TOMORROW’S SUNDAY

How do you maintain your mental health? One way is ‘the Five Ways to Wellbeing’. You can check them out on the MIND website (www.mind.org.uk). I usually remember these by the acronym CLANG – Connect - Learn - Activity – Notice things - Give The Bible’s writers were talking about wellbeing long before anyone else. They knew that a rounded spiritual life enhances our mental health. So here’s the Five Ways to Wellbeing with a Christian spin. C is for ‘connect’ – at the heart of Christian life is a connection with God. Connecting with people, making friends and maintaining friendships is so very helpful. Yet a connection with God takes it that much further. St Paul said: “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand” (Romans 5:1-2). Being ‘justified’ means being in a right relationship with God – with all our faults, we are forgiven and placed within the circle where God’s love can reach and bless us. L is for ‘Learn’ – every church is a place of learning. The stuff you learn within the family of God will nourish your soul, your core, your very self – and you will love it! A is for ‘Activity’ – Jesus was a walker, so forget the car, travel on foot, get out and get moving. The rhythm of putting one foot in front of the other promotes prayer and reflection. Get active! N is for ‘Notice things’ – The beautiful, the aweinspiring or the ordinary. But we can take that a step further. Worship is therapy for the soul, and for everything else, come to think of it. G is for ‘Give’ – so get out of the house and give time and energy to others. Churches have wonderful avenues for service. Dave Burke, Pastor, Bethany City Church