Today we had the privilege of having Rev. John Bell, founder and member of the Iona Community in Scotland, and known throughout the world as a wonderful musician and songwriter, talk in our Introduction to Ministry class. He said a number of remarkable, insightful things, of which I paraphrase below.
While the body is subject to the brain, the Word didn't become intelligence but flesh. We are a ministry of bodies, in that all we do and see is physical. Therefore, we must LOVE our bodies; God won't give us another one. To love ourselves and each other, we must love our bodies.
The questions for discernment he gave us: What is God doing in your life and the world? Now that you've identified these things, how can you help to be a part of that work? How do we dare to be a part of God's ministry in the world without getting in the way?
Just as discipline in exercising our bodies is loving them, so we must exercise our love through discipline, in doing what is hard but right, difficult but true. In this way, we love at our utmost, using all of our strength, mind and soul.
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