February 4thFive Minutes on Friday 17
SURRENDER TO THE MOMENT
“Hurry is an unpleasant thing in itself, but also very unpleasant for whoever is around it. Some people came into my room and rushed in and rushed out and even when they were there they were not there – they were in the moment ahead or the moment behind. Some people who came in just for a moment were all there, completely in that moment.
Live from day to day, just from day to day. If you do so, you worry less and live more richly. If you let yourself be absorbed completely, if you surrender completely to the moments as they pass, you live more richly those moments.” [Anne Morrow Lindbergh]
BIBLE
‘Three quarters of Americans believe the Bible teaches that ‘God helps those who help themselves.’ That is, they believe this notion at the core of our individualist politics and culture, which was in fact uttered by Ben Franklin, actually appears in holy Scripture. The thing is, not only in Franklin’s wisdom not biblical; it’s counter-biblical. Few ideas could be further from the gospel message with its radical summons to love of neighbour.’ [Bill McKibbin – The Christian Paradox]
WOMEN, CHURCH, AND LITERACY IN CONGO
For an inspiring story of women teaching other women in Congo follow the link below from the Mennonite Mission Network.
SUNDAY – Luke 5.1-11
This week we read the story of Jesus, Peter, and their fishing exploits. The story ends with a great catch, but more than that, it is the beginning of Peter’s deeper spiritual journey with his master.
REFLECTION:
Does Peter’s response (v.8) strike you as strange? Appropriate? Promising?
In comparison to Peter, how would you describe a moment of spiritual awakening?
Does venturing out into ‘deep water’ exhilarate or frighten you?