Lambeth Blog 12

Thursday 31st July

Is it THURSDAY? I think so.

Over a coffee I have just been reading the Preliminary Observations of the Windsor Continuation Group. I have to say it is not comfortable. Although ordinary folk like me are listening and talking with many, hearing a great willingness to hear other voices and an openness to trust and continued communion, the Report seems to think otherwise. It speaks of breakdown of trust, of inconsistency between stated intent and reality, of the consequences where actions have not always been adequately addressed.   Our theme in the Spouses Venue is "Caring for God's people: their Spiritual and Physical Well-being". Are we hiding under these issues things much deeper and more serious?

Cross in Senate House

Maria Okifri

Maria Okifri; I have spoken of her before. She is the wife of the Archbishop of West Africa. She lives in two cities Accra and Liverpool as an eminent anaesthetist working in both places and on the Mercy Ships. She is a big woman, funny and serious in the same sentence. She has a strong and infectious faith. I am growing to like her, to love her more and more. This even though her views on the Gay issues in our church are quite different to mine. Not only that, she finds the Mothers' Union a real difficulty.

But there is so much I agree with Maria about. I know we will always be friends. Well anyway she gave the address this morning speaking about ...

"divine health: complete well-being".

 
"positive thinking" Philippians 4

"we are strategic women in God's economy". A village woman could go home from this Conference with a message that would change her village but we (that's the spouses) could change a Diocese or even a Province"

Professor John Copeland followed, also from Liverpool University. He told us the mind is the executive part of the body, the most complex organ. The mind controls our physical well being and more notice should be taken of it when sickness invades.

All of this seems to echo what we saw yesterday at the Hospital. Body, mind and spirit contribute to the whole and it is wrong to treat one and ignore the others.

Trying to sum up all I can think of is lunch......is that my body, my mind or my spirit? Will that help my swollen ankles?

I hope God is watering my tomatoes. x