I was encouraged to go to the People’s Emergency Briefing, in which the topic of Climate Change featured strongly, but I preferred to not know. Then I read a letter from Guy Watson who runs Riverford Organic Foods. He expressed the same sentiment of despair over the world situation we find ourselves in, but had come away more resolved and more determined to make a difference, saying “Yes, massive disruptive change is inevitable, but we can still reduce the scale of the calamity……if we mobilise and maintain our love for each other while building resilient communities which are less complex, and based on less consumption”.
He provided a perfect reason to go and learn more of what we should be doing here at Rushall Farm, with over 12,000 children coming each year. Fortunately, the blistering hot summer is over. It has rained again. There is some water in the pond and normality has returned for the 20 or so ducks who spend their nights in safety here. The grass is a lush fluorescent green with vivid autumn colours of reds, purples, yellows and browns producing a beautiful canvass for any artist, topped by magnificent celestial skies. But we need to use this respite effectively.
When we started schools work, we invited four schools to come here once a term. While they were here, we showed them the farming year; ploughing, planting and harvest, haymaking and lambing. They climbed up great heaps of grain and tumbled over bales of hay set up as an assault course. At the end of the year, we asked them what they appreciated most about their time at the farm (we noticed that they had become more considerate to one another). And they said the woodland walk; scuffling leaves in the autumn, sliding on muddy paths and making footprints in the snow, the bluebells and hazel catkins in the spring and summer. Yes, all that but mainly having the freedom away from school to run, to be free and be able to STOP, LOOK and SEE.
We missed their message for 25 years, but now it is different. We score on all points; time outside for children, fresh air, residential experiences, the countryside and its benefits to the mental wellbeing of children and their teachers.
In John’s Gospel Jesus, the Word, is described as becoming flesh and moving into the neighbourhood. I love the fact that Guy Watson speaks of mobilising and maintaining our love for one another. And what better time than this Christmas to allow the presence of God to enter in and inspire our lives for the year ahead. After all, His coming was about moving into the neighbourhood right now.