Sick and Tired
I wonder if it possible to gauge the health of our society by looking into the
eyes of its leaders? What do I mean? Well, I recently read an article which
drew attention to Tony Blair's expression of 'wide-eyed optimism',
noting that perhaps this summed up the feelings of the nation when he was
elected in 1997. On the hand, the article pointed out, people are now
commenting on the bags that seem to have appeared around Gordon Brown's
eyes. The suggestion, which wasn't party political in any way, was just
that collectively the nation might also be feeling rather tired.
Indeed, the recession has increased the pressures upon many of us. Whether we are living in fear of losing our job or going into debt, anxious about the value of our home or our pension, or just working longer hours in order to bring in the same amount of money, the burdens can sometimes be a bit overwhelming. It is likely, however, that our exhaustion isn't just physical -perhaps our soul is tired too. I'm pretty sure the two are linked. When hope is removed, when the light at the end of the tunnel becomes much less bright, the energy and motivation that we need to keep on going seems to ebb away too.
The summer holiday (if we're fortunate enough to be able to afford one this year) may help by giving us a few weeks away from it all where we can forget about things, but we all know that after a couple of days back at work that wonderful vacation seems like a distant memory. Perhaps that's because we're only treating half of the problem -we might feel physically refreshed, but have you thought about also finding some refreshment for your soul?
As a Baptist minister you won't be surprised at me suggesting that paying attention to the spiritual side of life can help you -but many scientists agree with me. A number of studies agree on the fact that believers have a higher level of "life satisfaction" and are more able cope with life's challenges, such as job loss or divorce. The research shows that this isn't just due to a hope of life after death, but that faith actually gives us an increased sense of purpose in the here and now. I don't want to suggest, however, that anything 'religious'is good for you - some religions (including, I'm sad to admit, some churches) seem to add to the pressures of life, rather than trying to relieve them. But when Christian communities are at their best, they can be a source of love, hope and joy, helping people to find meaning, purpose and value, even in the midst of the most difficult of times. Jesus doesn't promise us an easy life, but he does invite those whose hearts are weary to "Come to me... and find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:28-29). My prayer for Lode Chapel is that we might be like Jesus - offering a spiritual oasis to our community, a place where tired souls can come and be refreshed.