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Time out
Dear Friends,
The past few months have, for many of us, felt like a cross between a
roller-coaster and a treadmill? We've ridden the roller-coaster of
lockdowns and unlocking; and the fresh demands and challenges have
seemed relentless. Some of you will recall my words in my address to our
Annual Meeting, "While some, I'm told, feel rested and full of energy, I
suspect that many of us are very tired indeed and need time to recover.
We need to treat ourselves and each other gently, kindly, patiently."
Because lives and relationships have been disrupted and fractured by the
pandemic, I also suggested that our Recovery needs to focus on the
RENEWAL of our personal relationships with God, with each other, our
life of prayer and worship and our community. But how?
First, let's be kind to ourselves by taking time out for the rest we
need. When his disciples were exhausted by ministering to others, Jesus
told them to "Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a
while." (Mark 6.30-31) Whether we are able to take a holiday away or
will holiday at home, let us rest.
But let us also take time out to be with Jesus. Let us hear his words of
kindness to us: "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying
heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." (Matt 11.28) This is true on
many levels: indeed, we can never earn our salvation, but only receive
it as an unmerited gift. As Corrie ten Boom, the lovely Christian who
suffered as a result of hiding Jews from the Nazis used to say, "Don't
wrestle, just nestle." But we should also take Jesus' invitation as an
opportunity just to take time out be with Him, to renew our relationship
with Him; perhaps by using this time to pray a bit more, to read our
Bibles or a good Christian book.
Finally, let's take time out to renew our relationships with our
families, our friends and loved ones and find greater wholeness as we do
so.
Wherever you are this summer, I really do wish everyone a restful summer
as you take time out, and that in resting you may discover Christ's
presence and peace.
May God bless you,
Fr Kevin. |
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Fr
Kevin writes...
