It seemed to me that most of us who live here are fairly content with our lives, and so how does faith in God fit with that? People have been known to ask "isn't faith just a crutch for people who don't have much in their lives, or feel bad about themselves?"
My own experience of faith has been so enriching and transforming of my life, I can categorically answer "No way!" But I do wonder if a lot of people don't consider faith as having anything to "add" to their lives.
But as we see every New Year, the resolutions people make show that they want to change things in their lives, even if thats just having a tidier study (or is that just me?!). We have an instinct for self-improvement and growth, which is ably exploited by gym-membership deals and the diet industry (but that's another post for another day!) Despite this emphasis on weight and fitness, deeper down it seems to me that people relate to the desire to be better partners, better parents, better friends or better sons/daughters. I think most of us can see ways we would like to be more healthy, more whole-hearted and more present to those around us.
And that for me is the heart of the question "what does it mean to live well in Cringleford?" What would it look like if we went deeper into life instead of skating across the surface? What would people see if we were living well emotionally, physically, psychologically, and spiritually?
There are a few bible passages that seem relevant to this idea of living well generally and perhaps the most famous one that fits with this theme is from John 10:10 where Jesus says: "I came to give life—life in all its fullness."
It's really helpful to read a snippet from the bible in its context: we all know how easy it is to make it sound like a politician has been insensitive or irrational when you take a sound bite from an interview and make that the headline! So it's important we don't get too casual about little quotes.
This verse is in the section of John's gospel where Jesus is talking about who he is and what he has come to do. You can read it in John 10:1-18.
Just before this section there's a discussion going on about seeing and not seeing - a man has been healed of his blindness and the Pharisees are questioning who Jesus and how he could have performed the miracle. The healed man is clear - if this man healed me he's from God, but the Pharisees cannot believe it (cannot or will not, I wonder?)
Jesus points out that we can be blind in other ways than physically - we can be blind to our weaknesses and the ways we mess up, and so continue to wound ourselves and the world around us. We need to be set free so we can be open and be changed.
This verse is in the section of John's gospel where Jesus is talking about who he is and what he has come to do. You can read it in John 10:1-18.
Just before this section there's a discussion going on about seeing and not seeing - a man has been healed of his blindness and the Pharisees are questioning who Jesus and how he could have performed the miracle. The healed man is clear - if this man healed me he's from God, but the Pharisees cannot believe it (cannot or will not, I wonder?)
Jesus points out that we can be blind in other ways than physically - we can be blind to our weaknesses and the ways we mess up, and so continue to wound ourselves and the world around us. We need to be set free so we can be open and be changed.
Jesus compare himself to the Shepherd of sheep, who the sheep know and trust to lead them. All the sheep are known by name and the Shepherd creates safe space for them to be, within a community. And of course, he talks about the love he has for his flock being so strong that he will give his life for them.
Reflection
If this is a picture of "life in all its fullness", then what does it mean for us as we think about living well in Cringleford?
What are some words that come to mind when you think about the life of the sheep that Jesus describes? What might those words bring to mind for you in your life?
In what ways are we sometimes blind to our weaknesses? What does being open and honest, with ourselves and with God, look like in our lives already?
What do we learn from Jesus about love? And what does this say to us about they ways we love ourselves, God and those around us?
Jesus talks about the flock and many people being included - what does that speak to you about church and community?
Reflection
If this is a picture of "life in all its fullness", then what does it mean for us as we think about living well in Cringleford?
What are some words that come to mind when you think about the life of the sheep that Jesus describes? What might those words bring to mind for you in your life?
In what ways are we sometimes blind to our weaknesses? What does being open and honest, with ourselves and with God, look like in our lives already?
What do we learn from Jesus about love? And what does this say to us about they ways we love ourselves, God and those around us?
Jesus talks about the flock and many people being included - what does that speak to you about church and community?
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