Walking the line

In the first of a new series of bible studies Ruth Harvey reflects on the message of Psalm 85.

Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other. (Ps:10)

AS I write, world leaders are gathering in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt for the 27th Conference of the Parties, or COP27.

In a recent weekend newspaper, 20 photographs displayed the worst ravages of climate catastrophe in these last years. Flood and fire, sea and sand tsumanis, human devastation of rainforests, lunarfocussed glimpses of this one fragile earth. These images offer a window into our past, present and future as stewards with, and inhabitants on Earth.

So, in these fragile times I turn for solace to scripture, to story and to community. Over the course of this series, and through these three lenses, I invite you to journey with me as together we read the ‘signs of the times’ and consider what is asked of us.

The daily service, shared in Iona Abbey each morning and each time Members gather, draws on words from Psalm 85 for the opening responses. We join together to say out loud: 

One: The world belongs to God, All: the earth and all its people.

One: How good it is, how wonderful All: to live together in unity.

One: Love and faith come together; All: justice and peace join hands.

One: If Christ’s disciples keep silent All: these stones will shout aloud.

Psalm 85, the symphony Psalm laid out in four movements. It opens for us the dance between action and reflection, between God and us, as each of us strives to walk the line between stillness and protest in the name of Christ.

All my life I have been surrounded by individuals who tread that line, living the ‘and’ which sits in-between justice and peace, contemplation and action. This is the guddle and the glory told through the stories of spirit-filled, Gospel-driven activists such as Sally who has been imprisoned for her actions against nuclear weapons. Such as Stephen, or Chris and John who through the Sacred Space Foundation, or Reflection Gardens, offer retreat and solace for those deeply impacted by stress and anxiety in daily life. Such as Penny and Geoff who helped set up a local refugee network in their area and Margaret who is supporting literacy programmes in prisons.

Sally, Stephen, John, Chris, Penny, Geoff, Margaret and countless others live the ‘and’ between action and contemplation, between work and worship, between justice and peace. They model an integrated life where prayer – not privatised – and politics – not professionalised – join that holy scripturefuelled dance where prayer leads to action and where politics is rooted in deep stillness.

All of these everyday saints are Members of the Iona Community, committed to a four-fold Rule of Life, taking action for justice and peace, rooted in the Gospel of Christ. Together this community, like many other networks, movements or communities around the globe, has articulated over the years our aspiration. This is summed up in our Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation commitment which, along with scripture, I plan to open and consider in the course of these articles. The commitment, first expressed in 1966, is ‘a solemn undertaking.... a point of departure and not of arrival... a vow rather than our view.’ I invite you to join us on the journey. ¤

Ruth Harvey is Leader of the Iona Community. Find out more about, and join the Iona Community at www.iona.org.uk.