by Peter Lockhart
There may be all sorts of images that come to mind when people speak about 'retreats'. In my 13 years in ministry I have always attended the Presbytery Retreats and as I reflect about it here are a few reasons why.
1. The opportunity to share in daily Eucharistic worship.
2. Rising for morning prayer shared with close friend and colleagues
3. Meeting and getting to know my colleagues in ministry in the Presbytery whom I don't yet know so well
4. Experiencing the support of my colleagues in ministry
5. Being reminded of a variety of spiritual disciplines and resources for them
6. Refuelling through relaxing and enjoying the company of friends in ministry
7. Being challenged with new ideas
8. Remembering God's love: for me, for others, for the world
'Retreat' is like taking a deep breath in before throwing myself in to the fray once more. I would always recommend such opportunities for refreshment and renewal whether it be a church camp, "A day apart", a weekly prayer gathering or home group, or even worship on Sunday. It is from these places of encounter with God that we are inspired for our encounters with God and others in the world in our daily lives.
Showing posts with label renewal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label renewal. Show all posts
Friday, 3 June 2011
Thursday, 12 May 2011
Still Waters: Restoration for the Soul
Peter Lockhart
In John 10 Jesus describes himself as the good shepherd and so makes a particular claim on this Psalm. It is Jesus the shepherd who provides for our wants and invites us to relax and be restored and to find hope, even in the face of dark and evil times. Psalm 23 is undoubtedly a Psalm of comfort seeking God’s restoration for our souls.
In our contemporary Australian lifestyle our lives appear to be getting busier and more frantic even though we live in a world that appears bright with lights. But the light is artificial, neon and fluorescent, and whilst it may cast away the shadows the darkness lurks underneath. People are feeling overwhelmed in a rapidly changing environment as our souls are consumed in the business.
The amount of information which we are exposed to is immense, especially if we spend time on our computers surfing the net. Opening web pages and blogs has become an assault on our senses with a multitude of images and even sounds bombarding us with information.
TV’s occupy prominent positions in households tutoring us to be consumers, increasing our desire to own more stuff, and indoctrinate us to a lifestyle pursuing individual happiness.
Walking through the streets and in the shops immerses us in the rush and bustle of society, lost in a sea of faces. We can sit alone in a food court with a thousand other people, isolated in our independence from one another.
For families the list of events and demands turns parents into taxi services and children into slaves of the next activity that they must attend to have a well rounded life.
Psalm 23 calls to repose again by the still waters of God’s presence ad to restore our souls. This is about rediscovering whose we are and what is important in our lives. Drawn into the community of God’s presence breathing deeply of the Spirit our lives are reorientated and our souls are restored so that we declare with hope:
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.
In John 10 Jesus describes himself as the good shepherd and so makes a particular claim on this Psalm. It is Jesus the shepherd who provides for our wants and invites us to relax and be restored and to find hope, even in the face of dark and evil times. Psalm 23 is undoubtedly a Psalm of comfort seeking God’s restoration for our souls.
In our contemporary Australian lifestyle our lives appear to be getting busier and more frantic even though we live in a world that appears bright with lights. But the light is artificial, neon and fluorescent, and whilst it may cast away the shadows the darkness lurks underneath. People are feeling overwhelmed in a rapidly changing environment as our souls are consumed in the business.
The amount of information which we are exposed to is immense, especially if we spend time on our computers surfing the net. Opening web pages and blogs has become an assault on our senses with a multitude of images and even sounds bombarding us with information.
TV’s occupy prominent positions in households tutoring us to be consumers, increasing our desire to own more stuff, and indoctrinate us to a lifestyle pursuing individual happiness.
Walking through the streets and in the shops immerses us in the rush and bustle of society, lost in a sea of faces. We can sit alone in a food court with a thousand other people, isolated in our independence from one another.
For families the list of events and demands turns parents into taxi services and children into slaves of the next activity that they must attend to have a well rounded life.
Psalm 23 calls to repose again by the still waters of God’s presence ad to restore our souls. This is about rediscovering whose we are and what is important in our lives. Drawn into the community of God’s presence breathing deeply of the Spirit our lives are reorientated and our souls are restored so that we declare with hope:
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.
Friday, 29 October 2010
Mostley Harmless
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Growing up I had clear view of what it meant to be a Christian – it meant to be a good person, a nice person, a good citizen. I have discovered that this idea of what a Christian should be like is a fairly common view both within regular committed Church attendees and people who want to express their view about what Christians should be.
To suggest that being a Christian is about being a nice person or good citizen means in my mind that Christians are meant to be people who conform.
This assumption means that Christianity is a lifestyle choice in which we all take an attitude of “don’t rock the boat”.
For me this sort of Christianity and people who act like such Christians reminds me of the indifferent words describing the planet earth in “The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy” – it is “Mostly harmless”!
Is this what it is to do the will of God —what is good and acceptable and perfect? To be ‘mostly harmless’?
Growing up I had clear view of what it meant to be a Christian – it meant to be a good person, a nice person, a good citizen. I have discovered that this idea of what a Christian should be like is a fairly common view both within regular committed Church attendees and people who want to express their view about what Christians should be.
To suggest that being a Christian is about being a nice person or good citizen means in my mind that Christians are meant to be people who conform.
This assumption means that Christianity is a lifestyle choice in which we all take an attitude of “don’t rock the boat”.
For me this sort of Christianity and people who act like such Christians reminds me of the indifferent words describing the planet earth in “The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy” – it is “Mostly harmless”!
Is this what it is to do the will of God —what is good and acceptable and perfect? To be ‘mostly harmless’?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)