In my recent Faith Forum contribution, I asked what motivates and drives us 鈥� is it anger, as seems to be under so many people鈥檚 comments and actions these days? Or is it love? Not that it is 鈥榖ad鈥� to be angry, but I see so many consumed by their anger, rather than empowered by love and a commitment to justice and equity. Anger only gets us so far and living from that 鈥榓ngry place鈥� is often destructive rather than constructive 鈥� and as we seek to rebuild our world in the light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and Climate Crisis, we are going to need more than anger to lead us to a better place.听
In the final edition of the Daily Show before it鈥檚 current break, Trevor Noah who presents this topical comedy show from the US, reflected that he found himself drawn into the anger and the vitriol that our contemporary world seems to encourage. A polarized, partisan society seems to thrive on division and bitterness, and some news outlets, commentators, and Social Media platforms keep a lot of their audience by feeding this. But I was impressed by Noah鈥檚 self-awareness and his declaration that he needed a break to reassess his motivation and his actions.听
My own life as a leader of a Spiritual community causes me the same kind of consideration. What is it that motivates and sustains our shared life, and the work that we seek to do in the world? Within the Churches I have served there have always been some for whom coming to church has been much more about appearance than substance. Thankfully the 鈥榮tatus鈥� that used to exist for churchgoing is rapidly disappearing, and the idea that Christians consider themselves somehow superior is, I hope,听听also on the way out. As one writer said, 鈥淭he Church is a hospital for sinners, not a hotel for saints.鈥� By which we mean that those of us know ourselves, and the systems of the world, broken are those who are seeking healing for ourselves and the world around.听
There are some who still take part in the life of the Christian community in order to bolster themselves or their ego, some who seek to be a 鈥榖ig fish in a small pond鈥�, I guess.听听But on the whole, I am privileged to serve a community which is deeply aware of its own shortcomings, and seeking to grow together in their spiritual life and the activism for which St John the Divine has been known.听
But taking time to examine our motivations, to ask what our previous Bishop used to call 鈥淭he Why Questions鈥� is an important part of our shared life together. It鈥檚 easy to skim the surface and ask, 鈥淲hat do we want to do?鈥� and 鈥淗ow are we going to do it?鈥� but. 鈥淲hy do we do this?鈥� is a much harder question to ask and involves paying attention to who we are and what we believe ourselves called to be. The phrase 鈥榮oul-searching鈥� comes to mind!
But alongside this, those of us following a spiritual path would also benefit from asking ourselves not just what motivates us, but what sustains us? What are those things which give us the energy for what we do and how can we tap into those sources of energy in our daily lives? In community I know that praying together is important, as is gathering (virtually and in-person) for worship and sharing the ritual meal called 鈥楾he Eucharist鈥� or 鈥楬oly Communion鈥�, I know that social time together is important for people, and there are many who like to be part of discussion groups, book reading groups, and silent meditation groups. We find beautiful music and both choral and congregational singing are life-giving to us as community. And many of us find it deeply rewarding and energizing to continue to serve those in need around our community and to advocate for marginalized and excluded.听
Many of these things we have had to adapt or put on hold through this pandemic, which calls us to consider again, what is it at the heart of who we are which inspires, engages, and nurtures us?听
It鈥檚 not just communities that can be improved from taking time to examine themselves, their motivations, and those things which are life and energy-giving, each of us can benefit from taking time to think about what really motivates and sustains us. Of course, this journey into ourselves can be difficult, even painful, and I would recommend anyone find a 鈥榮oul-friend鈥� or 鈥榮piritual director鈥� (or whatever you prefer to call it) to work with on this. And if you aren鈥檛 part of a community which can work with you on this, there are many around which will be more than willing to have you join with them in this exciting, daunting, challenging, dance of the Spirit.听
The Ven. Alastair Singh-McCollum听is Rector of St. John the Divine Anglican Church in Victoria and听Archdeacon, Diocese of Islands and Inlets.听He has a passion for the Gospel, motorbikes and bike culture, worship, philosophy, theology, guitars, single malt whisky, real ale, cinema and all things French.听You can find Alastair at the听church website:听听补苍诲听on his blog:听
You can read more articles on our interfaith blog, Spiritually Speaking, HERE
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