2) Birthrite: Counsellor

Counselling made possible by Network for Africa

For to us a child is born,

    to us a son is given,

    and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

    Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,

    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6 

Wonderful counsellor  

I have a theory that if something is important, it will already exist.  Is counselling a modern invention?  What was meant by 'wonderful counsellor'?

For me, counselling means 'organising thoughts', understanding feelings, reflecting on meaning and identifying choices. 

Across time, these processes have largely been undertaken as communities. African and indigenous communities still offer this form of counselling out to the world.

It is only in the twentieth century that the concept of 'individual therapy' was invented, and this was largely because people in the West had the time, money and ability to make it happen.

What about the baby who is to come?  We are privileged to experience every form of 'counselling' across all time, because although the birth is fixed in time, the person to be born will have awareness of the complete existence of creation.  

There at the beginning.  

There at the end.

So it is my privilege to to have a quiet mind, a community that understand meaning and purpose.  I have a counsellor to help me.  We have good counsel.

PRAYER: For all questions about us now, we look to you for the answer.