IT'S REALLY SIMPLE LIVING a happy, healthy and bright Christian life. Simple yet hard! We forget in the midst of all the things we have to do today, to do the things that make and keep us well. Here are several key areas of Christian living and questions to help re-member your self in the risen Body of the Living Christ.

Ritual Worship Nike says, “Just do it!” and suddenly everybody is wearing the Swoosh symbol and feels cool. Why then when Jesus says “Do this in remembrance of me” is it now an issue, as if Nike were the God of victory over death, and not Jesus? Just do it! Indeed. There are other compelling reasons for just doing as Jesus commands, more theologically sound, but this should make the point. Do you attend Sunday services?

Shared Meals McDonald’s is the largest fast food purveyor in the world. Kids love to get Happy Meals. I know my kids loved theirs. Turns out this food isn’t doing it for the health of the peoples and nations of the world. Eat this food and one day you’ll wake up unable to recognize yourself in the mirror! It’s not a sustainable health diet, whatever the marketing spin doctors say.

The risen Jesus met two disciples on the road to Emmaus, and in the simple act of breaking bread in a shared meal they recognized their Lord. The command is obvious: have an occasional meal together so that the graces of hospitality and fellowship may re-form the faith community and help us re-member the Body of Christ in our daily life, and not just on Sunday morning. In a word, we need to broaden our table fellowship. Have you been to a church supper recently? Do you belong to a parish foyers group?

Common Values We don’t have to agree on all things to be members of an Episcopal parish. Actually over the centuries we’ve had serious disagreements with one another, occasionally even causing division and separation. Thankfully these moments in history have been for the most part only temporary. A recent parish “Holy Ground” pilgrimage to Gettysburg reminds us of one such a major Episcopal division over states’ rights and slavery. After the war, the bishops in the north invited the bishops in the south to rejoin their fellowship, and reconciliation ensued.

What do you value? Christ’s fellowship is very large and enduring, but not impervious to evil and death in this life. We need to mind our voices. A recent national controversy involving shock-jock radio talk show host Don Imus and the Rutgers University women’s basketball team has caused the entire nation to reflect on our core community beliefs, attitudes and behaviors. How are you imaging Christ’s values? Is your highest good the kingdom of God? Remembering that what the self describes, describes the self, how is your life showing forth the light of the Risen Lord?

Mutual Ministry “We all need someone we can lean on.” The lyrics are sung by Mick Jagger. I’m never quite sure what the Rolling Stones are singing about, but this much I get, we really can’t do it all alone. We need others.

The whole concept of re-membering the Body of Christ is premised in getting all the parts back together and working as God intended. No one person is more important than the other, all are interrelated and interdependent. Besides, it’s more fun as a group. Are you part of a small group doing ministry or mission in or through the parish? If not, then why not?

Collaborative Governance In the leadership culture of America the days of “My call, I made it,” are over. It’s all about working together administratively in small groups of enthusiastic people who share a common interest toward accomplishing a short term goal. Everybody has a voice that needs to be heard, and all voices must be spoken and listened to in cooperation with the spirit or purpose of the endeavor.

I remember my 14-year old son saying during painful exchange, “Dad, I’m trying the best I can but you’re not helping!” We’ve got to help one another. Learning how to speak with respect and value the voice of others is a good starting place and a skill all of us must develop further.

Collaborative governance requires true discernment and discretion to work well. Are you praying for leadership success in the parish? Are you supporting the corporate business and interests of the Body of Christ?

Rhythmic Celebration No, this isn’t about learning how to dance hip-hop or ballroom, although there must be something to this because so many people are enjoying “Dancing with the Stars"!

Here is meant the sanctification of time and experience over the course of a calendar year. The happy Christian celebrates life with deliberate joy and solemnity throughout the calendar year as part of the Body of God. What about your Easter holiday made you feel a part of Christ’s Body? What about the rest of the year? How can we help sanctify your daily life with offerings of thanks and joy, succor and support?