Brokenness, Pain, Healing, Wholeness
We’ve been through a lot in the last few years — losing people to Covid, losing friends/churches/community to disaffiliation, etc.
There is still much pain — in our hearts and in the people with whom we are in contact.
How do we move toward healing and wholeness — toward the salvation and abundant life Jesus desires for us?
In a time of “pain” (any kind of pain), what is helping or has helped you? What resources, tools, etc. help bring healing? Over your life journey, have you noticed any shift in what is helpful for healing?
These questions were posed in an unscientific, very limited, poll of some mature Christians. Here are some of the ways of healing that were shared. (not a comprehensive list)
Music
- Listening
- Singing
- Playing an instrument
- Dancing
- The kind of music varies depending on the type of pain being experienced. Sometimes emotions are released; sometimes the music brings a sense of peace.
Prayer (in all ways)
- Wrapping a person who is in pain (emotional/spiritual/physical) in a cocoon of the healing light of the living Christ
- Art – doing or viewing
- Coloring
- Collage
- Painting
- Engaging in any creative activity
- Praying the Psalms, scripture, poetry
- Pray with an icon or other image
- Light a candle, or incense
- Labyrinth
- For a person in physical pain – seeing the hands of the living Christ on that person taking the pain
- Baking
… and so many more ways
Community
- Talking with a trusted friend
- Meeting with someone to pray
- People around who care and will show up for me
- Worship in community
- Family
- Friends
- Solidarity with others
- Sharing of resources (physical, informational, emotional, spiritual, …)
- Staying connected
Rhythm
Being free to do what I need to do (whatever that is) in this time Keep/set a routine that prioritizes sleep, healthy food, exercise Refrain from behaviors that “numb” Continue what can be continued; release what cannot Allow space for meditation, prayer, reflection.
See your spiritual director (in person, online, by phone)
Physicality
- Walking a labyrinth
- Walking/running/exercise/dancing/hiking
- Yoga
- Gardening, weeding, outside tasks
- Acupuncture
- Sleep
- See a doctor, if needed
- See a mental health professional/therapist
- Remember to breathe
- Breathe deeply
- Cry – release emotions
- Grounding one’s body energy into the earth and to the great heart of God and letting pain energy move in those directions
Reflect and Remember
- Get out in nature
- Recall former times and remember what helped then
- Journaling
- Honesty
- Acknowledge indwelling Spirit
- Affirm presence of God’s steadfast and unconditional love
- Practice of gratitude
- Poetry
- Self compassion
Respondents observed that the resources and tools that were helpful were not “one size fits all” but varied over time and for different types of pain.
Please share more tools for healing and wholeness in our Facebook group.
A Word of Wisdom
Gratitude is resilience of sorts, the defiance of kindness in the face of anger, of connection in the face of division, and of hope in the face of fear. . . Gratitude empowers us. It makes joy and love possible. It rearranges the way we see and experience what is all around us. Gratitude makes all things new. It transforms how we understand what is broken and gives us the ability to act more joyfully and with hope.
Diana Butler Bass
Recalibration LIVE! (Zoom)
Saturday, November 4
1:00 – 4:00 pm Eastern
12 noon – 3:00 pm Central
11:00 am – 2:00 pm Mountain
10:00 am – 1:00 pm Pacific
Listen Fiercely: Hearing the Voice Within Our Voice
with Kristen E. Vincent
John tells us that “In the beginning was the Word.” Soon, this Word will be spoken anew, Word Made Flesh for a world that is often too loud to hear it.
As we prepare for Advent, join us for a time to quiet down and listen. Together, we’ll be reminded of the Voice who has spoken us into being. We’ll recover ways to, as Robert Benson writes, “listen fiercely, faithfully, and fearlessly.” And we’ll rediscover our own voice and the ways in which God is calling us to share God’s voice of deep love for the world.
To register, click the big blue “Register Now!” below.
For more information, click “Get more information”. To register, click the big blue “Register Now!” below.
A Word from Our President
Recently someone asked me how the Fellowship of United Methodist Spiritual Directors and Retreat Leaders came to be known as “Hearts on Fire.” I replied that I didn’t know. By the time I became involved with the Fellowship it was already known as Hearts on Fire. I came home from the first retreat and searched for Hearts on Fire through the internet. What came up was a lot of websites on diamonds! And while I consider the people I have meant through the Fellowship as spiritual diamonds, I had to search differently on the internet. I like to believe that Hearts on Fire has something to do John Wesley’s experience about his heart feeling strangely warm.
The Fellowship is now 20 years old. I am grateful for the founders of this organization and the people who continue to volunteer to serve our members. We have evolved over these 20 years, and gave much thought to what to offer our members over the pandemic. As the world changed around us, and we couldn’t hold our in person retreats, we followed a new path of offering mini retreats, called Recalibration LIVE!, to help all of us in continuing our spiritual growth. And in 2023 we offered our first in person retreat in 5 years. (Please mark your calendars for July 2025 for our next in person retreat. More details later.)
We will continue to evolve, for every person and organization needs to change or will become stagnant. We thank all of you who continue to renew your membership, and want to hear from you. What can we do to support you in the spiritual work you are doing? What resources can we provide? If you want to volunteer by being on the board, writing for our newsletter or a Recalibration, lead a Recalibration LIVE! event, or suggest speakers for our in person retreat or a Recalibration LIVE!, or suggest something totally new, please let me know.
We are not in this time alone. Let us pause and breathe with each other as we live in these troubled times. Let us hold each other in prayer and be there for each other when a listening heart is needed.
Linda
Rev. Dr. Linda A Holbrook
President, The Fellowship of United Methodist Spiritual Directors and Retreat Leaders
Hearts On Fire Membership
This group is open to all interested in spiritual formation/spiritual direction/retreat leadership, regardless of denominational affiliation.
Enrichment/educational/networking/community zooms are being held at intervals throughout the year.
Additional resources including: daily prayer guide, book reviews, etc.
Please consider becoming a paid member if you are not already.
Click here for the membership page on our website. There you will have the option to complete your member profile and pay online, or print a form and mail a check
Have an event to share? Wondering what others are reading, or what practices they are finding helpful? Looking for a learning opportunity? Have questions about navigating the uncertainties of our times? Seeking support and encouragement? Want to discuss something in the newsletter?
Click here to check out our Facebook page to engage in the conversation and make connections with others.
Opportunities from Our Partners
Right Here, Right Now: The Practice of Christian Mindfulness with Dr. Amy Oden
6-week e-course, Mondays October 23, 30 & November 6, 13, 20, 27
Rueben P. Job Institute for Spiritual Formation at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary
For information and registration, click here.
Rolling Ridge Retreat and Conference Center
A great variety of in person and online events are offered.
Click here for upcoming events.
The Academy for Spiritual Formation
This organization is a part of The Upper Room.
Click here to check out upcoming online and in person opportunities.
A Word for Reflection
“Autumn is nature’s way of showing us how beautiful letting go can be.”
James Norbury (from the book Big Panda and Tiny Dragon)