Easter: Wondrous & Complicated
Dear friends and members of St. Matt's,
I hope this edition of our e-news finds you well and safe. As we continue to make our way through the Easter season, we are invited more and more into resurrection life. I think that's a term that's hard for us to grasp in general - and perhaps especially hard in this season of COVID-19. In our time and our texts so far this season, we've explored God's invitation to live without fear, to tap into the abundant life Jesus comes to bring us, to know love that never dies. This love can lead us into a new kind of life. It might be comparable to a more secular person talking about "living your best life," except what God is offering is fullness, hope, connection, and peace not just in this life - but in the life to come. Learning to live like Jesus, to live a resurrection life changes everything.
Finding and claiming that life send us on a bit of a journey; a lifelong journey of growth, change, and becoming. And all the way along, we're invited to step into emotional and spiritual maturity, to grow in knowledge and understanding, to offer gifts and hone skills that help us communicate, thrive, and love. This journey isn't easy though - life never is. Each of us experiences seasons of hardship, moments of despair, doubts and fear. And so it's important, while we try to enjoy the journey, that we also attend to the needs of our mind, body, and spirit. Our brains, souls, and bodies are wondrous and complicated gifts from God.
Just a few days ago as May began, we entered Mental Health Awareness Month. All month long, we are invited to have intentional conversations about mental health. Millions of people in the US struggle with mental health each year, and that struggle takes on many different forms. What is almost always true across these struggles is the stigma that cloaks people in silence. This month of May is an invitation to break the stigma, to recognize that mental health is important, and that when someone is struggling with mental illness, this is no different than any other sickness or disease that the body experiences. And like other medical problems, there is help, there is treatment, and there are communities that can help. In order to access them though, we need to talk about them. If you're looking for a place just to start reading, I'd recommend you visit the National Alliance on Mental Health.
If you need help, or if you know someone who does, don't wait. Be in touch, let me know if I can help or if I can help you find the right person and the right resources that will help. You are not alone and you don't need to be alone.
In this Easter season, consider the balance of your life. How do you rest? How do you play? How do you make room to connect with others and with God? Who do you know that might be struggling - that might need an extra phone call today? Know that you're in my prayers. And we're in this together.
Faithfully,
--Marissa +
Tags: Welcome from the Rector