The Wild Olive Shoot Community


Once, there was a church that received a vision from God. They dared to do what no other church at that time had done. They grew, and spread across the nation. They called themselves the Blaze Community.

But it absorbed teachings from other groups, both Christian and Pagan. The vision became polluted. Rather than examining itself, the Blaze Community became proud and arrogant, standing alone as the true church, against all opposition.

The Blaze died to an ember as people left, fleeing tyranny, judgement, and forced austerity. Humbly, the Blaze Community leaders sought God's forgiveness and direction.

Now the community received a new vision. One of grace, love, forgiveness, and mercy. Aware that it had been given another chance by God, it renamed itself the Wild Olive Shoot Community, with the knowledge that God could pluck them out of the Cultivated Olive (the universal church) if they ever again fell away from the path to which God had called them.

Tuesday 28 February 2012

The High Wire

Friar James watched his novice, Simon, who was stomping and banging and clattering and showing all the signs of adolescent frustration.

"What troubles you, Simon?"

"I want to be free."

"And what is freedom?"

"Being able to do whatever I like. I'm tired of study, and chores, and lessons."

"Come with me, then."

Friar James took Simon to the Big Top of a circus, where he indicated the high wire act that was practising.

"Are they free?"

"Yes. Look how they twist and somersault."

"Do you see their practice harnesses?"

"Yes."

"Do you see the net below them?"

"Yes."

"That is why they can be free to perform on the high wire. If they slip, the harness protects them. If the harness breaks, the net protects them."

"But they don't use a harness when they perform in front of an audience."

"Nevertheless, what they can do without the harness is because they have practised with one. And there is still the net. So you see, when you yearn for freedom, remember that you cannot truly be free unless you recognise hazards and plan for them."

"But if those high wire performers wanted to avoid hazards, they would not be up there in the first place."

"A life worth living is full of hazards. To avoid them all, a person would have to avoid life. And that in itself is a hazard. To learn how to deal with hazards is to be confident and free of fear. So we must be willing to listen to those that have walked the path before us. What you perceive as limits to your freedom are the very things that make you free."
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