‘Spiritual & Emotional Health 3 - Embracing our limitations’ by Owen Lynch, 1 October 2023

How can it be good to accept some limitations in life instead of striving to overcome them all? Owen Lynch looks at how this has applied to him and, maybe surprisingly, takes Jesus as an example of someone whose choice to live within limits may have set us a good pattern for a healthy life.

This is not about limitations imposed by society on the grounds of race, class or gender, but about considering how we are uniquely shaped and equipped by our personalities, life seasons and situations, our emotional, physical and intellectual capacities, and our personal histories, including wounds or traumas.

There’s time at the end to reflect and try to recognise some of these limitations which shape us, and consider which of them we might embrace, accept or discuss with friends.

Find more resources to help with spiritual and emotional health at severnvineyard.org/health

More in this series

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‘Spiritual & Emotional Health 5 - Embracing weakness and vulnerability’ by Owen Lynch, 22 October 2023
‘Spiritual & Emotional Health 5 - Embracing weakness and vulnerability’ by Owen Lynch, 22 October 2023

How can we find strength by embracing our weaknesses? Owen Lynch shares about the choices he has faced in dealing with imperfections and needing to decide between denial and defensiveness or acceptance and vulnerability. Jesus told the story of the son whose admission of weakness led to stronger connection with his father than the son who claimed to have done everything right. What difference could it make to be honest about weakness with ourselves, God and someone we trust?

‘Spiritual & Emotional Health 4 - Embracing pain and loss’ by Owen Lynch, 15 October 2023
‘Spiritual & Emotional Health 4 - Embracing pain and loss’ by Owen Lynch, 15 October 2023

How does it help us to deal with pain and loss? Owen Lynch looks at some of the effects that loss-bringing change can have on us, from adjustments in work and family life to the death of someone close. Psalms in the Bible can reflect some of our feelings and direct our attention to God for sharing them. Can we find hope in a relationship with God that brings to life Jesus’ ultimate confrontation with death itself?

‘Spiritual & Emotional Health 3 - Embracing our limitations’ by Owen Lynch, 1 October 2023
‘Spiritual & Emotional Health 3 - Embracing our limitations’ by Owen Lynch, 1 October 2023

How can it be good to accept some limitations in life instead of striving to overcome them all? Owen Lynch looks at how this has applied to him and, maybe surprisingly, takes Jesus as an example of someone whose choice to live within limits may have set us a good pattern for a healthy life.

‘Spiritual & Emotional Health 2 - Family history’ by Owen Lynch, 17 September 2023
‘Spiritual & Emotional Health 2 - Family history’ by Owen Lynch, 17 September 2023

How are we shaped by our family histories, and what can we do about this? Owen Lynch looks at repeating patterns of behaviour in himself and his own family, as well as stories of families shared in the Bible. Jesus offered another way of life he described as being “born again” - but what does this mean for us?

‘Spiritual & Emotional Health 1 - Stop before you hit the bottom’ by Owen Lynch, 10 September 2023
‘Spiritual & Emotional Health 1 - Stop before you hit the bottom’ by Owen Lynch, 10 September 2023

What do we need for healthy spiritual and emotional life? Owen Lynch looks at the links between spiritual and emotional health, what we see happening on our surfaces and what might be going on beneath. What can we do to get a better understanding of what’s formed us and how can we deal with stress, pain and - when needed - change?

Owen LynchSevern VineyardSpiritual & Emotional Health