Going against the flow….

Last weekend I visited Pitlochry, and walked around the hydro electric dam, and the fish ladder. The fish ladder is composed of 34 tiered pools, that allow salmon to swim upstream in the breeding season, sometimes swimming distances of 6,000 miles.

Sometimes I relate to that salmon travelling a long distance against the flow. It must feel like an epic swim, swimming round obstacles and uphill.

Why might some one feel like this? It could be that you have a different outlook from your friends, and don’t want to compromise. Perhaps colleagues at work have different ideas as to how to behave. There are many times when we might feel that we are going in a different direction from everyone else.

I often think of the story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17. The giant Goliath was making threats, and the Israeli people were terrified. The shepherd boy David decides to take him on, and King Saul offers him a heavy set of armour and weapons to do this. But this is not David’s way, so he refuses this armour, and instead faces the giant with a sling and some smooth pebbles. David wins the battle not because he conforms to what is expected, but because he trusts God to help him.

God creates us to be ourselves. We look to Him to transform us to be more like Jesus through His Holy Spirit, and that work is ongoing. Yet He also calls us to be true to our God given selves. He wants us to know our story, our strengths and weaknesses, and to discover our calling, the purpose for which He has given us these gifts. Sometimes we can be tempted to compromise with the ways of the world. Yet being our distinctive selves, even with all our faults and failings is our vocation, and when we are faithful to this, we find our peace.

Maybe you feel as if you are struggling today? It is tough to keep swimming against the tide. Yet being faithful to our values, our identity, our core beliefs is the best we can do. And when we think it is too hard, we call on the strength of our mighty Saviour, and we find new resilience and a deeper love. May God be with all who feel they are going against the stream, and give us energy and renewal of strength and purpose in every circumstance.

Gracious Father, we are small children in your presence, trying to find our way in the world. We face obstacles and temptation, and we ask forgiveness for our mistakes, and the consequences of these. Lord Jesus, when we feel as if we are alone, standing up for what we believe, facing misunderstanding or opposition, keep us strong. We are open to reviewing our position, to ask if You want us to learn a new thing or amend our position, for we have humble hearts. Like David, when we face giant obstacles, keep us calm and trusting in You. May your Holy Spirit guide us, and give us renewed vigour to keep going, even when it against the flow, for we seek to do your will alone, and to bless others. Keep us steadfast in our path and in Your love, in Jesus name, Amen.

Disentangling the impact of negative memories….

As I spoke about in my previous blog, we experience wonderful things in life, but also have more destructive, negative memories. We acknowledge them, and then we can commit them to God, to bring healing, to help us find forgiveness and peace. This can take a life time, but God’s Holy Spirit brings connection and insight which is so beautiful and facilitates our journey.

An insight into this which I wish I understood earlier, is the impact of negative memories on thought patterns, decision making and identity. For example if we tried to do something new as a child, and an adult mocked our effort and put us down, we might not try next time. Even worse, we might convert that into a damaging self belief, that we are worthless and not loveable.

Traumatic or difficult memories, especially when we are young, can give us a negative bias, where we are over cautious, anticipate disaster and doubt ourselves. It can be a difficult way to live.

There is so much good news however, to balance this all out. Neuro scientists discovered neuroplasticity, and the way that the brains neuro-network can be reshaped to form new patterns of connections and processes. This can take a lot of work, with an accredited therapist, to identify the roots of current throught processes, and to reprogramme them. There are many techniques which support this- they differ as to what is most effective for each person, but they can be very effective.

On a spiritual level, this seems to have been understood over centuries. In the psalms for example, we are urged to ‘meditate on God’s Word all day long’. Psalm 119:97 As with the prayerful practices of the desert mothers and fathers, there is a sense of letting God’s word speak to us, and let it sink deeply into our souls. The truth of God’s love for us, cleanses us from self doubt and brings healing.

In Romans 12:2: Paul writes ‘ Do not conform to the patterns of the world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.’ If we are transformed by God’s love, by the working of the Holy spirit, then old chains on our souls which imprison us, are loosened, we can see more clearly, and disern God’s will. Negative thought patterns and beliefs fall away, and we can discover our true God given identity, and we find deep peace.

There are books that speaks of the impact of tramatic memories. ‘ What happened to you? Conversations of Trauma, Resilience and healing’ with Bruce Perry and Oprah Winfrey is a good introduction to this topic. I think so much here is congruent with Christian teaching about self reflection, love and community, as being central to personal growth and healing. Utilising the insights from neuroscience, combined with prayer and spiritual wisdom brings a wide variety of opportunities for wholeness, which is to be acknowledged, explored and celebrated.

Gracious and Eternal God, we give thanks for all that is good and wholesome and lovely in this world. We rejoice with those who rejoice. Yet we also mourn with those who mourn– those who have experienced bullying, trauma and sorrow. Lord Jesus, You come alongside those who struggle with difficult memories, with self doubt and fear. You know what it is like to face insults and negativity. Please bless and heal those who wrestle with pain and self doubt. Teach us to place our trust in You, and may your Holy Spirit transform old destructive patterns of thinking into a dance of creativity, light and hope. Help us live lives characterised by balance and wholeness, connection and possibility. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Memories- both unsettling and healing!

Memories can be such a comfort- we might think of a summer day away, or a special meal, or a childhood recollection. We might remember family and friends, laughter and sunshine, joy and exuberance! In later life, we can take such delight in such moments.

However, we often don’t mention the more difficult memories, times of illness or grief or trauma. We keep them to ourselves, keeping a protective coating over them. The significance of dates is a good example. We celebrate birthdays and anniversaries in community, but the darker remembrance of difficulty, tragedy or loss are often recalled more quietly. What do we do with the unsettling memories, the ones that have been unspoken or unacknowledged?

I wonder sometimes as a society if we need to be more honest. Maybe we are scared to be real, because sometimes people take advantage of us. It is true that trust needs to be earned. We need to choose who to trust. Yet being real, rather than pretending everything is ok, often seems more healthy. Another example of this is in funeral eulogies. People can leavea service thinking they don’t recognise the description of the person, because only the good has been shared. Of course, we want to be gracious, but hinting at some of the person’s more human characteristics can be healing.

I was reading John O’Donoghue’s Anam Cara: spiritual wisdom from the celtic world’. John wrote with such wisdom and lyricism. He speaks of our regrets and difficult memories as inner wounds. He says we need to approach them with great tenderness. Sometimes we are to acknowledge them, and let them be. Other times, we are to have compassion and examine them. On page 225, he writes ‘when you forgive yourself, your inner wounds begin to heal. You come in out of the exile of hurt into the inner joy of belonging. The art of integration is very precious…’

When we experience heaviness and regrets about the past, we can bring these painful memories to God. Through the holy spirit, we can discern how to deal with them- if it is a hurtful memory, can the injustice be wisely addressed? If we have a sense of shame, can we find forgiveness and healing? Often working with a trusted counsellor or therapist can help us on this journey

Jesus said ‘ the truth will set you free’ John 8:32. We pray that we might know the truth, both uncomfortable and inspiring. May the beautiful and loving moments leave a legacy of love. And may the darker, more difficult memories help us learn and grow, and strengthen us in enabling dignity, respect and compassion in our attitudes and actions, towards others and to ourselves.

Gracious and Eternal God, You alone know the past, present and future, and are present in each. We live in the present, and want to live attentively and fully. We still have hopes and dreams for the future. Lord Jesus Christ, we give thanks for the stories of our lives, the rough and the smooth, the joys and the sorrows. We give thanks for all that is good and wholesome. We ask forgiveness for our mistakes and shortcomings, and the hurt this has caused. We ask for grace to forgive the pain and distress caused to us by others. Holy Spirit, when we get stuck in traumatic and unresolved memories, heal us and set us free, and may we find the right people to help us in this spiritual journey. Enable us to find peace and integration, so we can live each day in gratitude and love. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Trying not to fix things……

I have been travelling, and as usual my bag is too heavy with books- bulging at the seams. I end up with aching shoulders, wondering why I do this, and resolving never again to pack so much heavy stuff in my hand luggage. I need to learn to travel lighter.

Travelling lightly can have a deeper meaning too, as sometimes we get too emotionally weighed down. We get caught up in people’s stories, we take responsibility for things that are not ours, we try to shape things that are not ours to control. We can become exhausted, anticipating where problems might emerge, and trying to trouble shoot before they happen. It can be wearying, and even worse counter productive.

Having good boundaries is part of the Christian life. Jesus called us to love others as we love ourselves. This means a balance between service and self care. We are to care for others, but not so that we become empty. We are to self care, but not in a way that becomes selfish and oblivious to the needs of others.

I have always loved the verse in Proverbs 4: 23 ‘Guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life’ This means that we are to take good care of our heart, so it doesn’t become bitter or hard. We are to trust God, and to do what we can, but then leave it with Him. Our temptation is to try to tell some one what to do, instead of supporting them listen to Gods voice for themselves, to try to fix that difficult situation, rather than to watch and pray but know it is not ours to interfere with. Things are often so much bigger than we recognise. We are not responsible for the decisions or actions of others. May God grant us the discernment we need.

Eternal Father, before Your face, generations come and go, and yet the patterns of human behaviour seem set. We often want to do the right thing, yet end up doing the wrong. Lord Jesus, please have mercy on us. Sometimes we see suffering and pain, and we are tempted to try and put it right in our own strength, to fix things. Yet by doing this, we can enable bad behaviours, and nothing is learnt. Holy Spirit, help us know when to speak and when to be silent, when to get involved, and when to let things go. Help us not to be weighed down by things that are not ours. Help us truly guard our hearts, and grant us a healthy balance in life, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

The gift of noticing…

I was at the beach in Florida- one of my favourite places – when I saw this elegant egret. It was so tame that I could get right up beside it. It looked quite comical the way it moved it’s long legs through the waves.

It was only as I watched this beautiful bird, that I noticed the colour of its feet- vibrant yellow! It was colour coordinated with the yellow at the base of its bill, but was in stark contrast to its legs. I looked it up, and my bird identifier told me it is called a ‘snowy egret’ which seemed a bit ironic in the heat of a Florida summer. The yellow feet are to help it attract prey in swirling water.

It was only because I stopped to look at this bird as it waded through the waves, that I really noticed it’s feet. It made me reflect that often I move on too quickly to really notice the detail of things. In life, we are often in a rush, speed reading are article, or only half listening to what has been said to us. We often miss really significant moments and insights because we are in too much of a hurry.

Eugene Peterson said that ‘busyness is an illness of the spirit’ and in much of his writing he speaks of how being busy subverts our spirituality, prevents us praying or giving meaningful time to God. We can be rushing so much, we are not listening to God, or to family and friends. We are frantically trying to fit everything into each day, not realising how much it is costing us.

This weekend it is Pentecost, when the Christian church celebrates the coming of God’s Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit brings God’s message of grace and love and renewal to us, and we need the touch of God’s holy spirit so badly. May we be open to all God wants to share with us, to take time out to quieten our soul and to listen.

In 1 Samuel chapter 3, young Samuel says to God ‘Speak Lord, for your servant is listening,’ He is expressing his attentiveness to hearing God’ s voice, and to receiving His message. This Pentecost, and indeed all year round, may we be similarly humble before God and be open to hearing His life giving and transformative Word to us.

Loving Father God, we are often so busy, rushing about, trying to achieve so many things. Yet in our haste, we miss what is most significant around us. Forgive us for our distorted priorities. Teach us to slow down. Lord Jesus when we read of your life on earth You never ran. May we learn to quieten our spirit, to be attentive to the voice of Your Holy Spirit, and to say each morning ‘Speak Lord for your servant is listening’. Grant us a humble heart to receive from You, an attentive spirit to discern Your will and an openness to finding inspiration and renewal. For Jesus sake, Amen

Serenity in the sunshine!

When the sun shines, we feel so much better. The colours are brighter and our spirits are lighter. Being out in nature is such a gift, just to be able to move slowly and to notice our surroundings. It can be so peaceful.

In his gorgeous poem ‘ The Prelude’, the romantic poet William Wordsworth speaks of the wonder and beauty of creation. I haven’t read this through for a long time- 1805 or 1850 edition. However some of the ideas have remained with me, especially his concept of ‘spots of time’. There idea is that we experience moments of intensity or harmony which are transcendent or inspirational. These are remarkable not just in the moment, but also when recollected later.

Wordsworth writes; ‘ there are in our existence spots of time, time, which with distinct preeminence retain, a fructifying virtue, whence depressed By trivial occupations and the round, Of ordinary intercourse, our minds- especially the imaginative power- are nourished and invisibly repaired.’

There is so much more, but this concept that moments of stillness and appreciation in nature, can be a salve which restores our jaded spirits, and replenishes our souls and imagination, carries such insight. We feel it deeply.

In many of the psalms, there are also recorded moments of wonder and worship in nature, when there is a purity of experience which nutures and restore. The words in John’s gospel ‘Through Him all things were made’ chapter 1:3 is behind all this, that we have a sense of being in the presence of our Creator, and it brings a deep peace and serenity. In an often busy and strident world, these moments are indeed to be treasured, not just in the moment but when recollection later in life. May these moments indeed bring serenity and peace.

Creator God, in the sunshine we experience moments of connection and tranquility, memories that sustain us even in rainy and dark days. Thankyou Lord Jesus for the love that runs through all things, and which touches our souls. Slow us down, help us to notice our surroundings, to own that we find our grounding in Your being. Forgive our distracted ways, our impatience and the worry that weighs us down. Set us free from our troubles. Holy Spirit in beautiful moments in nature, may we breath deeply, behold Your majesty and rediscover a serenity that heals and restores our souls, in Jesus name, Amen

Connectivity can bring healing….

Sometimes waiting for your broadband to work can seem frustrating to say the least. The light changes to green and orange for no obvious reason, and you are cut off mid sentence, or halfway through a project, pressing the reset button frantically.

There are times when emotionally and spiritually we can feel the same. For numerous reasons, we get cut off, left to work things out by ourselves with God. They can be wilderness times, when the evidence that God is even listening is not apparent.

These times, although they are bewildering and disorientating, serve a purpose, as it is a time to reflect on our inward journey, our identity, our choices. We need to reconnect with ourselves, to forgive mistakes in the past, and to make peace with our present. I believe that this is the work of the Holy Spirit, helping to bring deep healing and a restoration of purpose.

In the very nature of the Trinity, there is loving connection and community. In this fragmented world, God calls us back to Him, just like the Prodigal Son. He wants to restore us, to reconnect us to His Loving purpose and our identity in Him.

I am grateful for every opportunity to connect, with God, His Creation and with others. There can be setbacks and struggles, but I believe God brings much blessing through connection.

At this point I want to say thankyou. Thankyou to friends and family who listen, encourage, pray, laugh and honestly reflect with me. I am so grateful.

I am grateful to Feedspot, for featuring my blog as well- see link

https://bloggers.feedspot.com/christian_healing_blogs/

One of the most beautiful descriptions of connection, is the definition given by John O’Donoghue when speaking of the concept of a soul friend ‘ the anam cara’. He says ‘with the anam cara, you could share your innermost self, your mind and your heart. You are joined in an ancient and eternal way……You are understood without mask or pretension. The superficial and functional lies and half truths of acquaintances fall away. You can be as you really are.’

This is a beautiful descriptions of deep connection, a grounding in the love of God, and gift of connection with another human being, a soul mate. May we all know that precious gift in our lives.

Eternal God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, You are a perfect harmony of relationship and grace, and when you invite us to know You, we discover the meaning of connection and belonging. Thankyou that because of Jesus’ death on the cross, our mistakes and selfishness are forgiven, and our relationship with You is restored, for this is the deep longing of our hearts. Nothing else brings that peace. When we are fearful, broken or alone, remind us of Your healing invitation for restored communion with You, and bring us an anam cara, with who we can share mutual nurture and guidance. Hear our prayer, that our connection with You might be deepened and blessed, in Jesus name, Amen

Swallows and vibrant colours all around….

There has been so much sunshine in May, so far. There are more people smiling, children out playing, people going to the seaside. It has been so lovely. I have seen beautiful blossom, deep green foliage emerging, and even swallows, although they swooped and dived too quickly for me to photograph!

In the midst of the struggles of life, it is good to take a moment, just to notice. Sometimes our cares and worries so overwhelm us, that we have our heads down. I think God calls us gently to lift our heads up, to open our eyes, and to enjoy the beauty of His creation with thankful hearts.

There is an old hymn ‘For the beauty of the earth’ and it contains the words:

‘ For the beauty of the earth, for the beauty of the skies, for the love which from our birth, over and around us lies, Christ, our God, to Thee we raise this our sacrifice of praise.’

On these gorgeous days of blue skies and sunshine, we feel a deep thanksgiving for the beauty around us, but also the gift of health and relationship and stillness. It fills our heart with praise, and gives us a renewed awareness of all that is good. Perhaps we are weary, or have become jaundiced or our hearts are sore. Just taking time to be still, and to pause and to notice the loveliness all around can refresh our souls. May we find that renewal in this season.

Gracious and Eternal God, in these days of sunshine and shade, we remember the Words of psalm 46 ‘to be still and know that You are God’. Around us we see bluebells and yellow broom, azure skies and vibrant blossom. We take time to notice, and to give thanks. Lord Jesus inspire us, to pause, to sink into the landscape, and to find much joy. Holy Spirit, heal what is broken and jaded within us, and may there always be a song of praise on our lips. May the sunshine warm our hearts, and deepen our reverence for all your abundant gifts, Amen

Faith over fear- resurrection!

In the days following Easter Sunday, we have time to reflect on the meaning of it all. In Mark’s gospel in particular, we get a strong sense of the fear surrounding this event. In verse 8 it says that the women were trembling and bewildered, even after their encounter with the Risen Lord Jesus.

If we are honest, maybe we can identify with these feelings. The women who went to the tomb were taking spices to anoint the body, and were grieving and mournful. Yet when they arrived, the stone had been rolled away, and an angel spoke to them, saying that Jesus had risen, and had gone ahead of them into Galilee. They were questioning and unsure and scared. What was going on?

In life, we are perhaps more fearful than we care to admit. We can be scared about stuff from the past catching up with us- wrestling with guilt and shame. Or we might be anxious about what the future might bring- whether waiting for test results, or news about a loved one. And even in the present, we can catastophise about a monster under the bed, or a ringing phone. Life is harsh just now, there is so much complexity and uncertainty. How can we trust in God still being with His people? With us.

In this account, Mark emphasises that the women were bewildered and trembling. They were astounded that the tomb was empty, and an angel had spoken to them. They were on shock. What could this mean? Could it possibly be true? They leave to tell the others, and to travel to Galilee to find out for themselves.

I remember the title of a book by Susan Jeffers ‘Feel the fear and do it anyway.’ I thought it was such a brilliant title. It is acknowledging that it is natural to be scared sometimes. It happens to all of us. What is important is to not let that fear paralyse you, and stop you from doing things. Sometimes you acknowledge that you are worried or anxious or nervous, even when you know it is the right thing, but then can ask God to give you the courage to do it anyway. We learn to trust, like Abram and Sarai leaving home to go to a new land, or Ruth being loyal to her mother in law Naomi, or Daniel in the lion’s den. Whatever our calling, in spite of our fears, may God give us courage to trust Him and to travel in a new direction, for He is faithful.

God of all time and space, when life takes an unexpected turn, keep us focussed on You. Like the women at the tomb, even when we are confused and uncertain, may we obey Your voice. Risen Lord, you told your followers not to be afraid. You even said ‘ Peace be with you.’ Lord Jesus, our hearts are thumping, we are weak at the knees, we are distraught at all that could go wrong. Through the power of Your Holy Spirit, may our faith be greater than our fear, and may we trust Your loving purposes. And so help us to take that next step, in Your Risen power we ask this, Amen.

Betrayal and forgiveness!

Betrayal feels like a very relevant theme just now. In the Easter story, there is a big debate about Judas Iscariot betraying Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Some think Judas was greedy- that he was in charge of the group’s finances, and wanted more. Others say he was impatient for Jesus to be more political, and thought he would force his hand by getting him arrested. Others note the language- that Jesus was handed over, and that Judas was just playing his part in something much bigger than he knew. Whatever his motivation, to identify Jesus with a kiss, seemed like the ultimate insult.

It has been said that betrayal is so difficult to deal with, because it implies that at some stage in the past there was trust. The theme of betrayal is therefore prominent in books and movies- which depict the pain of realising that some one has let you down. It could happen in a relationship, at work, or in society in general.

Listening to people’s stories, betrayal seems to be a common theme just now. People had hoped for more, amongst their families, their employment, or the government. Things are changing so quickly, that the things that felt familiar in the past are no longer valued. Cut backs, fewer resources, greater stress levels, poor behaviours all contribute to a sense of accelerated change and unfulfilled expectations all around us.

For Jesus, even though he knew Judas would betray him to the authorities, he still included him at the last supper. Jesus said ‘ the hand of him who is going to betray me is either mine at the table.’ Luke 22:21. He knew that Judas would betray him- in Matthew 26: 25 Jesus speaks directly to Judas about it. Yet he still loves him, and serves him along with everyone else. He even washes his feet. And in the agony of the cross, Jesus says ‘ Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing’ Luke 23:34. Forgiveness is offered to all.

We are called to follow Jesus’ example. When some one lets us down or hurts us, we are called to forgive. That does not necessarily mean a restoration of relationship, but that we do not hold a grudge and become bitter. This Easter, as we look to the cross, may we find grace as to how to forgive and also the humility to be forgiven.

Lord Jesus Christ, your heart must have been sore to know that the one you loved would betray you into the hands of the authorities. Even though you knew the worst about Judas, it didn’t stop you loving him. And by your grace You love us, though we let You down so often. Give us hearts to love those who hurt us, and to forgive. We might still need good boundaries. We might need to go our separate ways. But may your Holy Spirit set us free from bitterness and resentments, and enable us to pray for your blessing for that person, and to leave them in your hands. Teach us your ways, for the sake of our Precious Saviour, Amen.