In earlier years I have avoided the motorbike taxis because of the additional danger. This round, it seems like there are fewer car taxis and thousands of motorbikes and I have taken to chance them. Most are 125cc bikes of various Chinese origins and generally have at least 2 passengers. That doubles the intake per trip so makes a lot of sense. The driving could be described as totally reckless, yet I admire the driving skills of the chauffeurs. The other advantage a motorbike has is it can generally find a strip of pavement still undamaged while the vehicles have to slow right down for the potholes.

 I have for a year or so started every day with a meditation by another Catholic author, Richard Rohr. Before leaving for the Congo, I purchased his very, very recent book, ‘The Universal Christ’. Not to abandon Nouwen, but Some of Rohr’s thoughts have been plaguing me. He writes of not one Incarnation of God, but three. Firstly, creation which many would agree that they have met God in nature. Secondly, Jesus who many of as Christians consider the purest and only revelation of who God is. Thirdly he suggests that the Church is the final incarnation. The Church is referred to as the Body of Christ, so I guess that makes sense.

I’m still inclined to look to Jesus as the purest revelation. However, if we consider creation as well as being incarnational, would we begin to treat it as holy as well? Would we begin to treat it as loved by God who described it as good? Perhaps it would become more than a temporary dwelling place on our way to heaven. The same with the Church; what a divisive, often abusive, cruel image of God we have presented to the world at times. Three incarnations indeed, but only one unfallen. The challenge for us to respond still remains.