The Challenges of a New Year

 A New Year to me is like sitting on Tiona beach and looking east.

An entire ocean of possibilities, including sunny days and a few storms with howling winds and giant waves, stretch out across the seemingly endless sea.  If we let ourselves, we could become so afraid of the potential dangers, so safety conscious, we would miss the adventure.

One option for us in 2025, is to become a “beach-recluse”.  Someone who looks toward the horizon and entertains a few thoughts that start with – “Someday…” or “Well maybe…”.  Or thinks, “in a year or two I will…”, but then leans back and continues to look at the horizon.

Between now and 31st December 2025 are twelve exciting unlived months of opportunities.  Challenges brought on by changes await us, in our personal, community and church lives.  These challenges may remove us from our comfort zones and arouse us to respond.  We can respond positively or negatively, with hope and optimism or with resentment and pessimism.

If you’re not careful, you’ll be so preoccupied with complaining, you’ll miss out on the opportunities to grow a little, to contribute, to make some new discoveries.

So, what I am saying is, there is another option – don’t quit, don’t give up.  Respond to the challenges before you. Resolve to stick at whatever challenges you decide to commit to, no matter how tough, or painful, or difficult the going may be until it is done.  By sticking to the task, you will eventually find the best answers to overcome future challenges and opportunities.

I am reminded of the story of Ignace Paderewski, the famous Polish pianist and statesman, who once scheduled to perform at a great concert hall in the USA.  It was a black-tie affair – a high society extravaganza.

Present in the audience that evening was a woman who had brought her nine-year-old son, hoping that he would be encouraged to practise the piano if he could just hear the great Paderewski at the keyboard.  Weary of waiting for the concert to begin – and being there against his wishes anyway – the lad squirmed restlessly in his seat.

Then, as his mother turned to talk with friends, the boy slipped out of his seat and walked down the aisle, strangely drawn by the ebony concert grand piano sitting majestic and alone at the centre on the huge stage.  He sat down on the leather stool, placed his small hands on the black and white keys, and began to play “Chop Sticks”.

Suddenly, the crowd hushed, and hundreds of frowning faces turned in the boy’s direction.  Irritated and embarrassed, some began to shout: “Hey, get that boy away from there!!”  “Where’s his mother?”  “Somebody should stop him!”

Backstage, Paderewski heard the uproar and the sound of the simple tune.  When he saw what was happening, he hurried onto the stage.  Without a word to the audience, he walked up behind the lad, reached his arms around either side of him and began to improvise a counter melody.  As the two made music together, the master pianist kept whispering in the boy’s ear, “Keep going.  Don’t quit, son.  Keep on playing…don’t stop…don’t quit.”

So, it is with us.  We hammer away at life, and sometimes it seems about as significant as “Chop Sticks”.  Then, just at the time we are ready to give up, along comes the Master, who leans over and whispers: “Don’t quit.  Keep going.”  It is here that He provides His finishing touch of grace, love, and joy at just the right moment.

So then…let’s get up off that sand and take on whatever these new weeks and months will bring.  Let’s make 2025 a challenging and successful year for serving the Christ.

Bill Gillard

Giving thanks for your contribution - National Volunteer Week 2023

18th May, 2023

Dear Companions on the Journey;

Like many, whether as a participant or as a leader, I love church camps. A chance to retreat and be with like-minded people to centre on our faith and how it impacts our lives and the world. But, whenever I was involved in leadership of a camp, there was always a part I didn’t like. It made me feel uneasy, uncomfortable, and I would try to avoid it at all costs; the end of camp when the group was trying to personally thank me for my leadership.

In fact, it irked me so much that one day I had an idea at a youth camp I was directing. We had come to the end of camp, but instead of going around and individually thanking each of the leaders, I made a change. I shared that given each of the leaders were not there for individual praise or accolades, we were not simply going to go around and offer applause for each. Instead, we would gather in small groups with each of the leaders and share in prayer, giving thanks to God for the contribution made not just by the leaders, but thanks for each one as all made a difference into creating a sacred and meaningful experience.

This week, for me, it is in the same spirit that I give thanks for each and every one of you. It is not simply a few but is in fact all of us that have an important part in helping shape this wonderful community. I want to take this moment to give thanks to the Divine for your ongoing dedication and commitment, your time, your willingness, and your support. You indeed are a significant and special part of this sacred Community of Christ. Thanks be to God for you and all you do.

Further, as you recognise your value and significance to this sacred community, perhaps also take a moment to reflect on another, and reach out to someone and acknowledge and recognise their importance as an integral part of this community.

I give thanks that it is you, a part of all of us, who are making differences in the world and expressing God’s love through this faith community. And I am so very grateful.

Adam R. Wade

Australia Mission Centre President

President of Seventy PacifikAsia Quorum

Community of Christ

Living a Spiritual Life

            My thoughts were stimulated by the ideas produced by Hymers Wilson in an article he wrote in the July 2019 edition of Ministry.  The article was entitled “What is ‘spiritual’ about being spiritual?”

            Wilson indicated in his article that the word “spiritual” has been used in so many different contexts that it seems to have lost it true meaning.  For instance, the word is often used to mean “holy” which in itself ventures to be vague and leads us to consider it somewhat ethereal, ghostly or supernatural.

            I have heard people who have returned from a retreat describe the event as one of the most spiritual experiences they have ever had.  What did they really mean?  Was it an experience where everyone was in a constant misty-eyed attitude of prayer?  Was it an experience where everyone was smiling happily with no disagreements or outbreaks of anger? 

            Or was it an experience where the Holy Spirit was present in abundance bringing feelings within the gathering of peace, unity, reassurance and thanksgiving.  Attendees may have also experienced an increase in faith in their God as well as receiving a spiritual awakening to become more obedient servants.  I wondered: is being a spiritual person something deeper than the feelings I have indicated?

            How does Scripture use the term spiritual?  In the Bible, the concept of spirituality originates with the Holy Spirit not with humans.  Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 12 the “spiritual gifts” are given by the Holy Spirit.  Yes, spirituality comes from God alone.

            Throughout Paul’s ministry he showed concern for the spiritual welfare of the people to whom he was giving ministry.  For example, at the beginning of his letter to the church in Rome he writes, “ For I am longing to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen you – or rather so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine” (Romans 1:11).

            In fact, in many of his letters particularly to the Saints in Corinth, Paul writes consistently about becoming a spiritual person (refer to 1 Cor. 2,3,9,10,12,14,and 15).

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul tells them because they have attained a level of spirituality they are called to bring special ministry to those who have fallen short in their lives.  He challenged them by saying, “My friends, you are spiritual.  So if someone is trapped in sin, you should gently lead that person back to the right path.” (Gal. 6:1)

            Our eyes are the lens in our bodies that allow us to see the beauty of the world around us.  Similarly we need a supernatural lens in the eyes of our hearts allowing us to see all that the Lord has done for us and planned for us and the power He has to offer us.  We need to see the power that Paul was describing to the Galatians that will support us in our ministries.

            Spiritual disciplines are important in becoming a spiritual person.  One writer has said: “Throughout the history of the church, believers have found that activities such as Bible memorization and meditation, fasting and prayer, solitude and study, celebration and worship, guidance and confession have helped them better see God and His truth.”

            Spiritual disciplines serve a purpose in our lives by keeping us orientated toward the Light, toward our power source.  We are encouraged to practice these disciplines for the intrinsic satisfaction they can give us.  We should remember these disciplines are not duties, laws, demands or requirements.  They are merely the conditions in which the joy of God is experienced.  Being sensitive to the Holy Spirit through searching, solitude and meditation assists us to develop these spiritual disciplines.

            Another area of spirituality is spiritual perception.  That is, tuning in to the messages God is sending us.  At times in our lives, God seems strangely absent, but the problem is not that God has disappeared.  We simply lack a “God” mindset.  When we develop our sensitivity, we soon begin to see his work everywhere.

            The apostle John suggests in John 6:63 that, “it is the Spirit that gives life.”  May we endeavour to live life to the fullest with God’s Spirit accompanying us on our personal journeys?

                                                                                                                        Bill Gillard

Evangelist Bill Gillard lives with his wife Betty at the foothills of the Blue Mountains, just outside of Sydney, NSW.