STEAL AWAY!
So far for the month of February, in observance of Black History Month, IÂ’ve been reflecting on various Negro Spirituals. A few days ago a ministerial colleague forwarded to me a very inspiring excerpt. It really captures many of the thoughts I wanted to share and so I felt led to share the following excerpt with you as a reflection on the spiritual STEAL AWAY. ThatÂ’s todayÂ’s FF: STEAL AWAY. Trust that you will be blessed as I was:
One of the most beautiful songs you’ll ever hear, no matter what your musical tastes, is “STEAL AWAY” sung by Kathleen Battle on her enchanting CD, So Many Stars. Her voice, Cyrus Chestnut’s and the late Grover Washington Jr.’s playing, and the moving lyrics make for an exquisite lay-it-again presentation. Whenever I listen to that song (I am listening now as I write), I think of how ntentional we must be if we are to experience moments of soul-easing in times that try our souls. If we are not careful and mindful, we can go through an entire day doing important things and not take a moment to breathe, to ease up, to be still, to rest that we might be renewed and restored. We need sufficient unrushed time and uncramped space in our lives for new ideas to simmer, surface, and be seen.
As committed and satisfied as we may feel, the reality is that we have not only shortchanged ourselves, but we have shortchanged others. At best, due to our depleted state, persons are always receiving a part of us. A depleted self, no matter how devoted, is still a depleted self. This is why self-care is such a benevolent act. It ensures that the world and the people in it, more often than not, receive our best selves and not our soul-diminished and famished imposters. Taking a moment each day before the day is done to ease our souls down in the soothing waters of GodÂ’s healing love can make a world of sacred creative difference. Moreover, I have found that such a soaking of soul, first thing in the morning, can set the mood for liberating and empowering love for the entire day.
Living from love, filled with love, is the essential prerequisite for leadership, particularly pastoral leadership, that we rarely talk about. How is it possible to offer love if we donÂ’t have love, if we ourselves donÂ’t feel loved, arenÂ’t filled with love continually? The presumption, you may suspect, is an understanding of service that suggests one must be served first in order to serve well. I am convinced now that the first task of ministry is not to give anyone anything. The first calling of ministry is to receive and revel in GodÂ’s precious love, each day, several times a day, especially at the start of the day. STEALING AWAY to be renewed by GodÂ’s love is the necessary prerequisite to offering GodÂ’s love to others.
The first calling of ministry is not to give AWAY; the first calling, the preeminent task of ministry, is STEALING AWAY. STEALING AWAY is what fuels and flavors everything else we do in the Name and Spirit of Love. The prize for STEALING AWAY is a heart STOLEN AWAY, in the most honorable sense of the word, by God.”
(Excerpt From: Kirk Byron Jones. “Fulfilled.” Abingdon Press. iBooks.)
All of us do ministry one way or the other. As we do so might we be encouraged to make the time to STEAL AWAY!
Mikie Roberts (Rev)
HereÂ’s the link for the blog. Join in the discussions.
http://moravians.net/serendipity/index.php?/categories/1-Friday-Focus
As committed and satisfied as we may feel, the reality is that we have not only shortchanged ourselves, but we have shortchanged others. At best, due to our depleted state, persons are always receiving a part of us. A depleted self, no matter how devoted, is still a depleted self. This is why self-care is such a benevolent act. It ensures that the world and the people in it, more often than not, receive our best selves and not our soul-diminished and famished imposters. Taking a moment each day before the day is done to ease our souls down in the soothing waters of GodÂ’s healing love can make a world of sacred creative difference. Moreover, I have found that such a soaking of soul, first thing in the morning, can set the mood for liberating and empowering love for the entire day.
Living from love, filled with love, is the essential prerequisite for leadership, particularly pastoral leadership, that we rarely talk about. How is it possible to offer love if we donÂ’t have love, if we ourselves donÂ’t feel loved, arenÂ’t filled with love continually? The presumption, you may suspect, is an understanding of service that suggests one must be served first in order to serve well. I am convinced now that the first task of ministry is not to give anyone anything. The first calling of ministry is to receive and revel in GodÂ’s precious love, each day, several times a day, especially at the start of the day. STEALING AWAY to be renewed by GodÂ’s love is the necessary prerequisite to offering GodÂ’s love to others.
The first calling of ministry is not to give AWAY; the first calling, the preeminent task of ministry, is STEALING AWAY. STEALING AWAY is what fuels and flavors everything else we do in the Name and Spirit of Love. The prize for STEALING AWAY is a heart STOLEN AWAY, in the most honorable sense of the word, by God.”
(Excerpt From: Kirk Byron Jones. “Fulfilled.” Abingdon Press. iBooks.)
All of us do ministry one way or the other. As we do so might we be encouraged to make the time to STEAL AWAY!
Mikie Roberts (Rev)
HereÂ’s the link for the blog. Join in the discussions.
http://moravians.net/serendipity/index.php?/categories/1-Friday-Focus
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