“Funny huh, that when the direction becomes clear, the path seems muddy. it always seemed as though the problem was getting my head around whether youth ministry was where I wanted to go. Now that I figured out the answer was yes, i wouldn’t have the foggiest idea how to get there.” – Tash McGill, 7 June, 2002.
Oh I live in a land of regrets oh there are a few but mostly i forget the names, the places it’s just the feelings I remember and the look in your eyes of complete surprise, I always took you by surprise
Parachute 08 Parachute festival was its usual malachy of 3 days covered in dust, music and good times. I was helping out a little in the artist liaison team, as well as programming. A number of bands had issues with itinerary planning, communication and luggage. Namely, instruments not turning up, or getting there just in the nick of time. It was a great pleasure to meet a couple of bands from across the ditch, namely my new good friends Mark The Sky and Modern Joy.
I thought that a couple of a venues lacked real personality, and the headliners really failed to grab me but music is about the people as much as it is about anything else and the connections that get made between folks from all around th world are really precious.
Thankfully the installation that we have been working on for World Vision went really well, including an interview with Parachute Band. It was so good to put on my radio shoes again.
Eastercamp Things are in full swing and now we get to look forward to pulling it all together. I’m delighted with progress.
“Someone paid an enormous amount of money to put an enormous picture of a fork in a sausage outside our office window. That says a lot to me about the average intelligence of the general population.”
We are about to be leaping into bright horizons and future growth stuff. Exciting, terrifying times. Eastercamp is into full swing, Parachute is next week. I’ve still got 13 kilos to lose in 9 weeks. I’ve been on diet holiday for a few weeks but all that is over now, it’s time to finish this Esther year.
Tonight driving home, all of a sudden I came across a line of road cones blocking the road. Someone’s idea of a funny joke, which was entertaining.
Tonight prior to driving home, I was at music practice. There is a sense to which I love and hate being a volunteer. I’m glad that I have a lot of life left, so that maybe one day, I will have enough hours to do all the things I feel like I want to.
It’s hard work playing for the morning team, because they all work like individuals. There’s no team, no making of music together, just a collection of parts. It’s not really music, just a sound generator.
Fish the moon like an arrow I’ll hold on to this narrow wire I won’t let go of you In the darkness of the moment Nylon burns on the line of my fingers but I won’t let go of you
You can be as strong as you like For as long as you want But I won’t let go of you
You can crumble into pieces and fall over the cliff but I won’t let go of you I’ll gather all the pieces until you find the magic glue I won’t let go of you
You can be as brave as you can As fearless as you’re able cos there’s just no way, no reason for me to ever, I just won’t ever I won’t let go of you
So please when you’re launching into darkness know that I’ll be waiting on the end of the line cos I know everything be alright in a little while so please keep on with the letting go of it and know that there is a patience that is long enough cos I know you’re worth it in the end, so hold on so please
you can be as strong as you like for as long as you want but I won’t let go of you so worth holding on to I won’t let go of you
you can be safe and fearless even reckless you can live out on the edge cos I won’t let go of you I won’t let go of you
Holding On To The Fringe There are times and spaces when for various reasons, you feel like you need to move to the fringe. Or, people move to the edges when they’re in pain, broken, angry, hurting, tired, worn out. There’s natural process.. an anthropological history of retreat & recovery. These present days, the challenge is ministry to the fringe. The art of holding on so that others don’t have. Holding on so that others have permission to let go.
Where is my theological framework for this kind of ministry though? It feels human and natural, so my understanding of creation and humanity wants to allow for it. There are others who are prescribing counsellors and all sorts of healing methodology. So… for the wounded and the hurting the challnege is to create enough spaces on the fringe, that healing can take place whilst holding on to a continuous line. A thin fishing line that holds the thrashing, the tension, the struggle of the pain. A line to hope, a line to connection. It’s holding on while still allowing room for full expression, the heaving, groaning pain of grief, the torture of sorrows.
We concentrate so much on community that happens at the centre, but perhaps it is the community at the fringe where Christ is encountered most, in the shades of grey and the unknowns, when life isn’t easy, when community at the centre isn’t the answer.
Tash McGill is a broadcaster, writer and strategist who works with people and organisations to solve problems and create transformation. She believes people are the most important thing and that stories are powerful ways of changing the world. You can find out more at tashmcgill.com or by visiting her LinkedIn profile.
