- Meditation 1, Christchurch, St Lucia
Meditation 2: Here am I; send me!
The Rev’d Gaye Nye
| Preamble | Gay is the Leader of the Household of Deacons and the Honorary Deacon in the Parish of Chermside. I came to live in Brisbane in the 70s. I completed academic study and became an Early Childhood Teacher in the state education system before being ordained Deacon in 1999. |
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| Bible reading | Bible readingsIsaiah 6 :1-3, 6-8In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lofty; and the hem of his robe filled the temple. Seraphs were in attendance above him; each had six wings: with two they covered their faces and with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. And one called to another and said |
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
The whole earth is full of his glory.”
Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched my mouth with it and said:
“Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.”Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying,
“Whom shall I send and who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I; send me!”
Philippians 4: 13
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.Silence Focus exercisesAn exercise from The World Community for Christian Meditation – John Main OSB1 Sit down. Sit still and upright.2 Close your eyes lightly
3 Sit relaxed but alert.
4 Silently, interiorly, begin to say a single word.
5 The recommended prayer phrase is “Maranatha.”
( Come Lord Jesus)
6 Listen to it as you say it, gently but continuously.
7 Do not think or imagine anything – spiritual or otherwise.
8 If thoughts and images come, these are distractions at the time of the meditation so keep returning to simply saying the word.
(As you become more familiar with this form of meditation you may choose to use it, morning and evening for perhaps 20 to 30 minutes.)Personal storyI was “attracted “to the church from a very young age, a diligent Sunday School student, confirmed at 12 and a regular communicant. There was one thing that I couldn’t do as a girl and that was to don the red robes of the server. After completing my schooling in the 60s I left the country to go to Sydney to take up a position in the State Public Service. I was a shy and retiring 17 year old. I joined a vibrant Anglican congregation in the inner city area and was soon involved in many activities, teaching Sunday School and working with other young people. The Youth Department of the Diocese had wonderful camping facilities and youth rallies were attended by hundreds of young people. It was at one such rally that I heard the words from Isaiah 6. The preacher “quoting the text proclaimed “Here am I Lord”-there was a prolonged silence. Out of the silence came “send someone else.” Not a sound came from those gathered, silence continued for what seemed an eternity. I was certainly challenged and pondered what that might mean for me, could I respond? I considered some formal theological education but did not pursue it. I retain the memory of that evening to the present day.I married, had children, continued as a faithful Anglican, a committed lay person and believed that my vocation was to be a wife and mother.Life changed when my marriage failed. I was forced to rethink many things,and to educate myself so that I could provide for my family. It was during these times that the words from Philippians became my focus. My faith had taken a battering but I emerged from the “wilderness” with a renewed life and a sense that I was called to a new vocation.
My priest and I had a “long” discussion which resulted in my beginning a journey through discernment, formation and to ordination.
God called me to be a deacon and servant leadership is the vocation that I endeavor to live out.SilenceSilenceGuided reflection Is God calling you? Are you prepared to let go and Let God? Are you able to say, here am I, send me.?Music“Here I am, Lord”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcxOkht8w7c
20 Years of Glorious Work 