by the Rev. Canon Lisa Senuta
As I looked over the excavation of the pools of Bethzatha in Jerusalem this question that Jesus posed to the paralyzed man over 2000 years ago was alive in me for the parishes of the Episcopal Church. The need for community wellness for parish volunteers, vestries, staff, and clergy has become a growing prayer in me.
More and more, fewer and fewer are available to do the work to keep parishes alive. Seemingly all of a sudden years and years go by and the same people are doing most of the caretaking, writing the checks, and showing up for what is needed when it is needed. Additionally, the need for the church in our wider communities is ads important as ever. Jesus asks, “Do you want to be made well?” and our reply is yes of course, but there is no time for me!
The gap in leadership and volunteers creates a strain inside individuals and in the culture of our communities that can feel like we are Sisyphus perpetually rolling the boulder up a mountain. Without realizing it, burnout, communal unhealth, and personal stagnation just occur. And we find ourselves virtually sitting by those healing waters and never getting in ourselves.
Jesus reached out to those who were worn out by a culture and religion that kept asking but never gave back and he stretched out his hand and gave them strong legs, new sight, and formed communities who found new spiritual power through his teaching.
The reality now is that our parishes require a different spirituality than we typically have learned to support us. We need a more robust spirituality that can refresh us personally and strengthen the culture of our parishes.
Living into the calling to be Canon for Spiritual Life and Clergy care has led me to guide retreats and groups for parishes across the diocese to locate spiritual resilience within.
Spiritual resilience is discovered under the service in the depth of our being. It is a connection to what matters, awareness of the big picture, feeling appreciated, challenged, and useful. Resilience grows out of humor, a sense of personal autonomy, creativity, personal growth, and freedom.
What would it look like to cultivate a sense of spiritual resilience in your parish, on the vestry, with the long haulers, consistent volunteers, and those who wear many hats to faithfully keep our parishes thriving?
In human systems and bodies, wellness comes and goes, it is better or worse but never perfectly consistent. Spiritual resilience looks like this when you are not feeling well and Jesus asks, “Do you want to be made well?” the spiritually healthy dive into the pool, let their bodies float to the surface, and feel the sustaining love of God.
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