Dear Family of Love and Pilgrims on our Journey,
I hope all of us had a Wonderful and Wonder-Filled Wednesday. These past few days we have been inundated with Pope Francis, Kim Davis, Islamophobia, Homophobia, LGBTQ issues,Refugees, and a host of other hot button issues that seek to divide and not unite us if we allow them to. As I said in the title of tonight's blog Loving our Neighbor and being inclusive just got a little more complicated. I know everyone is upset about Kim Davis and her visit with Pope Francis, for the record I was too but we all must learn that striving to be inclusive means we need to take the blinders off and realize being inclusive requires each of us to look in the mirror and see our own failings and where we lack compassion and love for our family members who rub us the wrong way. Being rubbed the wrong way isn't necessarily a bad thing either, it is the signal that we still have a lot of work to do in being inclusive and loving. We all must find the good in all people. For the life of me this is very difficult when the list of baddies in history only seems to get longer. I have found a way to love the baddies and those who wish us harm and it is simply this, we must love them as the little children they were before they put on the mantle of unsavoriness. That is the only way I can wrap my head and heart around it. How do you do this? Being in a loving and inclusive relationship with all of our brothers and sisters both the good, bad, the ugly, and those who rub us the wrong way is complicated and complex and requires work of the most delicate and time consuming kind. Anything worthwhile requires our Love Energy and heart homes to be thoroughly engaged with the support of our Loving God, Brother Christ, and the Empowering and Enlivening Spirit. How are we going to love our family members who rub us the wrong way? Let's start from the very beginning and think about this list I'm about to give you:
They are made in the image and likeness of God!
They are children of God.
They are someone's child, friend, spouse, family member, and co-worker.
They are loved by their family members.
They are accepted by their church families Their faith communities may be different from yours and mine and that doesn't make it bad. It just is. We pray for them anyway.
They are human beings just as we are.
They are sinners and remember they may rub us the wrong way and have received salvation from Jesus too. I have a feeling that our family members who rub us the wrong way may be our welcoming committee when we make our journey into Heaven. So we better work on the love, inclusion, and acceptance part while we are here on earth.
To them we may rub them the wrong way too. What are your thoughts?
Take time to meditate on the above and write down if you'd like the names of who our family members are. Afterwards you may enter into the Mindfulness 5+ and breathing exercises. If you do not wish to add those then move straight into prayer time.
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God of unity help us to break down the walls that separate us . May we be united as one family under you O God.
God of peace, we pray for peace in our hearts, minds, spirits, and especially in our cities, and in the war torn places in this your fragile and broken world.
God of justice, we pray that everyone may be granted the right to peaceably assemble and protest injustices anywhere.
God of mercy, help us to show mercy to all those who are the least of these and see you in each of their faces. May we reflect love, kindness, mercy, and shine the light of Christ to them.
God of kindness, help us to be kind and not hateful and replace hate for kindness, love, justice, and mercy.
God of all creation, we pray that we may become united with all creation and practice Godly conservation that will please You and heal your planet for the good of all living things. We pray for rain that it will heal all the drought stricken areas of the world and in our state.
God of Healing, Heal all of our family members who are in need of healing of body, mind, and spirit.
May we reach out to them when they cry and ask for help.
God of Comfort, We pray for all those who pre-grieving and sitting vigil at bedside while they wait for their loved ones to transition into the Thin Places. May we offer solace and comfort when needed.
God we pray for all those who are dying and who have died today that they may have or have had a joyful and peaceful journey into the Thin Places.
God of all Gentleness, we pray for the health and safety for all of the little ones your children. We pray that they may be treated as precious treasures and may be cared for tenderly.
God of Forgiveness and mercy we ask forgiveness of all the wrongs that we have done either by omission and commission.
God of Love, may we always be loving and thankful.
God we add our prayers for ourselves and on behalf of others now_____________________
God we lift up these our prayers in the name of your Son Jesus the Christ. Amen.
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Good Night Dear Family Members! Have a blessed night! Tomorrow is Being Thoughtful and Thankful Thursday. I love you and give thanks to God for you always. Pssssst! You don't rub me the wrong way!
With love and blessings!
Sara
