Wednesday 1 April 2009

sign of the times (2)


I came across this interesting installation in the foyer of Chelmsford Library yesterday. Don’t know why it is there or who created it so I Googled the phrase ‘leave your anxiety at the door’. 8 out of the 10 listings on the first page were about separation anxiety in dogs! Now that really is a sign of the times.

A colleague of mine attended the Mind, Body, Soul exhibition in Essex at the weekend and one of the most advertised sessions was for animal healing. The blurb invited people to bring their pets along and my favourite phrase in the programme was this:

‘On this occasion due to health and safety reasons please leave horses/farm animals at home. We will be able to offer distant healing instead.’

On a more serious note I am told the place was packed out and in the past I guess it’s the sort of event that Christians would have campaigned against rather than attended. However, Christians ran a stand at the exhibition as an opportunity to speak about Jesus using something called The Jesus Deck. The deck of cards is made up of four suits corresponding to the four Gospel accounts of the life of Jesus Christ. People are invited to explore their reaction to the cards depicting events from the life of Christ and to engage with the Good News of Jesus. The cards look like tarot cards (originally people used tarot cards and the Jesus Deck was developed as an alternative), however, it is made very clear to those participating that it is in no way connected with fortune telling but is about the life of Jesus. The popularity of the stand meant that an appointments system had to be put in place.

The Jesus Deck stand was organised by Journey into Wholeness and supported by churches from the local area.

Anyway, to return to the theme of anxiety, Google may not have been much help but Jesus said:

Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Matthew 11:28f

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