Chaos & War: Peace & Encouragement
The political chaos, and on-going war, seem to provide a constant background of instability in our lives right-now. And it’‘s Autumn, yet 22C today at the end of October, a reminder that the climate crisis is spiralling, seemingly out of control. A winter ahead which promises rising heating and food prices, very real challenges for many, and a depressing atmosphere for all.
Many of us and many of our Directees will have increased anxiety levels, be noticing the worry and feeling fractured.
So all the more important that we continue to offer those foundations of Spiritual Direction – a place of stillness and silence amongst the chaos; listening to God and our directees when so many others are shouting at us; as well as helping to find peace and encouragement instead of worry and anxiety. Reaching out together for the peace that really is beyond our understanding.
The reality is these are tough times and the winter will be particularly difficult. These are times for contemplation and action (as Richard Rohr would say). My local food bank’s demand has more than doubled this year already and is on a constantly upward curve.
These are times for grounding and growing ourselves, supporting and being supported by our communities – including the LCSD community of Spiritual Directors – and of course times to support our directees. Our communities will need to help provide physical warmth as well as spiritual warmth for this season.
For me at the moment I’m finding huge encouragement and peace, reflecting on the Psalms. Helped by the marvellous poetry of Malcolm Guite’s collection David’s Crown.
“That wrongs may be redressed and wars may cease
He must be king of earth as well as heaven.
We must invite him here, to make his peace
Within us and between us, that forgiven,
We may release forgiveness here on earth,
Working and spreading like a holy leaven;
A secret of the kingdom: Heaven’s breath;
A kindling from the place where Christ is king.
For he has triumphed and defeated death
And even now he calls our hearts to sing:
Sing praises in the kingdom still to come
And in the one already here, to bring
Ourselves, our arts and music, trumpet, drum
And tabor, all to make a merry noise,
For heaven’s king has made earth his home!
”
Questions to help you reflect:
What helps you to pray with honesty, trust and vulnerability?
How might the Psalms help with this?
How might you help directees to pray in this way?
How do you feel about the idea that spiritual direction can help people to learn how to die?
What experience do you have of addressing this in spiritual direction?
How might spiritual directors provide a context in which directees can speak about death?
Andrew Cornish
Andrew retired from City life, now the Chair of Trustees for a couple of charities, Trustee of LCSD, Spiritual Director, busy grandfather, walker, church leader and gardener.