蜜芽传媒

Matt Woodcock, Church of England Pioneer Minister and Mission Supporter in the Diocese of York:聽
I鈥檓 nervously preparing to do something I wish with every fibre of my being that I hadn鈥檛 agreed to. I鈥檝e promised to stand up in front of a packed pub, strap on a guitar I only ever play in the privacy of my bedroom and perform a Bob Dylan song for charity. Barring a musical miracle, there鈥檚 a strong chance I鈥檒l die on stage - with no hope of resurrection. It鈥檚 my Uncle Mike鈥檚 fault for asking me.He鈥檚 annoyingly persuasive. No respecter of a comfort zone. Always pushing himself and those around him to try something new. Not unlike his hero Bob Dylan, then.聽
Few artists have embodied a more trailblazing spirit. Been such an articulate herald of changing times. As what鈥檚 called a pioneer minister in the Church of England, I鈥檓 trying to be an agent of change in an institution pretty slow at it. I encourage churches to do what Dylan did in 1965 at his famous, ground-breaking folk gig - 鈥榞o electric鈥�. Do things differently. Embrace change. Not always easy when having curry instead of quiche at some church buffets would be seen as cutting edge. Yet I鈥檝e observed that in many walks of life, mustering a pioneer spirit doesn鈥檛 always come easily. Familiarity, security and comfort - all commendable - often feels more natural.聽
Yet I鈥檓 learning that the danger of never stepping into the discomfort zone is that life can become too safe. Treadmill-like, predictable. Even tedious. I鈥檝e found daring to take a risk transformative. My confidence grows. Horizons get pushed back. New vistas emerge. As a Christian, I鈥檓 compelled to push the boat out further than I鈥檇 like to sometimes. To follow the God of new things, means trying to better my old self. Be kinder when I鈥檓 feeling mean. Speak out when I want to keep quiet. Be the one who says sorry first. Prayer helps, I find.聽
There鈥檚 an old mariner鈥檚 one I often recite when feeling my pioneering edge beginning to blunt. 鈥楧isturb us to dare more boldly, To venture on wider seas To push into the future In strength, courage, hope and love.鈥� So as I frantically learn my Bob Dylan song, I鈥檝e decided to practice what I preach. No soft acoustic folk jam for me, Zoe. I鈥檓 plugging in and going electric!