The Fifth Ripple in the Pond! Let's talk about loving our enemies!

Dear Family of Love,

I hope everyone had a wonderful day and remembered that it is Take Care Tuesday! Today we had another bad day news wise regarding ISIS and the kidnapping of more Syrian Christians and as in Biblical style they mentioned "Some women and children!" This is really hurting my heart and I suspect that this isn't easy for any of our family either. How do we make sense of all this senseless and tragic violence? Today as in the past months we find our hearts being made raw by these events. As a Christian I choose not to hate but at the same time I cannot condone what is happening in the places that have holy and sacred significance to all three Abrahamic faiths. We are called to love our enemies and to do good to those who hate us. God and Jesus tells us that over and over again. Why is this so hard for us ? Maybe it comes from our deep fear that if we keep loving, doing good, and turning the other cheek we will find ourselves in a place of weakness not strength. But then again in God's world and universe that God created, we find that every thing we know for sure as mere mortals are to be turned upside down and don't follow mortal rules but heavenly and holy ones. God puts us in a place where we need to use our sensitive, intuitive, abundant giving,  be good stewards of God's Cathedral of Life,  loving, merciful, accepting, inclusive,  and just skill set as strengths not weakness. Can you imagine what would happen if everyone used these tools in God's skill set and not warring, violence,terror, injustice, and hate? Maybe that is where tonight's meditation leads us! I posted this on Facebook and on Twitter today: Pray this as a pre-meditation.

Today isn't a day for wishes! Today is a day for earnest prayer for an end to all violence and terror in the world. May we all be one and learn to love one another with hearts on fire to serve God and God's Family of love!

Tonight let us go deeper into the center and meditate on how best we as individuals and as a family should love our enemies and do good to those who hate. You may choose your own music, use a timer, or mindfulness app. Choose you time. But first let us do our breathing exercises. Here is the music selected for tonight's meditation: Erik Satie 3 Gymnopedies


Tonight we will use prayers from one of our readers and family members, The Reverend Daniel Kostakis who comes from Bloomington, Indiana. I couldn't have written tonight's prayers any better.

Lord have mercy on the victims of ISIS.

Lord have mercy on the families who have watched their loved ones be kidnapped, tortured and killed.

Lord have mercy on our Muslim sisters and brothers who walk in God's love and yet, in society's ignorance, are grouped with those who hate.

Lord have mercy on the members of ISIS who are blinded by fear and hatred.

We give thanks O God for the beauty of your holy saints who whispered the Name of Incarnate Love, Jesus Christ, as they left this life.

Amen.

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Good Night dear Family of Love, May we be more loving, more giving, more just, more merciful, more compassionate, more, more, more May our hearts and heart homes be filled with more warmth, more welcome, more tenderness, and make more room for love, peace, joy, hope, and for every family member on the planet and yes even our enemies. I love you! May we continue to Take care on this Take Care Tuesday!


With love, compassion, blessings, and prayers,

Sara