Last One And Moving On

Barry once told me that one of his favourite movies was Shawshank Redemption. So I watched on Saturday for the first time and it was good. Anyway one line struck me from the movie and it summed up who Barry was to me. In light of his memorial today I thought it was a nice line.

Red: "Sometimes it makes me sad though, Andy being gone. I have to remind myself that some birds aren't meant to be caged. Their feathers are far to bright. And when they fly away, the part of you that knows it was a sin to lock them up does rejoice. But still, the place you live in is that much more drab and empty now they are gone. I guess I just miss my friend"

Barry Guy Marshall

You ever meet someone once and you know that this person has made a profound impact on your life? Well that was Barry Marshall for you. I don’t think anyone could say that when they came into contact with Barry they hadn’t gone into a wrestling match with God. Barry inspired, challenged, loved, taught and mostly gave himself to you.

Barry is the reason I am a Christian today. When others were giving me crap Christianity Barry had the space to push me to new and liberating places. I will never forget Barry talking to young people about being drunk and saying honestly how smashed he got at his engagement party and how he challenged me to ministry by saying "what is the greatest gift you can give you your children, the latest IPod or the gift of simplicity". He taught me that to go into a song in different key you go to 5th note and 7th it.

Barry was a wealth of knowledge and inspiration. Unfortunately Barry passed away in the sea almost a week ago. Barry you will be missed, not only by your family but by a generation of young and old that you impacted in astounding ways. You liberated many and even though people got upset with your views, you liberated them to.

Barry you died in the same way you lived. Paddling out to sea alone while others stood on the shoreline watching. Barry may you always be apart of our thoughts and our actions. May we to carry the liberation torch that has touched your flame to others.

Hope in Death

I know people don't die... In fact I know that because I have faith in a God who had the final say in death.

That however does not make death and easy thing to deal with. I have sat for a week now listening to other peoples stories and have been deeply impacted by them. I have a deep sense of loss. My tears are other peoples tears and my heart seems to beat in the pain of others. Is this how we were created? Is this part of what it means to be a community? Is this what Jesus meant when he said "when you did it for the least of these you did it to me"

How much emotion is too much? Should ministers be like doctors? A bible in the one hand and a shovel in the other?

I just know these emotions of mine are in uncharted territory and its hard.

Faith makes things Hard because there is always a place for my hope to be wrong.