Kia ora e te whanau
I sit looking out the window at the unfolding results of the promised weather-bomb. It continues to affirm my conviction that the most depressing month of winter is invariably the last one. My supervisor trained as a psychiatrist. I visited with him late last week. As is often his want he was wearing a brightly coloured ‘Hawaiian’ style shirt. I commented that on YouTube one can often tell the psychiatrists because the have the most outrageous bowties. We both laughed. And agreed. His explanation for his shirts is that as winter bites most people hunker down with wearing black and greys. He never mentioned it, but had accurately described my own sartorial choices for the day. And he was pushing back by offering some colour back into an increasingly colourless world.
Personal and Leadership Resources
1. Science Says Embracing 1 Simple Thing Will Help You Live Longer
I’m not usually a fan of obsessing about how we could live longer – it seems to strike at the heart of the gospel by buying into the death-denying culture of the age we’re living in. Having said that, this article is about more than living longer – it’s about how we’re living – longevity may be a bi-product. The Jeff Haden article can be read here: https://www.inc-aus.com/jeff-haden/science-says-embracing-1-simple-thing-will-help-you-live-longer-and-its-not-adding-more-olive-oil-to-your-diet.html
2. a Huge Myth About Creativity and Success
Ryan Reynolds may be a famous actor – apparently he’s also a very successful businessperson. The principles Jessica Stillman highlights from Reynolds insights are as applicable to the church. We often lament what we don’t have, and fail to move forward through a perceived lack of resources. It just may be that a certain tightness of resources can help us clarify what’s important. The article can be read here: https://www.inc-aus.com/jessica-stillman/13-words-ryan-reynolds-exploded-huge-myth-creativity-success.html
3. Retirement desperately needs a rebrand
While this article references the experience of American women, it has something to say to us in our day and place. As someone who’s allergic to the concept of retirement as we generally perceive it, this article ticks the boxes. It can be read here: https://www.fastcompany.com/91158988/retirement-desperately-needs-a-rebrand-especially-now-that-the-majority-of-retirees-are-doing-it-differently
And as a bonus, linking into all three of the above
4. the No. 1 Myth That Keeps People From Being Happy
This article addresses the beliefs we have about happiness. And suggests that we both fail to recognise what it is and tend to look in the wrong places to find it. I’ve long believed that happiness is not to be pursued as an end in itself – that’s like trying to race to the end of the rainbow – it keeps shifting beyond our grasp. Happiness is something that happens along the way. Anyway the article can be read here: https://www.inc-aus.com/jessica-stillman/harvard-happiness-expert-number-1-myth-keeps-people-from-being-happy.html
Homilies
Trevor Hoggard’s sermon considers Ex 16:2-4,9-15 and John 6:24-35 and appeals to recognition of the lack of integration in so much of our living – To quote him “We are body, mind and spirit, but just how many humans have their beings ripped apart by false divisions?”
Trevor’s offering can be experienced here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SRoEX2TO_E
My response to the Gospel text of John 6 vs 24-35 is titled ‘Too Close to See it’. I reflect on reality that most of the 5000 that had eaten to the fill had failed to recognise the miracle of their being fed – to them it was just bread and fish, like they always ate. It just may be that ‘miracles’ are happening around us all the time, and we’re simply failing to notice.
It can be experienced here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNnFSCroC5Q&t=2s