Walking through Lane Cove now, is vastly different to my early days in 2014 when I arrived to become our first Community Chaplain. Short, friendly stops to catch up with young mums; waves and smiles with sporting colleagues, neighbours and friends; and some deeper talks, now punctuate my outings.
Early Lane Cove observations showed that, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive,’ is well understood and applied here, creating a highly-resourced community. Care of the natural environment features alongside the care of other people, and of an abundance of pets!
Significant transformation has been occurring. The demographic is rapidly changing, along with the upward trend of buildings. Problems and inevitable conflict accompany these physical changes, often beyond our local capacity to influence. Frustration, grief and sorrow for some existing residents is an unfortunate consequence that ought to be acknowledged.
This younger community comes with different needs. I frequently encounter young couples and families who have travelled great distances hoping for a better life, or have been transferred temporarily by their companies. Whereas these newcomers are courageous and capable, they often lack immediate family support at this pressurised time.
Innovative readers, how do we address this need? Our Community Chaplaincy team organises groups where people can meet in a casual, supportive way. The Mums’ Network welcomes all mums and young children to meet over a shared Sunday lunch and varied activities. Walk and Wonder is an intergenerational, group activity giving time to relax with others while admiring our local bush. We are considering an intergenerational book club where friendship and experience may be shared.
I would love to hear more of your ideas. If you would like to be involved, please contact me. Here’s to the next two years of cooperative learning and responding.

我這兩年來的經歷 （譯自Rev Karen的‘Two Year On’)
我現在走遍Lane Cove的街道上，和兩年前初抵達這地方當社區牧師時的感覺不一樣了。我跟上年青的母親作短而友善的交談；和正在作運動的同事、鄰居及朋友作微笑,揮手打招呼；還有參與深切談話，間中作遠足的。

我早已觀察到，這裏的居民明白和實踐‘施比受更得福氣’的道理，因而創立一個高度自供自給的社群。這裏的居民保護自然環境和樂於助人，令我吃驚的是他們養那麼多的寵物！
但是具重大影響的轉變正在醞釀中。隨著新住屋的數目增加，這裏的人口密度急劇上升了。人際問題和無可避免的衝突便多起，經常超出當局所能應付的。部份不幸遭受那些後果的人, 他們所產生的頹喪、痛楚和悲傷可不容忽視的。
這新一輩的社群帶來他們不同的需要。我常常遇到那些年輕夫婦，他們從遠方到此尋求較好的生活，或有給公司調派來臨時公幹的。這些新居民雖然勇毅及能幹，卻往往在這忍受壓力的期間，缺乏家人及時的幫助的。
能創新的讀者啊，能不替他們解決這等需要？我們的社區牧師團體有各類組合，讓人們無拘束地於輔助的環境下敘會。‘母親網絡’組歡迎任何母親及幼兒分享其主日午餐和各類活動。‘步行來感受自然的美妙’組是老幼咸宜的群體活動，借此放鬆下來，跟他人一起欣賞本地的郊野。我們正考慮增添老幼溝通的讀書會，好讓友誼和經驗交流的。
我很想知到你們所提供的多些意見。假使你們願意參與，請和我聯絡。這是我們另兩年的合作性學習和回應需要。……………….
我这两年来的经历  (译自Rev Karen的‘Two Year On’)
我现在走遍Lane Cove的街道上,和两年前抵达这地方当社区牧师时的感觉不一样了.我跟上年青的母亲作短而友善的交谈; 和正在运动的同事,邻居及朋友作微笑,挥手打招呼;还有参与深切谈话,间中作远足的.
我早已观察到,这里的居民明白和实践’施比受更有福气’的道理,因而创立一个高度自給自足的社群.这里的居民保护自然环境和乐於助人,令我吃惊的是他们养那么多宠物!
但是具重大影響的转变正在醞釀中. 隨著新住屋的数目增加,这里的人口密度急劇上升了, 人際问題和无可避免的衝突便多起，经常超出当局所能应付的.部份不幸遭受那些後果的人, 他们所產生的頹喪、痛楚和悲伤可不容忽視的。
这新一輩的社群帶来他们不同的需要。我常常遇到那些年轻夫婦，他们從远方到此寻求較好的生活，或有給公司調派來臨時公幹的。这些新居民虽然勇毅及能幹，卻往往在这忍受壓力的期间，缺乏家人及时的幇助的。
能創新的讀者啊，能不替他们解決这等需要？我们的社区牧師團体有各類組合，让人们無拘束地於輔助的環境下敘会。‘母亲网絡’組欢迎任何母亲及幼儿分享主日午餐和各类活动。‘步行来感受自然的美妙’組是老幼咸宜的群体活动，借此放鬆下来，跟他人一起欣賞本地的郊野。我们正考慮增添老幼溝通的讀书会，好让友誼和经驗交流的。
​我很想知到你们所提供的多些意見。假使你们愿意參与，請和我联络。这是我们另兩年的合作性学习和回应需要。

Listening recently to a professional declutterer, I realised this new profession was a valuable addition to our society. The memories and value we attribute to our possessions make them hard to release, even if we haven’t used them for years. Downsizing to a smaller place, or a compulsive need to retain more and more, keep declutterers busy helping people reorder their physical lifestyle. Sometimes, however, the decluttering is needed within our own brains to help us achieve the quality of life we desire.
Speaking with creative arts therapist, Ruth Nolan, caused me to wonder if right-brain dominated activity enables a decluttering of our well-utilised left brain? Ruth explains, ‘Generally speaking, the left side is associated with logical and linear thinking, where things are right or wrong. It deals with the past and future, whereas the right side is concerned with the present moment. Creativity is usually associated with the right side.’ So much of what is judged to be ‘of value’ in our society is produced by predominantly left-brain activity while often the activities we find pleasurable and relaxing tend to be right-brained.
I firmly believe in a balanced lifestyle, so aspire to introduce activities that encourage people to de-stress. These include meditation, retreats, social gatherings around food and appreciative walking in natural spaces – primarily right-brained activities. Interestingly, spiritual connection is considered to be more of a right brain function. As right brain activity pertains more to the communal good of ‘us’ whereas the left tends to ‘me’, there is further correlation with the foundational teaching of most religions, ‘Do (not do) to others as you would (not) have them do to you’.
The two hemispheres of the brain are of comparable size and work interdependently, suggesting both are needed in about equal measure for our own benefit and that of our society. If you are predominantly ‘left-brained’, consider quietening its noisy chatter regularly. Calming spiritual practices such as meditation, visual arts or music making, can actually change the brain. Comparable to giving our home a good spring clean, adopting these stress-relievers prunes away harmful thinking and brings healing to our minds, bodies, families and the communities within which we live. 

​大腦的內部解結  （譯自Rev Karen牧師的Internal Decluttering)
 
最近我聽到一名專業心理解結者的講座，領教到這門是我們社會新添的一個寶貴的行業。我們附加於擁有物的懸念和價值觀，往往令我們難以放棄，雖然它已給擱置了很久的。把擁有物的數量減少來迎合細小的地方，或欲望驅使不斷地把它積存的人，都令心理解結者忙於給予幫助，重整他們生活的方式的。無論如何，有時我們大腦的內部也需要這類解結，來達到希冀的生活素質的。
 
我跟創作藝術治療法醫生路芙•諾蘭的談話使我懷疑，右腦主使的活動能不能為過份操作的左腦解結。路芙解釋，“普通來說，左腦與邏輯和直系思考有關，事情只有對的或錯的兩方面，它涉及過去和未來。相反，右腦和現在有連繫，創作性活動通常關連右腦的。”故此大多我們社會判定為‘有價值的’活動是由左腦支配的，而很多時我們感到享受和放鬆的活動，則出自右腦主使的。
 
我緊守平衡生活方式的信念，熱望引進促使人們解除壓力的活動。這些活動包括冥想、退省、烹飪和欣賞大自然的步行等社交聚會 － 根本這些活動都是使用右腦的。正如右腦性質的活動大多屬於有利社群的‘我們’，而左腦的趨向‘我’，這互相關連也伸延至大多數宗教的基本教義，‘己所不欲，勿施于人’。
 
我們大腦的兩個半球的體積相等，各相互倚賴地活動，意思是為了個人和社會的益處，兩部份也同等需要。假如你是左腦活躍者，要顧及經常減低它那嘈鬧的叫聲。寧靜的操練如冥想、視覺藝術或奏樂，都能實在地改變大腦的傾向的。跟家裏春季大掃除一般，接受這些解壓法會鏟除有害的思想，進而迎接心靈、身體、家庭及社群的康復的。
 
大脑的內部解结  （译自Rev Karen牧師的Internal Decluttering)


最近我听到一名專业心理解结者的讲座，领教到这门是我们社会新添的一个宝貴的行业。我们附加於擁有物的懸念和价值观，往往令我们難以放弃，雖然它已給搁置了很久的。把擁有物的数量減少来迎合細小的地方，或欲望驱使不断地把它積存的人，都令心理解結者忙於給予帮助，重整他们生活的方式的。无论如何，有时我们大腦的內部也需要这类解结，来达到希冀的生活素质的。


我跟創作艺术治療法医生路芙•諾兰的谈话使我懷疑，右腦主使的活动能不能为过份操作的左腦解结。路芙解釋，“普通来说，左腦与邏輯和直系思考有关，事情只有对的或錯的兩方面，它涉及过去和未来。相反，右腦和現在有连繫，創作性活动通常关连右腦的。”故此大多我们社会判定为‘有价值的’活动是由左腦支配的，而很多時我们感到享受和放鬆的活动，則出自右腦主使的。


我緊守平衡生活方式的信念，熱望引进促使人们解除压力的活动。这些活动包括冥想、退省、烹飪和欣赏大自然的步行等社交聚会－ 根本这些活动都是使用右腦的。正如右腦性质的活动大多屬於有利社群的‘我们，而左腦的趨向‘我’，这互相关连也伸延至大多数宗教的基本教义，‘己所不欲，勿施于人’。


我们大腦的兩个半球的体積相等，各相互倚賴地活动，意思是为了个人和社会的益处，兩部份也同等需要。假如你是左腦活躍者，要顧及经常減低它那嘈鬧的叫声。寧靜的操练如冥想、視覺艺術或奏乐，都能实在地改变大腦的傾向的。跟家里春季大掃除一般，接受这些解压法会铲除有害的思想，进而迎接心灵、身体、家庭及社群的康復的。