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Good afternoon fellow list-sibs.
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p>A rare
sermon and preaching for the first time in front of my home parish.
Many thanks to whomever reminded me of the Northumbria Community's
Evening Prayer service which I often use as well as to the rest of you
for your thoughts, meditations, and reflections. <br>
</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p>Allison
Cline-Dean<br>
Chaplain, Pioneer Manor<br>
Sudbury, ON, Canada<br>
</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="" lang="EN-GB">In his book, <i
style="">Growing Spiritually</i>, E. Stanley Jones
tells of a guide taking his group through a grand cavern.<span style="">
</span>There were many beautiful stalactites hanging
from the roof and stalagmites growing up from the floor.<span style="">
</span>Water dripping from the ceiling form the
stalactites and stalagmites. <span style=""> </span>Each drop
of water, having percolated through layers of rock, had a tiny amount
of
minerals dissolved within.<span style=""> </span>As those
drops of water dripped from the stalactites (the ones that hang from
the roof),
each one deposited a molecule or two of mineral on the stalactite or
the
stalagmite.<span style=""> </span>Over the years, those little
bits of dissolved mineral formed those beautiful stalactites and
stalagmites -
some of them many feet in length.<span style=""> </span>The
guide told them that the water travelled through the centre of the
stalactites -
not on the outer surface.<span style=""> </span>He said that
when that channel becomes clogged, that stalactite stops growing.<span
style=""> </span>Stanley Jones commented that we are like
that.<span style=""> </span>Many people "are spiritual
stalactites with channels clogged."<span style="">
</span>He went on to say, "We need perpetually to get rid of the things
that clog mind and spirit."<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">The reading from Ephesians is a
guide about not
letting our hearts and spirit become so clogged that we separate
ourselves from
God’s love and the Bread of Life.<span style=""> </span>I
don’t know about you, but sometimes it is a much easier to hold onto
anger and
grudges than it is to let them go.<span style=""> </span>Yet,
Paul in his wisdom tells us that to hold onto hurts, resentments, and
anger
will slow and possibly stop our growth in Christ, destroying
relationships with
others including our families, those in the community and the Church.<span
style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p>Working as a long-term
care chaplain provides me
with the opportunity to meet with people shortly after they come to
Pioneer
Manor.<span style=""> </span>Many are angry about how their
health has let them down, forcing them to leave behind their homes of
many
years, belongings, and familiar routines.<span style="">
</span>Others are angry because their spouse has died or their
caregiver can no
longer continue caring for them.<span style=""> </span>Their
words and stories speak of their disappointment, their shock, their
bitterness,
and their loneliness.<span style=""> </span>Many of these
residents are devout persons but they wonder where God is in all that
has
happened.<span style=""> </span>Their words often echo today’s
psalm “Out of the depths I have called to you O Lord, hear my voice!<span
style=""> </span>Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my
supplications.”<span style=""> </span>Much of what I do is to
sit with residents and explore where God is in all that has happened.<span
style=""> </span>As we do the exploration, many residents have
been gradually able to let go of the anger and the hurt.<span style="">
</span>They are able to accept that while Pioneer
Manor is not where they had planned to finish living out the final
years of
their life, that they are still able do some of what is important to
them – and
Pioneer Manor slowly becomes home.<span style=""> </span>This
includes seeing family members and friends, listening to music, taking
part in
various activities, making new friends, as well as continuing their
faith
journey.<span style=""> </span>They have learned the difficult
lesson at 80, 90, or 100 years of age of how to live in the moment, to
live in
love, and experience personal transformation. <span style=""> </span>They
have discovered how to unclog the channel
to find God’s peace and love, and to receive Christ, the Bread of Life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">The residents who do not do well at
Pioneer
Manor are those who hold onto the anger and pain, allowing it to clog
the
channel that enables them to give and receive the peace and love of
family, friends,
and God.<span style=""> </span>Their hurtful, biting words and
sarcasm create roadblocks to personal growth and relationships with
their
family, friends, and the community around them.<span style="">
</span>These residents remain prisoners in the darkness of the pit of
despair
as they search for others to blame for their deteriorating health and
lack of
visits from family, friends, or other residents.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">There are times when anger is
justified but we
need to deal with it constructively so that it does not bring harm to
ourselves, to those around us, and to our environment.<span style=""> </span>Sometimes
it means signing a petition,
working in a soup kitchen, knitting baby layettes for the Guardian
Angels
project, or other ways to bring about positive change in our world and
our
community. <span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=""><o:p> </o:p>There have
been, possibly
are, and will be times when we feel like the psalmist, imprisoned by a
deep pit’s
darkness, holding onto whatever smidgen of faith we have left with
every ounce
of our strength, praying that God hears us.<span style="">
</span>We put our trust in God’s word as we sink deeper into the abyss.<span
style=""> </span>Herbert O’Driscoll writes “We are shown the
depths to which we must sometimes go before we can taste God’s great
power to
redeem.<span style=""> </span>Thank God<span style=""> </span>-
others around us and before us can witness
to this power being stronger than the darkness.”<span style=""> </span>Christ
invites us to let go of our hurt,
resentments, and anger – to offer them to him so that we can learn how
to
forgive with grace and love.<span style=""> </span>Learning this
lesson of God’s gracious love and forgiveness means our lives and
relationships
are no longer clogged by constant, unfocussed anger and hurt.<span
style=""> </span>It does not that mean that we have to forget
what caused the pain, but in following Christ’s example of forgiveness,
we discover
how to deal with what would separate us from God and from others so
that we do
not make the same mistake again.<span style=""> </span></span><span
style="" lang="EN-GB"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Christ forgave and accepted us
because He loved
us, dying on the Cross for us.<span style=""> </span>As we
remove those things that spiritually clog our minds and spirits and try
to
imitate Jesus, we prepare to receive Christ, the Bread of Life, our
Redeemer,
our Sanctifier, and our Sustainer to whom we pray together with the </span><span
style="">Northumbria Community</span><span style="">:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=""><o:p> </o:p>Lord, You have
always given bread for the
coming day;<br>
and though I am poor, today I believe.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
Lord, You have always given strength for the
coming days;<br>
<span style="">and though I am weak, today I believe.<o:p></o:p></span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=""><o:p> </o:p>Lord, You have
always given peace for the
coming day;<br>
and though of anxious heart, today I believe.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="">Lord, You have always kept
me safe in trials;<br>
and now, tired as I am, today I believe.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=""><o:p> </o:p>Lord, You have
always marked the road for the
coming day;<br>
and though it may be hidden, today I believe.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style=""><o:p> </o:p>Lord, You have
always lightened the darkness
of mine;<br>
and though the night is here, today I
believe.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span style="">Lord, You have always
spoken when the time
was ripe;<br>
</span>and
though you be silent now, today I believe.<span style="">
</span>Amen</p>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif";"></span>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Edward Bear . . . permeates the whole structure of society. This is because he is a truly international figure
who is non-religious and yet universally recognized as a symbol of love. He represents friendship, and so is a
powerful instrument of good will, a wonderful ambassador of peace, functioning as a leavening influence amid
the trials and tribulations of life in the modern world. (Colonel Bob Henderson)
World Government Needs Bears!!! (Helen Exley)</pre>
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