soul friend

Soul Friend*

Soul friend,
gift to rekindle the fire from heaven
in your
soul friend.

Two friends,
Herbert and Cuthbert.
Inspiration for new adventures
to friends.

Depend
on the One whose Spirit
calls us to dive in the
deep end.

God send
Northern pioneers
to share Christ’s love with those whom
God sends.

Bless then
the journey ahead
and may we become
soul friends.

* Written on the occasion of canoeing to St Herbert’s Island on Derwentwater to celebrate the launch of a Northern Centre for Pioneer Mission as a partnership between Church Mission Society and Carlisle Diocese. Herbert was a friend of St Cuthbert and would visit him on Lindisfarne for spiritual direction.

i don't often write poems but composed one this morning in my head on the drive back from cumbria following the canoeing adventure out to st herbert's island last night - you can see a few photos and read about it here. it's great to celebrate the development of a northern pioneer mission centre as a new collaboration between the diocese of carlisle and cms - more info here. when i say develop, they already have loads going on on the ground in mission and fresh expressions so we are simply joining in the fun to help resource and support it out of our experience with pioneers elsewhere.

i was struck by the soul friendship of herbert and cuthbert - herbert who lived as a hermit on the island would go and see cuthbert on lindisfarne each year for spiritual encouragement and direction. and i am sure cuthbert would have visited and prayed with herbert on the island on derwentwater. and how wonderful it is to find friendships like that where you get one another and can give encouragement to stay true to who you are. anyway that was the thinking and i hope cms and cumbria can develop deep friendship together. richard and i go back a long way so we've got a good start...