Advent, when Christ comes

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Every year I see Advent somewhat differently. Partly it is because seasons of the liturgical year as well as prayer itself inform our life, and our life changes from year to year. Traditionally Advent is a preparation for Christmas, so it is always good to try and create intentional space where we will encounter God in daily life, and let Him prepare us to celebrate His birthday at Christmas. This can be done by pausing few times a day: becoming aware of God’s presence, we let it sip into our life. It is also useful to spend some time in prayer each day, ten or twenty minutes, even if we need to rearrange our schedule in order to incorporate daily prayer.

The four weeks of Advent also remind us that Christ comes to us every day, in everyday events of our lives. There are areas of our lives where we may need His coming more, where in a way we need God to light our inner candle, similarly like we are lighting the Advent candles. This happens in the intimacy of prayer. When we are alone with God, we enter into the sanctuary of our hearts recognising it as the sacred ground. In that sacred space we can share what we treasure the most with God, we nurture ourselves on His presence, and if we need to, we ask healing for ourselves or others.

“God works as much in the darkness as He does in the light”, says the Rev. Ruth Patterson. Advent affirms this truth. This inner workings of God can sometimes be painful, as He brings His light deeper into our being. But we need to remind ourselves it is for our good. Like childbirth, some things in life are painful, and yet very rewarding.

Whatever joy or sorrow, thanksgiving prayer or prayer of petition is within you heart, know that God listens, He knows your deepest needs. And may this be a truly holy season, the one in which Christ will be born again within your heart.

Iva Beranek
Dr Iva Beranek is the Ministry Facilitator for the CMH: Ireland

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Some lessons from Mental Health and Wellbeing Summit

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petals on the grass-Iva B.

Ireland’s first ever Mental Health & Wellbeing Summit took place in Aviva on 14th October. We had a stand on the day, alongside other organisations promoting health and wellbeing from different perspectives, mostly medical and psychological. We were the only organisation coming from a Church background with a spirituality based approach. The room we were in was spacious and well lit, very pleasant and appropriate for the day. We had time both to talk to people who came to our stand, as well as to walk around and learn from others about their work and expertise. 

The day had a variety of talks and workshops, and we were able to attend some. A workshop that stands out for me was about building resilience. It was delivered by Dr. Olivia Hurley who took lessons from elite athletes in sport and showed how they can be applied to every day situations. While we may think that athletes don’t struggle, they in fact often do, as do the rest of us. Resilience is useful no matter who we are.

Dr. Hurley explains that resilience is “the ability to persevere and overcome setbacks”. We will all face difficulties in life from time to time, and knowing how to deal with them will help us not to become too overwhelmed. Having the right tools will help us to cope. One lesson we can learn from athletes is to aim for excellence and not perfection, in other words to have the courage to be imperfect. With a lot of unwritten pressure about seeking perfection, this is a great insight.

It was emphasised many times during the day to seek out support, professional and among friends or family. Olivia Hurley suggested to approach our decisions as ‘active choices’, and not sacrifices, and to view setbacks as opportunities for growth. We probably view athletes as those who make a lot of sacrifices, but Hurley said they see it as making an active choice to achieve their aspirations. This attitude is much more healthy and produces better results. 

We heard about some struggles that people are facing regarding mental health, and learned of ways to become mentally fit and well. We also learned that self-harm is wide-spread among young adults, which we did not know. What we noticed on the day is that language and how we talk about mental health are also important. The terms used by the speakers were about being ‘mentally fit’ and ‘mentally healthy’ instead of ‘strong’, because more positive language in this area helps in maintaining mental health. It also does not create unreasonable demands on people.

This ties in well with what we do in the ministry of healing. We often speak how listening is healing in itself. Yet, in our work we add another dimension, which is God. Parishes around the country that offer prayer ministry respond to this need for people seeking support. In our presence and through our attitude we can mirror to each other that we are accepted and loved, by each other, and by God. Our initiative the Power of Presence seemed particularly relevant to what we heard on the day. We offer it as a workshop or a talk around the country for any age group, starting with teenagers. In our everyday lives, and beneath the turmoil that life sometimes brings, there is a reality of God, welcoming, loving, healing and supporting us, encouraging us to grow. In the Power of Presence we show simple ways how to tune in to God’s presence with us, in order to draw healing, support, and comfort from it. The language of ‘excellence’ resonates well with spirituality and perhaps becoming mentally fit is what we would call growing more into our true selves. 

Iva Beranek
Dr Iva Beranek is the Ministry Facilitator for the CMH: Ireland

Wellspring

Come to the well.
The well is deep.

Wellspring is a one-day retreat, offering some time apart: to be nurtured in silence; to engage with Scripture, healing prayer and mindfulness; to walk outside or snooze; to participate in guided reflections; to avail of one-to-one discussion with a spiritual director; or just take time to read.

We are offering WELLSPRING on a regular basis. The next one is on Saturday, 26th November 2016 from 9.30am to 4.00pm in St Patrick’s Church, Harbour Road, Dalkey. St Patrick’s Church is in a beautiful location, overlooking the sea, a short walk from Bullock Harbour, close to the DART and the town of Dalkey. This Wellspring will take place right before Advent, a season which can be busy for many people, so an invitation to pause and reflect may come to you like a gift.  

The facilitators for the day are Iva Beranek and Carol Casey. Suggested donation to CMH:I is €25. Please bring your own sandwich for lunch and we will provide tea and coffee.

Please note that places must be booked in advance (hello@ministryofhealing.ie).

Wellspring

Come to the well.
The well is deep.

Wellspring is a one-day retreat, offering some time apart: to be nurtured in silence; to engage with Scripture, healing prayer and mindfulness; to walk outside or snooze; to participate in guided reflections; to avail of one-to-one discussion with a spiritual director; or just take time to read.

We are offering WELLSPRING on Saturday, 27th August 2016 from 9.30am to 4.00pm in St Patrick’s Church, Harbour Road, Dalkey. St Patrick’s Church is in a lovely location, overlooking the sea, a short walk from Bullock Harbour, close to the DART and the town of Dalkey. This Wellspring is an invitation to pause and reflect at the end of the summer, and to charge our inner batteries before we enter into another busy season.  

The facilitators for the day are Iva Beranek and Carol Casey. Suggested donation to CMH:I is €25. Please bring your own sandwich for lunch and we will provide tea and coffee.

Please note that places must be booked in advance(hello@ministryofhealing.ie).
Last chance to book a place is on Thursday 25th August 2016 by 5pm.

Reconciliation is a work of healing

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Reconciliation is one of those big words that can sometimes overwhelm us and we think it is always alluding to something ‘big’, like reconciliation between the countries or groups of people, but when we unmask it we realise it is a part of our everyday reality. Simply by being human we rub off each other, not always intentionally, and relationships often need to be restored over and over again. Sometimes that is also the way we grow, through interaction with others. Most commonly reconciliation means ‘restoring broken relationships’.

While there is this external reality of befriending those around us, there is also an inner reality of befriending the estranged parts of our inner being, and when we manage to embark on this inner journey, healing comes ever-so-gradually. There is a reality of ‘interior reconciliation’, which in a way helps us integrate different facets of our existence; our strengths and weaknesses, our past, our hurts, our faith, questions, doubts, desires, everything that we are. This enables us to approach other people with more understanding and compassion.

Rev. Ruth Patterson says that “the biggest peace-making journey we will make is within ourselves”. It will entail bringing God’s love and peace to the so-called exiled parts of our inner being, to those areas where we are not at ease, where we know we lack love. Other times we will be invited to bring God’s love to the cracks that sometimes exist between us and other people, in order to heal them and to reconcile. It is almost like finding a precious nard that God put in our inner being, a healing balm of God’s presence, which we can now extend to the whole of our existence, and to those we encounter in our everyday life.

Iva Beranek
Dr Iva Beranek is the Ministry Facilitator for the CMH: Ireland

Prayer for those who are homeless

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homeless Jesus statue

Oh God of mercy and compassion, 
give us grace to live life with an open heart;
to notice people as we walk around town.
Awake us to the wonder of life
hidden in those without home
who live on the streets
and often feel so alone.

Help us Jesus to be more like you,
who spoke with those in need
and asked them 
‘what can I do for you?’ 

Give us the eyes to see
that in the poor You hide
“What you do to the least of these
you do it to Me”, you said. 

When we see people seeking
a coin of love
a coin in which their
humanity is affirmed
may we not withhold
small coins
of encounter
that will plant hope,
give food for a hungry heart. 

May the power of your love
heal our society 
so that everyone can
live with dignity,
not deprived of essentials 
for life.  

Yet in the hour
that for those living on the street
is particularly dark
we pray for Your guidance and light.

Iva Beranek
Dr Iva Beranek is the Ministry Facilitator for the CMH: Ireland

Taking charge of stress

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“Somehow, we’ll find it. The balance between whom we wish to be and whom we need to be. But for now, we simply have to be satisfied with who we are.” 
(Brandon Sanderson)

Perhaps you have a balanced life, some people do, with enough rest, enough play and interaction with family and friends, healthy life-style, and a balanced working-life. You may even take time to invest in your prayer life. If that’s you, well done. Keep doing what you are doing, as it is serving you well. 

Most of us, on the other hand, will struggle with stress from time to time. Whenever we are overwhelmed in any one area of our life, it may be helpful to find ways to de-stress and do whatever will help us get out of our head at least a few times a day. We may already have things we do that are helpful in this regard, so these suggestions are only meant as pointers. Use them if they help you, leave them behind if they don’t.

“Stress management is all about taking charge: of your lifestyle, thoughts, emotions, and the way you deal with problems. No matter how stressful your life seems, there are steps you can take to relieve the pressure and regain control.”*  

Listen to your body

No matter what is going on in our life, our body will feel it. If you need rest, let your body tell you and try to make room for things you find relaxing. If you need friends, a listening ear, don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for support. If you are not eating well, make sure to include at least a few healthy meals throughout your days. This may seem so obvious that we may take it for granted at times but looking after out bodies is as important as it is looking after our soul and our hearts. Self-care is crucial if we want to have a good quality of life.

Exercise

Exercise is as important for mental health as much as for our physical wellbeing. I personally find swimming most rewarding; if I have a lot on my mind, swimming will somehow clear my head from worrying. You, however, find whatever suits you best. Even short walks in fresh air, in the park, will do the trick.

Explore creativity 

Whether it’s writing, photography, pottery, cooking, or something else it does not really matter as long as you try to express yourself in a creative way. It is not about being perfect in something, but rather about having fun. Creativity invigorates us and opens up new possibilities. It challenges our way of thinking, in a non-threatening way. It can also help express some of the heavier emotions that are better to be carried by the paper than by yourself. 

These suggestions are not exhaustive. When we find ways to de-stress, we will gain more energy and enthusiasm for life. In turn, worries might turn into challenges, something perhaps we can even enjoy, and obstacles might prove to be new opportunities. This will come only with practice and regular effort, but eventually we may end up being creative even in how we live our life, and that would have made all the difference.   

* http://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/stress-management.htm

Iva Beranek
Dr Iva Beranek is the Ministry Facilitator for the CMH: Ireland

The light of Christ

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I was reading recently about light and shade. Light is always seen as positive and good, shade or shadows are metaphorically given a negative meaning – thought of as darkness, cold, fear and suffering. We speak, for example, of living in someone’s shadow, of life being overshadowed by some tragedy or disaster, or of facing the shadow of death. But the reality is that shade and shadows are caused not by absence of light but by its very presence. The two go hand in hand.

And our lives too are a mixture of light and darkness. You cannot have one without the other. So it is quite reasonable at a time of darkness to pray for more light – to ask for a miracle to occur. Many times indeed over the years, I have stood visiting parishioners in hospital wards and prayed that their pain and suffering would be removed – that light would come and they would be set free. Many times too, I have reasoned and pleaded with people to see from another perspective, to step out of the shade, at a time when they are entrenched in a cycle of gloom and despair.

Occasionally, in observing human situations, things do improve and we give thanks for that, but equally often, no miracle seems forthcoming and people are left to carry their often intolerable burdens – just as the woman in Luke 13 had done for 18 years. How we wish to hear those words of Christ; ‘you are set free from your ailment’ (Luke 13:12).

We heard in Isaiah, the words ‘You shall call and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help and He will say ‘Here I am’ (Isaiah 58:9). And it is those words ‘Here I am’ that are the supreme consolation to those suffering in our world. It is his light that shines in the darkness of despair and suffering. It cannot always be that we are ‘set free from our ailment’, but it is always true that Christ, the light of the world, walks alongside us: ‘Here I am.’

There in the hospital ward, the hospice, the consultation room. 
There in the divorce court, the empty house, the disappointed dream.
There in the confusion of not knowing which way to turn next.

Isaiah says – ‘The Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your needs in parched places.’ And he went on, using the water analogy – ‘You shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail.’ In other words, Christ walks with us; He fuels our resources and never leaves us – even in the blackest holes of our oppression and depression – ‘Here I am.’

Bishop Patrick Rooke.
Taken from a sermon during CMH:I Annual Thanksgiving Service in April 2016

Breathing in God

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In the beginning of time, “the Spirit of God was moving over the surface” of the earth (Genesis 1:2), as if blessing everything God was going to create, even before it came into being. God’s breath, ‘Ruah’, which is another word for the Spirit, is creative. God creates as He breathes; He creates life, He creates beauty. He also created you and me.  

When we focus on our breath, the simple act of breathing, we instantly come in touch with the Spirit of God that is within us. Breathing consciously takes us out of our heads and brings un into the present moment, which can especially be valuable if we are dealing with a situation that is making us feel anxious. This simple spiritual practice helps us be grounded in the present moment. It puts us in touch with the centre of our being where we find peace, a place undisturbed by thought and emotion. That is a place where God dwells.

Try and spend a few minutes by simply focusing on your breath. Sit comfortably, with your feet touching the ground reminding you of the connectedness with everything around you. Initially just notice your breathing, but don’t control it. Then, breath in a deep breath, knowing that you are breathing in God’s love. Breath out anything that is occupying your mind at this time, and then breath in God’s love again. Do this for a few minutes. 

Every morning when we wake up we become aware that we are given breath again, as if we are being created anew day after day. We are invited to wake up to the Presence of God who has held us in love from before our birth, to wake up to ourselves, and in general to live more awake to life, breath after breath.

Iva Beranek
Dr Iva Beranek is the Ministry Facilitator for the CMH: Ireland

Wellspring

Come to the well.
The well is deep.

Wellspring is a one-day retreat, offering some time apart: to be nurtured in silence; to engage with Scripture, healing prayer & mindfulness; to walk outside or snooze; to participate in guided reflections; to avail of one-to-one discussion with a spiritual director; or just take time to read.

We are offering WELLSPRING on Saturday, 21st May 2016 from 9.30am to 4.00pm in St Patrick’s Church, Harbour Road, Dalkey. St Patrick’s Church is in a lovely location, overlooking the sea, a short walk from Bullock Harbour, close to the DART and the town of Dalkey.

The facilitators will be Iva Beranek and Carol Casey. Suggested donation to CMH:I for the day is €20. Please bring your own sandwich for lunch and we will provide tea and coffee.

Please note that places must be booked in advance (hello@ministryofhealing.ie).