From our Chaplains
Every week there has been a richness added to my tapestry of work at Pymble, and speaking of feeling blessed sounds great, but what does this mean? Blessing as a soul space means that enriching encounters with students and staff add to the joy of being here at Pymble.
Whether it was last week with the Interfaith panel and dialogue that followed with teachers and experts in Studies of Religion at the AIS conference, or the celebration of Diwali as a cultural celebration on campus, these all add to fulfilling and rewarding experiences. Last weekend, I had the privilege to accompany some of our First Nations students who had volunteered their time to share in cultural expression through dance and song at a Uniting Church conference entitled ‘Walking Together.’ To quote the program on the day: ‘From the covenant with the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress to the preamble to our constitution, the Uniting Church has long committed itself to walking alongside First Peoples….’
As part of their presentation, the students sang We are Australian, partly in their languages and partly in English. As I sat and listened to their singing, I wept and felt a tad bit embarrassed at this, but then thanked God for the tears which the Scriptures in Psalm 30 promise us are not without the joy of healing.
As we seek to listen and attend to one another at God’s table, may things of exclusiveness and privilege give way to respect and honouring all that we have been given. For God is a generous and loving Creator who blesses us all.
May your week be wholesome, and your worries be few, and may you have friends who can offer you a shoulder always in case you are weary.
