Bishops’ News: Tending to our Hearts
Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. (2 Corinthians 4:1)
It seems like a long time ago when hundreds of us were gathered for Ministry Leaders’ Family Camp at El Rancho. We dwelt on this scripture together, particularly through the teaching of Archdeacon David Rowe. As Bishops, both of us have been drawn to the scripture and this encouragement again in this current lockdown season, as has been reflected through our livestream sermons.
I (+Ellie) spoke about attending to our hearts in our desire to walk the way of Jesus so that when others may walk away, we instead say as Simon Peter did, “to whom else would we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68). And to say this because our lives, like those early disciples, bear testimony to the kingdom of God coming within them.
I (+Justin) spoke of the vulnerability and exposure that letting go of activity and achievement can cause for our sense of identity and the corresponding state of our souls. I also really encourage us all to attend to our hearts (both the shadow and the light) in this lockdown so that we can come out the other side more emotionally and spiritually healthy. Let’s not numb or suppress what rises up from our hearts but tend to them with our creating and redeeming God.
So how do we do this?
On the Movement website you will already find ways to connect in daily prayer with others. This is vital. Also, keep an eye out for a selection of curated resources around spiritual health and practices which is being compiled. As some examples, both of us use the Lectionary app to link into the scripture readings of our Global Communion, as well as the Centring Prayer and Lectio365 apps (all available for iPhone and Android). These are just three good, solid resources which you might also like to try.
Finally, while we are dealing with our hearts and growing in intimacy with God and each other, we must push against becoming introverted and remembering that God calls us to respond to the needs of the world. So if you can only do one thing at the moment in this regard, we ask you to support the Anglican Missions Get One, Give One campaign against vaccine inequality. You may have already given $10 (or more). But can you get 10 people to give $10 and go that next level? In your workplace, or school, or clubs. Why not get your kiwi ingenuity on and organise some fundraising online, like hosting a quiz, and let us know how you get on.
As we tend to our hearts we tend to them in a Christ-shaped way. When we recognise pain or grief, we don’t ruminate on it, we lament and we allow God to transform it. The prayer of St Francis of Assisi expresses this so clearly and powerfully. Why not use this in your corporate prayer time or personal meditation with God today.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
In Christ,
+Justin and +Ellie
