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One of the pleasures of my
life is to edit the Parish Magazine. Perhaps, as much was anything, it is
because of the contact that I have with people around the Parish. It was
like that from the first. You know what it is when you take on something
like the Magazine - you look for people to do things: but also you try to
set up some sort of direction for the Magazine – some sort of mould for what
will be appearing month by month.
There were a few of us,
at first, working as a committee. We thought to have Sections in the
Magazine, like newspapers have Sections – we still have Sections to a
degree.
We decided to have a
Section Christian Spirituality. Then we needed someone to take charge
of it for us.
We thought to have the
feature Christian Spirituality because, at bottom, here was the very
reason for the Magazine, its distinctive purpose. The Magazine was here to
address a need: and in running that Section we would be getting to the root
of that need – helping any who cared to read the Section into an arena where
nothing less than true joys are found.
But then, as I said ……
someone was needed – someone who would make the Section their own.
The Section at first
seemed down to me. But then, I found that Wilma Roest, our new curate - you
will remember Wilma - had made Spirituality a special interest in the course
of her training to become a priest. Would Wilma take up the Spirituality
Section?
One way and another,
Wilma could not. A newly-fledged curate with lots to learn - she was not in
a position to take up, for us, the Spirituality Section of the Magazine.
But Wilma introduced me
to various sources – she was very helpful. She lent me a book. One of the
papers was by one then unknown to me, Rowan Williams - shortly to become
Archbishop of Canterbury.
And then - it was at the
Summer Fair - I had opportunity of a conversation with Hubert Bradbury.
Hubert is one of our parishioners who engages daily in spiritual exercise –
the exercise of meditation. Hubert agreed to take up the Section.
And here I come to what
Hubert has provided. On occasion, he has pointed us to the value of a
mantra – the essence of the form of meditation that he follows – a word
or phrase oft repeated.
Under Hubert’s leading,
and the leading of others whom I greatly admire I, myself, have a mantra. My
mantra is - simply yet profoundly: “Jesus ….. redeemer”. Each individual who
takes up the practice will decide its own mantra.
Now, what of the mantra?
There is none of idle repetition here. The mantra - my mantra - is by
way of affirmation of a relationship, a conversation piece; an immediate
calling upon great power, great joy, exhilaration. Someone is treading on my
toe in the train. Taken up suddenly? Then recite your mantra, Morris.
There are constantly occasions.
From Wilma’s book: …..
(John Wesley) “It is not the story of Jesus, nor his picture, nor his
doctrine that is central to the Church, but the person of Christ himself.”
My mantra puts me in focus with the person of Christ: grateful, assured.
Where I look back on opportunity mostly squandered, evil done …….that
relationship with Christ makes all the difference. Jesus, redeemer.
And so my mantra helps.
Yes, in all the hubbub of life, I find it certainly helps.
Perhaps you might too?
Let
us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may
receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
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