The Daily Mail article is published today, but it isn’t on-line (pages 26 and 27 of the paper). Big picture of me superimposed upon a Tesco store…

This was an interesting and enlightening experience. The interview was extensive – over an hour – and the photography took almost as long. Out of that interview, however, there is almost no direct quotation, and, indeed, some elements ‘created’. So, for the record…

The article runs two things together. First, a sermon where I suggested to the congregation that they should not shop at Tesco, if it opens on the island, mainly on fair trade grounds. Second, my Learning Church talk on Peak Oil, which suggests that the Tesco model will break down, and that we will have to use much more local food supplies.

I’m a little disappointed. I had hoped that – because I went into quite some depth about Peak Oil with the interviewer – that at least that phrase would be mentioned, but no such luck. They didn’t mention the blog either! On the whole, though, I don’t think I can complain too much.

Thing is, it has really made me ponder about my vocation and where I am supposed to be going with this. I said to a colleague the other day that it was forcing me to engage with the issues rather than just think about them (contemplate them, in my previously understood sense) – this will force me to ‘walk the walk’ much more than I have so far. Which seems a good reason for thinking that God is involved.

I just have this memory seared into me of wanting to go into a political career and being told by God in no uncertain terms that it wasn’t right – and ever since I have been allergic to anything smacking of direct political involvement.

Yet – it’s not “political” so much as – I trust – “prophetic”, in the best sense. At least, that’s where I think I’m headed. As I quoted in my ‘Prophecy and Peak Oil’ post: “The task of prophetic ministry is to nurture, nourish and evoke a consciousness and perception alternative to the consciousness and perception of the dominant culture” (Brueggemann). I am beginning to believe that this is a central part of what I am called to do. There seems to be an integrity about the choice, however cautious I am about it.

In any case, I’m pretty sure that if I go off the path of my vocation, the good Lord will let me know.