Well I did promise I would blog about yesterdays short excursion to the Wilson Carlile College in Sheffield to teach at the Summer School on Alternative Spirituality/ New Age outreach and using the Essence Course as a tool.
I decided to travel by train- great idea because it gave me time to read and prepare myself for teaching rather than fight my way up the A17 (horrible road!!!). I also decided- because I hate station coffee to make a flask of really good coffee, bad idea- because when I changed trains at Ely I discovered the stupid flask had leaked- I had even wrapped it it two Waitrose bags... and it leaked all over my handouts! Bl***y flask I muttered...
Threw it in the nearest bin in disgust...
Thankfully the presentation was all PowerPoint- thankfully my lap-top was in another bag...
Arrived in Sheffield calmer having played with the MP3 player on my new phone listening to a mixture of Coldplay and Arvo Part.
Found a Taxi- eventually explained through hand signals and a map where I wanted to go....steam rising again..
Arrived at the Sheffield Centre, lunch... then the afternoon teaching session... I had the largest seminar group of the week...
Power Point worked well a good inter-active session looking at culture and using my favourite shock tactic-The Ace of Cups - to draw out the use of symbolism- such as the hand of God, mystery the Holy Spirit as a dove, streams of living water etc etc, before I explain it is a Tarot card..
Go read John Drane's Beyond Prediction (co authors Ross Clifford, and Philip Johnson) if this challenges you, or feel free to e-mail me and I would be happy to enter into a deeper dialogue on the subject.
The remainder of the teaching looked at The Essence course in depth finishing off with a deeper look at session 3 which takes the themes of creation, ecology and stewardship suggesting we can become partners in the kingdom of God, also looking at John 3 :16 from a holistic standpoint.
I am both a fan and a severe critic of the Essence Course as I feel wrongly used it can be all so much froth and bubble, entered into at a deeper level it can prove a useful tool for starting a deeper dialogue with spiritually minded people.
I like teaching in an interactive environment, it forces me to think on my feet and to be well prepared for I do not know what questions or comments are going to be made.
As for the handouts I have e-mailed copies to any that wanted them (almost everyone)...
Long journey home thankfully a window seat all the way and a section to myself 3/4 of the way (I can be so unsociable at times)...
Today I have done almost nothing, blogged, done a bit of housework, tidied the garden, and then this evening Tim and I went for a sail...
Light winds, sun over the water, birds and seals- this is my slice of heaven....
Wild Goose, (Celtic imagery for the Holy Spirit) Is a 15 foot Enterprise racing dingy.
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