Attending to Our Spiritual Care

This year, the day after Halloween felt different. As I went shopping, I was struck by the abundance of Christmas displays. I can't recall if it was the same last year, but it hit me that Christmas is just eight weeks away. This commercialized rush to Christmas often sidelines a crucial aspect of our Christian spirituality: reflection. Have we taken the time to reflect on the events of the year? Have we created space to acknowledge and attend to our losses, big or small?

Attending to our spiritual care is neither selfish nor anti-Christian. Consider this: before an airplane takes off, attendants instruct us that in the event of turbulence, oxygen masks may drop from above. They tell us to put on our own masks first before helping others. This principle applies to our spiritual lives as well. We need to tend to our own spirits to serve others effectively. We can't provide spiritual care to others if we neglect our own needs.

That's what friends are for, but I would extend this to say, "That's what the church is for." The church, in its true essence, is not a battleground for human politics. It is a haven where feet are washed, heads are bathed in refreshing water, and tummies are filled. This is what grace does. Every time you enter Townville Presbyterian Church, you step into God's kingdom. In this church, Christ offers you air when life is turbulent, a space for your messy life, and a community that lives with real grace.  I encourage each of us to take time to tend to our souls with reflection and peace.

Yours,

Rev. Denny Read