At the beginning of a new week – taking time to stop and think what is going on … on the inside is really important.
Feeling are important to acknowledge … taking time to say actually I’m feeling really good today … great
but then there may be days when actually I’m angry today … not sure why but actually acknowledging that and beginning to see why that might be so.
Feelings are natural … they are the product of stuff going on both externally and also internally. Maybe writting these things down could help you understand what’s going on.
I’m in no way qualified to help anyone feel differently but I do know from personal experience that chatting about how you’re feeling with another human being really does help – and taking time unpack some destructive feelings does help to work things out.
At the moment with lock down there is so much we could do but can’t – its frustrating, annoying and has the potential of spiralling emotions out of control.
What would you like to do today? … is another strange sort of a question.
At the start of the day – there are various answers to that
What would I like to do – could be a dreamy sort of a question … well actually I’d like to take a walk along a nice beach, I’d like to hug family members who live miles away … that’s what I’d like to do
Those things will happen … someday soon
but what about today? the here and now the next 24 hours …
I would like to … connect with a few people who cross my path, to take time to be in the now, to be thankful for those who are around me, to make that encouraging phonecall
There’s a few things I’d Like to do now …
Living in the present moment is probably a good idea today
In Scripture we’re reminded about not worrying about tomorrow … taking each day in turn is really important
This is one of those questions which has many layers … on the surface, there are things that as human beings its grand to be fearful of … because things might harm us – things like
Lions
Giant spiders
But then there are other things which actually prevent us from getting on with things we’d otherwise be good at or that would be good for us.
To them I’d add … taking time out with God, and as with other questions in this series … its good to write a note about things you want to deal with and maybe take time to deal with them at some point.
Deep within us there seems to be a yearning for more … things and stuff … or wanting what others seem to have.
Marketers have seen the psychology of this and used it to their benefit to sell us stuff we don’t need.
When it comes to deeper stuff there is a yearning for relationship.
Some people have described this as the ‘God-shaped hole’ in every person
in the 23rd Psalm we read
The Lord is my shepherd I shall not (be in) want
Psalm 23:1
This is easy to say when times are good – but when times are tough – are we ok with saying actually – he is all I need?
That certainly is challenging but having met many people across the world who can testify to this – It is something which I believe. With the Lord as our shepherd – the one we depend upon -through good and ill – we will lack nothing
P.S. this is not prosperity gospel – he’s not saying – relationship with God = riches – not at all nor will everything be rosy all the time but that as a shepherd he will provide enough for our needs.
PPS its also not a sit back and do nothing licence … we’re called to act in partnership with God.
For some this might be a very easy question to answer – it’s great, its strong, all going well
For others it might be the answer many give to the Relationship Status update on facebook ‘its complicated’
For others it might be … well honestly I just don’t know
There are many ways to describe our relationship with God … At a youth event many years ago used the image below … from people standing watching, to actively participating, to being ready to jump in .
We do need to think about these things – God does want a relationship with us – a strong relationship. 2 way communication!
Remember the story Jesus told of the ‘prodigal son’
In Blarney we have a congregation called ‘Messy Church’ – a space for Kids and adults to explore faith through crafts, science, story and experience as well as sharing food together.
Yes there might be messy goo and paint and other ‘messy things’ but at a deeper level the ‘messy church’ name actually points to the messiness of life – not everything is clean and tidy, messy questions, messy families. Basically its an acknowledgement that not everything is sorted – you can be messy too!
Which leads me to today’s question – Challenges … we call face challenges / issues at different points in life.
Maybe it’s to do with work (or lack of it), finance, family, relational, health, grief … there are a myriad of challenges to be faced in life but there are ways through them and overcome or to live with them.
I wonder what are your challenges this week or this year and what you need to do to overcome them?
In church we don’t gloss over the difficulties but actually, dare to proclaim hope in the midst of despair whatever that might mean for you. This of course is difficult but whatever challenges you face – there is always a flicker, a flame of hope in the midst of the challenge
This blog is part of a series on 40 days 40 questions – more details can be found on www.cupcork.ie/lent written by Revd Robert Ferris
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