Chaplain

Back to Normal? 

If you haven’t made a loaf of sourdough bread from scratch it is almost guaranteed you have seen a photo of someone else who has become a baking aficionado at this time. Things have been different of late. New things have come into our lives: Lip syncing, Tik Toking, Zooming, viral stories of good news and heart-warming tributes and also stresses and worries that we perhaps never dreamed we would be contemplating. 

With next week being the biggest back to normal moment since the Covid-19 journey started, we might consider what this new normal could look like. Each person and family will have their own thoughts. One thought to consider is the concept of blessing. 

A colleague recently shared a video of a collective of churches singing a blessing over the UK called The UK Blessing (words are below). They thought I would appreciate it and they were right. 

The song is based on an ancient Hebrew blessing that has never seemed more relevant. While it is a blessing that has been spoken at the end of many of our school events, it is one that we can share together now. In the blessing we call the faithful-blessing giver (God) to meet us in our personal circumstances. We ask for the good of others. 

When thinking of the idea of blessing perhaps you are drawn to the concept of taking time to appreciate our own blessings. What are we grateful for today? We might consider how we can actively seek to be a blessing to others. Who can you intentionally bless this week? 

Blessing has a uniquely spiritual connotation. ‘God bless you’ to many is more than a throwaway line, it is a heartfelt prayer for the other to know peace and goodness. In considering the idea of blessing perhaps you are drawn to the idea of connecting with the one who blesses: The God behind the blessing. There are many ways to connect to God: read, meditate, pray, question, explore, share, ask, receive or wonder.

As we head back to normal, let’s find ways to encourage each other to appreciate, bless and connect this coming week and beyond. 

The Lord Bless you and keep you
The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. 
The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. 

Numbers 6:24-26 

Photo credit: Yasmin Allan 6Y

Ms Bronwyn Lihou
Senior Campus Chaplain
blihou@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9968 9830

Ms Fiona McKenzie
Junior Campus Chaplain
fmckenzie@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9953 6022