The Way of the Heart : Conclusion

It seems I’m the ‘book-ends’ of the conference: I had the first word, and I’m privileged to have the last word.

Do you remember the Gospel story that preceded Jesus’ words ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life’? Jesus had been saying to his disciples that they knew the way to follow him. Someone said, rather cheekily, ‘how can we know the way, when we don’t know where we are going?’

‘I am the way…’.
All we need to know is that we are on the way.

It was then that Jesus replied ‘I am the way…’. It seems, we don’t have to know the destination or the end-point: all we need to know is that we are on the way. This is the way we are talking about.

That is one reason that the conference proceedings will remain on our website for some months. As well, the texts of Paul’s talks will be placed on the website; and there will be a DVD of the whole conference available soon.

The Conference of Spiritual Directors, Australia (CSD), who have sponsored this conference sets high value on a contemplative approach to our ministry and to our way of life.

We call it the way of the heart, because it’s there, in our hearts, in our inner life, that we hear God’s Word, God’s revelation.

We commit ourselves to listening to and responding to the ways that God works in us, in one another, and in all creation. We call it the way of the heart, because it’s there, in our hearts, in our inner life, that we hear God’s Word, God’s revelation.

One thing that stands out for me in our reflections today is the mysterious and wonderful way in which God invites us all to inner freedom. Whatever our background, our religious tradition, or our personal experience, it seems that the way of the heart sets us free. Free to be who God has created us to be, free to be for one another. Transformation is about God’s freeing us.

I remember years ago, when I studied in a Zen Centre: I was encouraged to sit in meditation with a half-smile on my face. When I objected that it felt a little forced, the teacher would say: remember, you carry a secret. You carry a secret-- and that’s what brings the smile.

We all carry a secret… maybe different for each of us, because the journey has been different; but for all of us, I’m sure the secret has something to do with our knowing deep in our hearts that we are beloved of God, that God’s gift of transformation has already been given to us, has already set us free. That was central to Paul’s message: My heart is your heart. And that is our secret.

I know that we are not always thinking of, or aware of, our secret. For most of us, most of the time, we are out there somewhere, still riding the ox home. Maybe the journey is all about discovering what we have already been given.

When we minister to others -- whether as spiritual directors or pastoral workers or companions on the journey – our task is to help people to discover this gift in themselves. We don’t bring the gift; we ourselves don’t free others: the gift is already there. With compassionate listening, we are invited to help others to discover their secret.

Last weekend, I was delighted to see again Robert Bolt’s play about the life of Thomas More – A Man for all Seasons.   More knew God’s gift: in a very public life in the courts of London in the 15/16 century, More was faithful to his inner life.   In a simple, humble way, he knew and lived his inner freedom.   Towards the end of the play, Bolt pictures More walking from the Tower of London to his execution.   His beloved daughter Meg breaks from the onlookers to embrace her father.   More says to her:
     Have patience, Margaret; trouble not thyself.
     Death comes to us all:
     even at our birth, death does but stand aside a little…
     It’s the course of nature – and the will of God.

More’s last words to his daughter were:
You have long known the secrets of my heart.

Our prayer now is that we will all know the secrets that we carry in our hearts; that we will be able to share these with others; and that, in our ministry to others, we will support others, as they discover their secrets.

Thankyou to Paul, to Kate and Peter: you have blessed us. Thankyou to Jill for her wonderful facilitation. A big thankyou to the production crew from Broken Bay Diocese: this conference would not have been possible without their expertise. And thankyou to the Heart of Life Centre in Melbourne, where the conference has been filmed today. Finally, thankyou to you all for your participation: we send blessings on your ongoing journey, and we hope that we meet again.

We conclude with information about contacts you might like to make with Broken Bay Diocese and with CSD, the Conference of Spiritual Directors, Australia.

for feedback : webTV@dbb.org.au

                 for contact with the Conference of Spiritual Directors (Aus):
                                         Brian Gallagher msc
                                         bgmsc@bigpond.com