Writers Hub Inverness
If you are local and are interested e mail Writershubinverness@gmail.com. Thanks.
Grerat opportunity to move forward that writing project that you never started or never finished.
The life cycle has many changes as we go through it. From the predictable to the unpredictable, we long for continuity and we long for change.( Juxta- position) There is a sense that in getting the best out of life there needs to be a shaking to unsettle us.
I am not suggesting we need a catastrophy to get the best out of life but there is a noted point that when one is shaken or faced with a an unpredictable situation one can improve or develop from it. Of course these situations can also have a negative effect.
How do we cope with change or the predictable?
Is there a formulea or step by step guide?
Do we just hang on and let the passing of time dull our senses and change our memory to something more appealing?
Many have had religious experiences in times of truma or change. Perhap from the call out to outside their situation to a God even. In a request for help many have found a solution and even God.
In the crying out, what is it that is required that creates the yearning or cry?
Is it a stress manangement tool?
Is it a longing for something better?
Is it looking at the greener grass over the fence?
Does it stem from a life truma?
Is it a lack of peace in life?
What is it then that people are crying out for/to?
In the 70's miscontentment was thought to be a social mismatch from the post war years and societies ability to cope with more resources. Money or more accurately in the West the abiity to spend more did not satisfy the yearnings.
Then we had the drug revolution which was going to solve everything or at least show us a way to buffer the life strains.
As you reflect on some of these question,... What conclution do you come up with?
Just a reminder that you can get this book of short stories from Amazon Kindle. The link is at the right hand side.
Recently Amazon have issued the published book by Anne Beer called "A tale of two crofts", tracking two branches of Mackays in Sutherland around the Lairg and Rogart area and then also abroad.
This is a good collection of thoughts and family history with an insight into crofting in Sutherland after the clearances.
Over the last year or so I have been working on three writing projects.
One is by Anne Beer and her book "Tale of two crofts". I have a small contribution and this book will be in electronic form and paper back. It traces two families in Sutherland with similar roots.
Available today Is my latest book "It was almost a glorious day". It is available on Amazon Kindle.
It is a collection of short stories in the Highlands of Scotland. Best to read the blurb at Amazon for the details and premise.
The Message Works Trust has two questionnaires one on " leadership" and the other on "Multicultural church". It would be really helpful if you could join the participants for this fact finding mission on leadership and multicultural Church.
You can read about the trust and find the appropriate questionnaire under the headings.
Part 2 Bruce but not King Robert
James and Eliza with their two children are out of their manse banned from the house living in a cave in Ayrshire . A Highlander Mr MacDuff had been placed in the parish to replace Rev Bruce. One September evening Rev Bruce his wife and children left their Cave to meet some of the church in the wild Ayrshire glen. Bruce had arrived to deliver a sermon based on Ps 23. He spoke for a time and encouraged the flock in as much as “ even though I walk through the shadow of death, yet I will fear no evil. For thou art with me : thy rod and thy staff they comfort me…” he expanded on the passage bringing out other parts of the old testament to back his comments. As he finished his sermon he mentioned that Presbyterians would have more persecution and the house of Stuart for some time, had wanted control over the church. The little congregation sang again and just before Bruce was going to dismiss the congregation there was a sudden trampling of horses lighted torches shown and a few dragoons arrived. This was so unexpected; the small group had not even put out a watch person.
The spies who had informed the soldiers left and the commanding officer ordered the firing of carbines into the flight of the poor people. Without checking the result of this work the soldiers turned and rode off.
Several people were hurt but Mrs Bruce “received a mortal wound”. “I am gone” she said while her husband caught her in his arms to keep her from falling. !I am killed I must leave you”. She indicated some final instructions before she died in his arms. Son Andrew threw himself on the ground in silence and his sister shrieked and took hold of the body.
After a time and weeping the group considered what to do. Andrew Indicated to his father that they could not stay in the glen.
They decided to take the body to a neighbour’s house. Rev Bruce wanted to bury the body,- but it would not be possible to do so in the church yard. For if he appeared he would surely be captured. Andrew consoles his father by indicating that it does not matter where their bodies are laid. It was decided that they would bury the body the next day.
The next day after making a coffin of sorts a group of about 20 gathered in the dark of the evening near where she had been killed in the glen. After the burial and a short tearful sermon about continuing to follow God Rev Bruce Andrew and his sister went back to the cave for rest.
These events were not isolated events but regular and frequent in the west of Scotland. Many battles took place and in Ayrshire MacDuff had a real hatred for Rev Bruce and complained that Bruce was preventing the people in that quarter from complying with the established form of worship. Two spies were on the payroll to find Bruce and a reward of considerable amount was available for his capture. Rev Bruce still in the area managed to avoid capture and carryout some pastoral care of his flock.
One afternoon young Andrew was out walking, and his father and sister were “at home “ in the cave. A group of soldiers with Macduff out for sport and killing wild fowl came across Andrew. As was the case in meeting anyone they required him to take the test and confirm acceptance of the new authority of the Church and renounce the previous ( presbyterian) way. Without hesitation he refused. The refusal in terms of the law was that the soldiers were authorised to shoot the young man on the spot.
While he was dressed as a peasant they remarked that he had “ a fine manner and speech” that the soldiers considered he must be the son of a gentleman- so maybe they could force some money from the family. With that in mind they spared him and took as a prisoner to the village. Andrew had not given way as to his family but as he reach the village the locals shouted, “Will you murder the son of our dear minister?” With Macduff finding this news He said to the group leader of the soldiers “we have made good sport today.” “We shall now get on the scent of the old fox”.
Now having confessed to being the son of Rev Bruce he was locked in the Church. He considered his position and after thinking through the situation was able to trust in his God for the outcome.
Now a shepherd had seen the events in the village and gone back to Rev Bruce and his daughter, Mary, to tell the tale. Mary wept for her brother as if he were already dead. Mr Bruce feared the worst, but he knew that Andrew would not renounce his faith. The following day the soldiers and government representatives with Macduff tried to have the boy Andrew renounce his faith. But in all that had happened Andrew had become stronger in his reliance to his God. Now with torture by way of thumbscrew Andrew did not yield.
With father hoping to see his son, he was dissuaded by young Mary, as it would most likely be a trap. One of the soldiers had during this time dressed as a peasant with the hope of infiltrating the villagers to get both Bruce and the reward.
In the following days, the hanging of the boy, the death of his sister in seeing the trauma and the capture of the Rev Bruce in a cave all lead to this horrible story. On finding the Rev Bruce he was asked to renounce the faith as was, and to commit to the new Episcopalian way with the leader being the King Charles. He refused. When the soldiers were instructed to shot Rev Bruce they refused, and this resulted in the commanding officer grabbing a gun and shooting Rev Bruce in the chest.
It is very easy for matters to grow and become a greater responsibility. When dictatorship becomes an evil and when liberties are stifled. The Scottish Government should take heed as they put through the bill for Scotland known as Hate Crime Bill 2020 with good intentions this bill may raise evil and show human nature at its worst. The Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill aims to update existing laws for protected characteristics such as disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, and transgender identity. Whilst the bill is still being adjusted there is a sense of threat to freedom of speech. The bill itself is designed to stop hatred but its premise will do just the opposite and create hatred.
Mr Bruce’s son James was a person of good intellect and taste. So much so that he encouraged the son to go into the Ministry. James went off to Glasgow University and applied himself to the task. He was a quick learner and excelled in “divine literature”. He understood the challenges from varying theological stances and their ability to be controversial. His childhood and education had been like a dream.
At the age of 26 he received a call to an Ayrshire village with little concern for the place and his focus on the people he took up the charge. Soon after his settlement he married Eliza Inglis a daughter of a gentlemen from his hometown. She too was one of a mind, for progress, not lazy, interested in matters and of setting up home and a great support to Rev James Bruce who was smitten with her kind-heartedness, good looks and her willingness to follow in faith the God she loved. So, at 24 she is found in the locality as the minister wife engaging with all those around making a mark and blessing to those around.
The manse had seen better days but the Heritors on their own accord took steps to upgrade and repair the manse to make it more appealing. Garden and lawn were refreshed, and the place looked well manged both inside and out.
In time they had Andrew and daughter Mary. They were dedicated to education and loved their parents and “feared God.”
After the passing of fourteen years, the Restoration threatened the overthrow of the Scottish Church. King Charles had with advice from others introduced the episcopal form of worship into Scotland. This change brought about the renewing of “Patronage and the requirement for Ministers to acknowledge the new authority of the Church. Some in the West were not for agreeing with this spiritual supremacy and refused to submit to the episcopalian authority through Bishops. The Bishop of Glasgow (Burnet) and the Primate of St Andrews ( Sharpe) were over enthusiastic in having everyone in ministry submit to this new authority.
Within little time Ministers who refused to yield were forbidden to preach even in fields or to be within 20 miles of their parishes. Those who harboured the “outlawed ministers” were punished. Things escalated quickly and where courts had decided outcomes of those not yielding these were done away with as the military succeeded in its persecution. Gentlemen Ministers and peasants were ousted out and placed in jails, exile, or even slavery. Torture and hanging were regular as was rapes, robberies, and “outrageous doings” by the soldiers.
In this time of shedding blood of the innocent was Rev Bruce. He was brave in his stand to refuse to yield to this manmade authority over the Church. For a man who was for good and to be law abiding he found this circumstance strange, but he trusted his God. He was driven to either yield or to give up his charge at the church.
The acknowledgement being asked for was, to declare that the king was the supreme head of the church, to come under the jurisdiction of the bishops, to be re ordained and convert, and be a curate and use the episcopal mode of worship by denouncing Presbyterianism.
After a closing sermon one day and after great upset he stood down from the pulpit weeping with all his family and parishioners. That Sunday evening his wife consoled James.
“Do not be so sorrowful on our account dear James “ She said “ I have shared enjoyments and I can suffer with you too; and so, can these children. He agreed and indicated that their God would comfort them. He suggested that it might be prudent for Eliza and the children to live with friends in Lanark. He planned to stay and care for the flock and their “spiritual Interests.”
The next day the furniture was dispersed among neighbours and some important pieces were sent to Braeside some 4 miles away which was put aside for the Bruce’s’ retirement. The four left the manse dignified as they walked past the church.
Four years of suffering passed from the leaving of the manse. Now living in a cave as the retirement house was at risk they had adjusted to the trials of life they were enduring.
To be continued...
Apples latest operating system is available and will be downloaded automatically. There are a few new features. Remember and plug in overnight to allow the update.
