Dear Family of Love,
Happy You Matter Monday! I hope you know concretely that you do matter and so does everyone else on this as in the words of Eucharistic Prayer C in the BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER " This Fragile earth our island home". It has been a difficult few weeks with the deaths of Natalie Cole, David Bowie and others. These deaths remind us that we are "Dust and to dust we shall return" or better yet that we are mortal. Being mortal is one of the things that is our standard operating equipment we were born with and will die with. Now what does that have to do with the title of tonight's blog? Everything! When we were born our names are placed on a birth certificate and when we die our names are on a death certificate. Lots of information becomes public and yes dear ones privacy is at a premium. We who live our lives in Social Media and in the public eye which we most certainly are when we Post, Tweet, Pin, IG, blog, and not just when we are in our communities where we live,have choices we must make as we go along and live our lives. Most of us were shocked to learn that David Bowie has been battling with cancer for about 18 months that is about the time frame from when I started chemo until now. He kept his cancer battle private, I on the other hand decided to make my battle public. We all must decide how we approach living our lives in the public eye and especially in the World Wide Web and Social Media. For me I decided that since my family wouldn't be the best conduits of information regarding my health ,I had to take the bull by the horns and be open and that includes the many Well and Healthy Selfies to boot. So dear family we all must do a yearly check in with each other and make a personal evaluation as to how much of a private and public life we want. I know this doesn't seem the usual kind of subject a spiritual blog writer would write but,it must be said and written. In July of this year Walk With Me On Our Journey will celebrate 3 years and that will be exciting indeed. When I started writing this blog I have been open about my life and I will continue to do so as a way of modeling and sharing my faith with you. Jesus was in the business of having a public ministry and that must have been difficult at times. So tonight let us ask ourselves the following questions:
How much do we want our lives made public when we are going through private and painful times?
Do we want to constantly document our lives daily through photos so that others can see our daily lives? Is this our need or others?
Do you trust your followers, friends, and anyone else who are on the lists?
Do you need to share the most intimate details of your life? Is it okay with your family?
Can we give each other permission to have the gift of private lives and not wide ranging public ones? Remember not all of the people on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are our family and friends.?
We must make our plans and choose how much personal news of a private nature to share with the world.
I promise you I won't be offended or hurt if you don't tell me that you won the lottery, have a new diagnosis, or anything else that you deem private. Your business is your business. If I don't see your new pix I won't be offended either.
Meanwhile back to all things bright and spiritual!
Let us light our candles and be at prayer for the week to come and that we may continually listen with the ear of the heart to what God is saying to us. Let us pray that we may continually be Compassionate, Accepting, Loving, and Merciful.
Let us use these prayers tonight, let us reconnect through prayers, and tell and show each other I Love You.
Tonight let us once again reconnect with one another by thinking of all whom are precious to us and love deeply. Let's see how many of you who are on FB, Twitter,Google+. or Pinterest can tell our family members you love them. Don't be afraid, the God who made us and and loves us will hold our hands and lay us in God's arms gently as we do this . God does this every nano-second of our lives. Our meditation and listening is this The Impressionists Windham Hill or this Alma Del Sur
Let us now pray to the God who is Love with our hearts and heart homes open with love, hope, peace, and joy.
God of love teach us how to love one another boldly with out fear.
God of love help us to hold each other's hands united it the bonds that make us family.
God of love we pray for peace int this world and that was and divisions may cease.
God of Love give us strength and courage to see ourselves and each other as the beautiful children whom you have made.
God of love take the hands of those who are dying and gently lead them into you heavenly realm.
God of Love infuse our hearts with love so that we may lovingly respond to the needs of our most vulnerable family members.
God of Love lovingly enfold all those who are grieving the losses of family and friends.
God of Love heal all those who are ill and especially those who have cancer and all chronic illnesses.
God of Love help us to answer your call with a resounding yes!
God of Love teach us to give ourselves permission to rest, relax, and renew.
God of Love we pray for_______________________________
God of Love surround all those who are caregivers and those who are called to protect and keep us safe.
God of Love teach all leaders of all the nations in the ways of justice,peace, and love. Help them to use loving and kind voices. May they hear the cries of those seeking justice, peace, universal human rights, and equality at all levels of life.
In the name of Christ Jesus who is Love Made fully Human and Divine we offer these our prayers. Amen.
Here are today's wishes;Morning Wish: Today's wish is that there be peace on earth and that we all may be one family of Love (God) throughout the world.
Evening Wish: My wish for this evening is this that we pray for peace and unity in this world and for each other.
Prayer bidding: Let us pray for peace and unity in this world and for those whom you'd like us to pray. I love you all!
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Good Night Dear Ones! Take time for private time ! Private time = Self-Care and that is just as important as leading public and social media-crazed lives. I love you and give God thanks for you this night and always.
With love and lots of it!
Sara
I really appreciate your thoughts about the public and the private. I am thinking a lot about this right now as I explore becoming a priest. God called me privately, as I sat in a public gathering. I am seeking to balance bearing witness and letting my light shine with the needs of those around me for their privacy.
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