE ENGLISH REFORMATION: A TALE FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS by Ron S. Dart

But there are remnants left around me… very strange remnants… in this case the Anglican Church which has in it some of the ancient truth and therefore I will live within it. - George Grant

The English Reformation took more than a century from beginning to end, and when the end was reached, the Anglican Tradition had both a solid and sane Prayer Book, and a sensible and sound theological grounding. The Anglican Church of Canada and the Anglican Communion, I suspect, can learn much from the English Reformation.

The 1st phase of the English Reformation began when John Colet lectured on Romans in 1496 at Oxford University. The Oxford Reformers (Colet, Erasmus, More) saw deeper than most the need for reform, and how a wise notion of reform could and would take place. The publication of the Enchiridion (1501), by Erasmus, pointed the way, in both a theological and political sense, to the meaning of reform. The Oxford Reformers were, in many ways, the morning stars of the English Reformation.

Into the Silence by Fi Calder

I linger in the doorway
reluctant to step over the threshold
He stands before me
His hand held out in invitation
‘come, Dear One, I’ll show you the way’
I take His hand and He leads me into the unknown
into the silence, into the darkness
ever deeper into the emptiness
my heart pounds
I’m afraid
can this be right?
I thought being a God-follower meant being led into light and joy and freedom
‘trust Me’, He whispers
we stop for a moment, a pause on our descent
He takes both my hands and He looks into my face
its not necessary to speak, His eyes say it all
‘its going to be alright Fi’
He breathes, I breathe
He waits ‘til calm comes
then we walk on, hand in hand
into the sorrow, into the heartache
ever deeper into the emptiness

Islamist Jihad: Interpretation and Radicalization By C. Kerr

Many Islamist terrorist acts are based on the doctrine of jihad – also known as the sixth pillar of the Islamic faith.  Liberal Muslims see jihad as a route for spiritual purity, though their Islamists counterparts intertwine this with an armed struggle.  In order to understand what jihad is and how it affects the West, it must be viewed from an Islamic perspective with religious context from the Qur’an, Hadith and history; and then applied in present day situations.  This analysis of jihad in historical, theological and political context will bring to surface concerns that Western nations have when dealing with Islamists who purport such ideology. 

Grief by Fi Calder

Grief.

A few months ago I was fortunate enough to hear Mike Stewart from St. Matts, give a talk on suffering. He asked us ‘have you got room in your theology for suffering?’ So here was the challenge; suffering and sadness is a part of life, but do we have a Christianity which can embrace it. It really got me thinking and remembering my nursing days. I was a nurse for 14 years. The last 8 years of that was spent working as a registered nurse in a hospice. We cared for people with terminal cancer and just a few with AIDS. About half of them died with us, and half of them went home. It was a part of the British National Health service and was therefore by no means a Christian setting. The patients and their families taught me most of what I will share with you now on the subject of grief. 

Grief is a very important part of life. We all experience it. It’s a God given gift, designed by Him so that we not only survive life’s trials and sufferings, but we also grow through them.