St. Philip's Lutheran Church | St. Philip's Lutheran Church |
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Jesus ministered by preaching, teaching, and healing. God wants His people to be whole and well. (Matthew 4:23-24)
The mission of Wellness Ministry is to serve the congregation and the community by helping meet spiritual, emotional, and physical needs in an integrated approach.
The vision of Wellness Ministry is that God's people will live in wholeness of body, mind, and spirit
May 2008
Pulse of the Parish
ARE YOU A RESERVOIR OR A CANAL?
Bernard de Clairvaus (1090-1153) wrote:
“If then you are wise, you will show yourself rather as a reservoir than as a canal. For a canal spreads abroad water as it receives it, but a reservoir waits until it is filled before overflowing, and thus communicates, without loss to itself, its superabundant water. In the Church at the present day, we have many canals, few reservoirs.”
What is the difference between a reservoir and a canal? A reservoir collects water and when it is full it allows the excess to spill out. Dams built on rivers form reservoirs which we call “man-made lakes.” The reservoir is frequently a source of power for the surrounding area. Sometimes a reservoir can provide recreation for people who enjoy boating or swimming.
A canal is dug for the purpose of carrying water from one place to another, as for irrigation. A canal is similar to a river or stream; the water flows through it. Some canals may even be made of cement so that the water moves through without affecting the canal itself.
Can we apply this analogy to people? I recently attended a workshop where the speaker used the above quotation to emphasize the importance of taking spiritual care of ourselves. As followers of Jesus, we may become quite busy serving others without taking time to nourish our own faith. We mean well, and may be admired for our service and devotion, but we are canals; we are delivering without receiving nourishment. It is vital that we spend time with the Word, and with God in prayer and meditation, in order to fill our own reservoir. Faith-filled servants bless those around them with the excesses of God’s love as it pours through the spillways.
As you begin thinking about the summertime and perhaps plan vacations, I encourage you to spend time alone with God to be refilled and re-created. You may find it time to re-evaluate the priorities in your life and to strive for better balance. Remember that a healthy life includes time for rest and self-care.
The writer in the 12th century was concerned that there were “many canals, few reservoirs” in the church. Is this true today? Do we allow each other the time to become reservoirs? Do we expect the same workers to continue serving without having time for nourishment? Let’s be intentional about becoming reservoirs, cheerfully spilling out God’s love to the world around us.
Barb Jorenby, Parish Nurse