Richmond Hill is a special
place where a lot of folks pass through for lots of different reasons. Some
come for quiet reflection, some for wonderful worship. Some come thirsty for
knowledge. Others come simply to be fed, either at the altar or in the
refectory, and maybe enjoy some fellowship. Whatever your particular need, this
place holds us all.
Richmond Hill holds many
special places. The chapel is one such special place here. In addition to
praying there for the City three times a day, the community comes together
there for a Eucharist every Monday evening. During his sermon Monday night not
long ago, Bob Hetherington commented on the particular importance of
maintaining balance among one’s spiritual practices: personal, corporate, and,
your work in the larger world.
Making oneself available to
listen to what God might be saying to you is important work. There are many
ways to do this work, but I think it really is a question of how engaged are
you in hospitality of the heart? Open eyes and ears help open the heart to
receive the Lord when he calls on us.
The open heart allows our mind
to open — open up to possibilities of engaging our selves in our surroundings.
So far, so good. As long as we are open and receptive to the prompts and nudges
the Spirit provides, we’re all done here, right? Not exactly. Openness and
receptivity is great. But if that’s all we do, it’s a little like Roger Federer
swinging at a tennis ball, then coming to a screeching halt just as the ball
touches the strings of his racquet. Of course he doesn’t do that. He follows
through his stroke, usually with stunning results.
Whatever we see, hear, or feel
as a spiritual prompt, we need to follow through. And our follow-through ought
to be grounded. This requires solid footwork and a place to stand. You want to
understand your calling, your vocation? Look at where your feet are pointing.
Location is a huge part of
vocation. Does location inform vocation? Yes. How? Responding to the call
involves posture. Where are you? What are you doing? Sitting? Standing?
Attentive? Are you running to it? Or, running away?
As you begin to heed your call,
pay attention to where you are. You might be strategically placed to build a
little bit of God’s kingdom right here, right now.
Are you willing? That’s a good
place to be.
Richard Rumble
April 2015
