
Major Stephen Poxon (Paisley)
Something old, something new…
A few days before being invited to write this little article, I was wandering around the magnificent Durham Cathedral. I was in that region, on holiday, and invested a day visiting the fine city of Durham. It is almost a crime to visit Durham without spending time in the cathedral (in fact, I think it should be made a crime), and so there I was, savouring the prayer-soaked atmosphere. It is, almost, as though the Holy Spirit inhabits the very stones of that place.
At this time of writing, I have just returned from a visit to the equally huge Braehead Shopping Centre, close to where I live and work and have my being, in Paisley. Braehead might be considered a modern type of cathedral, where daily worship is offered to the god known as Mammon, within the plastic and glass infrastructure. Strange as it may sound, I like both places very much, but for vastly different reasons.
I love Durham Cathedral because simply being within its ancient walls never fails to fill my heart with peace, and because I am made acutely aware, whenever I am there, that I am, literally, treading where the saints have trod. I feel an overwhelming sense of history, and a truly awesome air of reverence. Durham Cathedral reminds me, quite stunningly, of the continuing, faithful witness of God’s people through the centuries. The magnitude of the building carries reminders of their colossal witness, often against difficult odds.
Braehead Shopping Centre, on the other hand, that ultra-modern focus of spending power and high-force capitalism, reminds me, not of liturgies and priests and bishops, but, quite starkly, of my responsibility ‘to serve the present age, my calling to fulfil’. My personal calling is to serve the present, ultra-modern capitalist age as a Salvation Army officer. I need the Lord to help me to discover new and inventive ways of reaching the masses. I depend upon his ancient grace to show me how to bring the Bible to Braehead, so to speak.
In assessing this opportunity, I draw strength from Durham, where so many strove, and where so many still strive, to make the stories of Jesus relevant. Their centuries of creativity challenge me to think of the means by which shoppers are turned into saints. It is up to me (and you?) to successfully marry something old with something new. With God’s help, that can be done.
I returned from Durham with a lovely water colour of the cathedral, for my office wall. I returned from Braehead with a silk tie from Tie Rack.
May it be said that people return from spending time with me (with each of us?) with attractive, colourful reminders of the old, old story being kept very much alive.
Major Stephen Poxon: 0141 8842359 / 8873619 & 07837 686515
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