Thursday, July 28, 2011
On Ministry and Anxiety
One prerequisite for ministry is to genuinely care for those in crisis. Becoming overly concerned with one's role, intervention techniques, or other personal responsibilities, that one loses sight of the mission to love others might cause a caregiver to miss seeing the person in crisis as inhereintly valuable.
I have found that holding the person in prayer has always helped me focus on the other's needs rather than my own issues. This aspect of preparation seems so obvious that it need not be mentioned, but sometimes it is remarkably easy for counselees to become cases, problems or challenges, rather than unique and precious human beings.
-Howard Stone
I have found that holding the person in prayer has always helped me focus on the other's needs rather than my own issues. This aspect of preparation seems so obvious that it need not be mentioned, but sometimes it is remarkably easy for counselees to become cases, problems or challenges, rather than unique and precious human beings.
-Howard Stone
Tolstoy: On the Struggles of Christian Life...
“Do you practice what you preach?” This is the most natural question of all and one always asked of me. And it is usually asked victoriously, as though it were a way of silencing me.
And I answer that I do not preach, that I am not able to preach—though I passionately wish to. I can preach only through my actions, and my actions are vile… And I answer that I am guilty and vile and worthy of contempt for my failure to carry them out.
At the same time, not in order to justify, but simply in order to explain my lack of consistency, I say, “Look at my life today compared with my former life and you will see that I do attempt to live out the Gospel; and I am ashamed to this because I have not lived out a thousandth of it. But I failed not because I didn’t wish to, but because I was unable to. Teach me to escape from this net of temptation surrounding me—help me and I will live it out, even without help I wish to fulfill it…
Attack me, I do this myself, but attack ME rather than the path I follow and which I point out to anyone who asks me where I think it lays. If I know the way home, and am walking along it drunkenly, is it any less the right path because I stagger side to side? If it is not the right way, then show me another—but if I stagger and lose the way, you must help me, you must keep me on the true path, just as I am ready to support you. Do not mislead me, do not be glad I have got lost, do not shout joyfully, “Look at him, he was going home but now crawls in a ditch!” Do not gloat, but give me help and support.
-Leo Tolstoy
And I answer that I do not preach, that I am not able to preach—though I passionately wish to. I can preach only through my actions, and my actions are vile… And I answer that I am guilty and vile and worthy of contempt for my failure to carry them out.
At the same time, not in order to justify, but simply in order to explain my lack of consistency, I say, “Look at my life today compared with my former life and you will see that I do attempt to live out the Gospel; and I am ashamed to this because I have not lived out a thousandth of it. But I failed not because I didn’t wish to, but because I was unable to. Teach me to escape from this net of temptation surrounding me—help me and I will live it out, even without help I wish to fulfill it…
Attack me, I do this myself, but attack ME rather than the path I follow and which I point out to anyone who asks me where I think it lays. If I know the way home, and am walking along it drunkenly, is it any less the right path because I stagger side to side? If it is not the right way, then show me another—but if I stagger and lose the way, you must help me, you must keep me on the true path, just as I am ready to support you. Do not mislead me, do not be glad I have got lost, do not shout joyfully, “Look at him, he was going home but now crawls in a ditch!” Do not gloat, but give me help and support.
-Leo Tolstoy
Monday, July 4, 2011
A Prayer for Hard Times
Lord God;
Even though we come before you today with heavy hearts, seemingly surrounded by darkness and confusion, we nevertheless continue to give you thanks.
Thanks for this day, thanks for our lives, and thanks for our brother/sister who is suffering. And we thank you for creating in us spirits that are resilient, spirits that are strong.
And should we feel overwhelmed by our difficulties, let us know that we are constantly surrounded by your light and loving presence.
We ask this through Christ our Lord,
Amen
Even though we come before you today with heavy hearts, seemingly surrounded by darkness and confusion, we nevertheless continue to give you thanks.
Thanks for this day, thanks for our lives, and thanks for our brother/sister who is suffering. And we thank you for creating in us spirits that are resilient, spirits that are strong.
And should we feel overwhelmed by our difficulties, let us know that we are constantly surrounded by your light and loving presence.
We ask this through Christ our Lord,
Amen
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