I blogged on this some time ago http://goodgoat.wordpress.com/2007/06/23/foot-washing/ but my thoughts have moved on a little since then.

One of the best pieces of advice that I have been given was by my mother just before I went to university.  She said “never refuse a cup of coffee, you never know where it may lead.”  You know, taking her advice has enriched my life.

In our culture in the Western “developed” world we tend to share how we feel with people over the ritual of tea or coffee. I think that in our cultural context this is where “foot washing” takes place. We help others with the burden they are carrying, removing the muck on their feet, by listening to them over a cup of something.

So…you might like to consider what cups of coffee you might accept or ask others to share with you!

Jesus tells us that the Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast (the book “Matthew”, chapter 13 in the Bible).

I have come across Christians who discourage other Christians from having any friends other than Christians. I am also aware of some churches turning in on themselves, just thinking about converting people and not looking at what they can do once they’re converted. Well, yeast on its own, unmixed with the flour does not bring life – it’s the transformative effect of the yeast when it’s mixed with the flour that is so inspirational.

So…to me at least, this indicates that we shouldn’t just have Christian friends and need to look to the world beyond church – it also suggests, perhaps, that we should be deeply immersed in our communities and do what we feel God is drawing us to?

I was lucky enough to pass through Assisi driving back to the airport from my holiday on the Tuscany/Umbria border.

I decided to go to the Basilica to see where St Francis is buried. I had been to the Basilica before – both as a tourist and also to sing but this was my first visit since I started down the path to be a Franciscan Tertiary.

It was good to see the story of Francis outlined on the frescos in the Basilica – and the audio guide gave a good description of what each one contained. I then ventured down into the lower levels, eventually ending up near his tomb (at least I think that’s where I was!)

Very little of this made an impression on me at any depth – it was only when I took a turn into a side room that something struck me – and that was seeing Francis’s brown tunic – a piece of clothing that had clearly been worn a great deal, it gave the impression of a pair of well worn in comfortable shoes and different sections of it had been replace as they had worn out – so it was a bit of a patchwork – but the thing that struck me was that Francis was a real person, that he was human, and the humility shone through – quite difficult when you’re surrounded by oppulance to Francis’s memory…and some of the monks who were around reminded me more of Friar Tuck than someone who was living entirely by God’s grace (or am I being unfair and it’s just that God has been very gracious to the First Order monks?)

Well, sorry, being a bit judgemental here.

I also met a couple two weeks ago who are looking at how religious communities are established – and they said that often by a charismatic leader but that the words and principles then became the centre of the community rather than Christ…

So, how can we ensure that our lives are centred on Jesus Christ and not allow our busy-ness and the ideas that Jesus inspired in charismatic people in the past to stop us from listening to what He has to say to us today?

Your comments please!