Lift Up Your Hearts: Update 35 from Prague
Dear friends and family,
At the end of Lent on Holy Saturday, our boys made a public confession of faith in Christ as they were confirmed at St. Clement's. They each chose to be confirmed, took
confirmation classes with our priest, and met with the Bishop of the Anglican Dioceses of Europe, who travelled from Belgium to spend the Easter weekend at St. Clement’s. The service was very meaningful, and its liturgy marked a key moment in their lives. Joseph told Anna afterwards, “Mom, I felt the Holy Spirit in my heart during the service.” They were each anointed with the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands, and godparents and grandparents got to watch on Zoom. We were so encouraged that a global community is nurturing our boys in their faith. Caleb and Josh attended a Christian apologetics seminar recently, and it was wonderful to see Caleb asking questions and enjoying the conversation.
In this update, we hope to share just a snapshot of all that the Lord’s been doing to deepen ministry here this spring.
We are learning these days how deeply college students in this generation genuinely want to be known. Josh has had many conversations with students who have opened up their struggles with depression, relationships, deep anxiety, and loss. Josh has an assignment where students reflect on a (not necessarily the…) high point, turning point, or low point in their lives. About 80% of students chose a low point. Many chose to share the worst moments in their lives. Josh was teaching about the psychology of narrative identity- how we tell our stories to ourselves and others greatly shapes our lives. This involves living into a redemptive story, which embraces despair, pain and struggle, but persists in finding the goodness that we would call grace. Once goodness is possible through pain and loss, then what else is there than the cross to make sense of it all?
Josh also teaches a study he is publishing on equanimity– the ability to approach adversity with calmness and a sense of purpose or meaning. He and colleagues found in the study that regular reflection, prayer in moments of difficulty, finding a lesson from adversity, and self-compassion are the key builders of equanimity. Students reflect on these results in Josh’s classes. These conversations, assignments and class discussions have been sacred ground. Josh continues to meet with a small group of faculty at the university that are in bi-weekly prayer for students.
We had some very crowded student dinners at our flat lately full of rich conversations. Sometimes students wander over to our bookshelf and ask questions about the books they see: Tolkien, Lewis, L’Engle, Chesterton, Nouwen, Wright, Berry, etc. Recently, a student who had just
been to dinner, came early to class and asked Josh, “What books have changed your life?” Rather than the easy “the Bible” answer, Josh got to speak of how Chesterton and Nouwen breathed life and faith into his life at crucial moments. Some ask for recommendations, and Josh gives his advisees books for graduation– we may never know how God will use it. The dinners continue to be such an important way to connect with students for our whole family. Many students come back again and again, asking to join even if they are not currently in Josh’s class, to which the answer is always, “Yes.”
This time of year we savor the unprompted notes of gratitude that we receive from students. In one recent example, Josh received this note from a student:
"Yesterday's class was exceptional, I could tell you are putting a lot in your class prep and you are genuinely passionate about stories and the growth of your students. I know that this class will shape me in many ways forever.”
In his final classes of the semester Josh tries to encourage students with some final
words and a charge. These included the idea that people will need to draw on their inspiration, which will come at a cost, but will be well worth it. He also read a blessing over his class by poet John O’Donahue, which we will include at the bottom of the page.
We’ve been very encouraged by a string of visiting friends that we’ve known for many years. It’s hard to express how visitors who represent our past in the US spur us on when they come here; their presence reminds us of who we are and the blessings God has given us. Thank you Dan, Lisa, Dustin, Ila, Oakley, Bea, and Lauren for your love and encouragement. Another boost has been Anna’s spiritual direction group. She just recently finished the 19th annotation of Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises with this group. The process was full of God’s gifts and graces; a blessing to intimately and slowly walk through Jesus’ life, death and resurrection over the past 9 months.
Anna finished up her Ukrainian ballet ministry for the school year with a lovely end of the year showcase. Her dancers have learned so much, and it was fun to celebrate them and give them an opportunity to show off their hard work. Her CISP ballet club also performed at the school music concert, and she has an upcoming performance of Giselle, and another with her students (and Abigail) of the ballet Sleeping Beauty in two weeks. In her Bible classes, the 9th graders just
finished a semester-long study of the Gospel of Matthew, and the 6th graders will finish the year in the book of Acts, learning how the early church grew and spread throughout the world. Exams begin the week of June 8th - so everyone is entering the home-stretch of the school year.
Collier and Caleb acted in CISP’s performance of “The Enchanted Bookstore” in early May. It was a great show - full of humor and classic book characters! They have really built a community among their theatre group. Collier played a police officer (who sounded a bit like Barney Fife :)) and Caleb played Frankenstein’s monster.
Thank you for your prayers and support. We listed last time an ecumenical prayer for peace in the world at AAU, where Josh gathered with other faculty and students and went very well. We could use prayer for our finances to continue to come through as we are feeling the pinch of inflation here. We still need some monthly supporters. We are thankful for the way God is providing opportunities in ministry with people here and ways for our family to thrive and practice generosity, hospitality and faithfulness.
Lift up your hearts…
Anna, Josh, Collier, Caleb, Joseph and Abigail
Blessing Josh read to his class:
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