Weekly Message
As I was driving to a meeting recently, my passenger sitting on my left, who was busy preparing for the said event, exclaimed: ‘I wish I had three hands. I find it almost impossible to hold on to my bunch of papers, write comments and at the same time, check details on my phone.’
Many of us may have said something similar. I wish I had three hands. I wish I had eyes in my neck. Both expressions illustrate our desire to do and see more than we realistically can at any given time. Multi-tasking has become a virtue as we, with pride, state: ‘I am good at keeping up many balls in the air at the same time.’
This week, I wish to hold on to a different insight: there is a time and a season for everything (Ecclesiastes 3). I need constant reminders that it is good and healthy to do one thing at a time and that it would do me good to stop, reflect and plan my commitments in such a way that I do not require three hands or two pairs of eyes to manage life. If God had desired his creations in that way, we would probably have looked more like an octopus! God created humankind in his image … God saw everything he had made, and indeed, it was very good.’ (Gen 1:27 and 31) God made us in his image, not the image of an octopus, no matter how charming and adorable they may be.
Maybe this week, we should do as God did after creating everything - rest. It is my prayer for all of us that we will be given the gift to plan, do, rest, and manage that without three hands and two pairs of eyes. May we find inspiration in the wisdom from the Church Father St Augustine who famously said: ‘You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.’
Almighty God, you have made us for yourself,
and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you:
Teach us to offer ourselves to your service,
that here we may have your peace,
and in the world to come may see you face to face;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Blessings,
Helene
Rev'd Canon Dr Helene T. Steed, Rector
Many of us may have said something similar. I wish I had three hands. I wish I had eyes in my neck. Both expressions illustrate our desire to do and see more than we realistically can at any given time. Multi-tasking has become a virtue as we, with pride, state: ‘I am good at keeping up many balls in the air at the same time.’
This week, I wish to hold on to a different insight: there is a time and a season for everything (Ecclesiastes 3). I need constant reminders that it is good and healthy to do one thing at a time and that it would do me good to stop, reflect and plan my commitments in such a way that I do not require three hands or two pairs of eyes to manage life. If God had desired his creations in that way, we would probably have looked more like an octopus! God created humankind in his image … God saw everything he had made, and indeed, it was very good.’ (Gen 1:27 and 31) God made us in his image, not the image of an octopus, no matter how charming and adorable they may be.
Maybe this week, we should do as God did after creating everything - rest. It is my prayer for all of us that we will be given the gift to plan, do, rest, and manage that without three hands and two pairs of eyes. May we find inspiration in the wisdom from the Church Father St Augustine who famously said: ‘You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.’
Almighty God, you have made us for yourself,
and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in you:
Teach us to offer ourselves to your service,
that here we may have your peace,
and in the world to come may see you face to face;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Blessings,
Helene
Rev'd Canon Dr Helene T. Steed, Rector
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