Dear Family of Love!
Happy Self-Care and Sabbath Rest Weekend! I hope everyone is enjoying your retreat. Everyone knows that we are in the midst of Bridge Week and now it is time to take a holy walk across the bridge not quite all the way but halfway. Why halfway you ask? The answer is as simple as it is complex. Taking a walk on a bridge and meeting in the middle requires courage and faith. When we do the virtual bridge crossing you will understand why. Are you ready to take a holy walk across the bridge? Are you ready to meet your family members halfway? Do you have your set of tools that we used at the beginning of the week? If not here they are:
In order to build bridges we also need to have these tools at the ready:
Kindness
Gratitude for the gifts our family members bring to the table
Common ground
A willingness to not travel down a negative pathway.
A willingness to change our attitudes that keep us from being united.
A heart home that is ever expanding and going deeper.
A pair of well tuned listening ears and a mouth that is able to be silent and not talk over people.
Arms that are ready to embrace and welcome.
Feet that are ready to run and help when our family members are in crisis.
Hands that are willing to soothe, comfort, serve, and grasp our brother's and sister's hands.
Eyes that are able to see and reflect God.
A voice that is comforting and reassuring.
A smile to radiate God's Light and Love to the world.
Courage and faith to meet our family members half way.
Courage to lay aside our preconceived thoughts about our family members.
The ability to respect the dignity of every human and living being.
Strength to be able to go against society's norms when necessary.
To boldly Go where Jesus is sending us!
To join in the Jesus Movement or if you aren't Christian, The Movement of Love and Justice and CALM(Compassion, Acceptance, Love, and Mercy).
The courage to tear down walls that divide us.
Arroyo Hondo Bridge Near Gaviota California off the 101 Freeway. Commonly called Vista Point.
An introductory note: For this virtual bridge crossing we use the words person(s) or issue(s) not as a slight, but as a way for all of us to be able to place our own names in the blanks or if you aren't ready keep them this way.
To prepare ourselves for this holy walk let us take time and practice our 'Be Stills"
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know.
Be still,
Be.
Slowly inhale.
Hold.
Slowly exhale
Pause. Count to 10.
Repeat 4 times.
Now let us pray for our journey, even if it is a short one! You may make one up yourself or use the following.
Anglican Prayers for Safety
For Travelers
O God, our heavenly Father, whose glory fills the whole
creation, and whose presence we find wherever we go: Preserve
those who travel [in particular __________]; surround
them with your loving care; protect them from every danger;
and bring them in safety to their journey's end; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For Protection
Assist us mercifully, O Lord, in these our supplications and
prayers, and dispose the way of thy servants towards the
attainment of everlasting salvation; that, among all the
changes and chances of this mortal life, they may ever be
defended by thy gracious and ready help; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Source: 1979 Book of Common Prayer, Protestant Episcopal Church in the USA)
Make sure your shoelaces are tied and that you are ready to walk this holy path. Imagine who you would like to meet halfway. Who is/are the person(s) that you are having trouble with? What is/are the issue(s) that keep you from being united? Now it is time to walk the holy pathway:
You may look around where you are walking or keep your eyes on the person(s) you will be meeting. Remember to breathe, remember to smile, remember to foster forgiveness in your mind and heart. How are you feeling at this very moment? Any desires to turn back ? Are you afraid? Do you feel God's presence abiding in you and surrounding your every step? Now we are just about halfway to our destination this is the time to let go of anything that you need to before you meet your family member who is a Child of God. Time for a mental Worry/Sabbath Box! Yes, friends we get to do that not just on Fridays! Let us now decide how we are going to greet the person. How would you like to be greeted? Like the Prodigal Son? Mary Magdalene at the Tomb when she met Jesus after His resurrection? Cautiously like Thomas? Quizzically, like Moses when he encountered God speaking from the Burning Bush? or are you going to greet by a simple handshake, gentle embrace, pat on the arm or shoulder. Maybe you aren't ready and all you can do is muster a smile and a gentle tone of voice. That is okay too! The moment has arrived, you are now in the presence of the person in the middle of the bridge. Start by a simple 'Hello!" and smile, engage in small talk for awhile. No need to solve all of your problems and differences today. This is the first meeting! This is when you get to see God in the person's face. This is when you begin putting into practice the Love of God, Neighbor( Family member, least of these, enemy, hater) and yourself. What is your body, mind, or spirit feeling like? Are you ready to return ? Did I forget that you needed to pack a pair of candles and a lighter? ( This is a virtual walk so we don't have to fear a wildfire during a drought condition) By the magic of this blog you now have candles and a lighter! This is what you will conclude your meeting with "The light of Christ/God in Me recognizes the Light of Christ/God in you! You light the candle and pass it to the person (s) they repeat the phrase back to you. Now you may pass the peace or some fond farewell greeting: The Peace of the Lord be always with you R: And also with you!
You may embrace, handshake, or do a gentle pat on the arm. Smile and wave as you leave. Walk at a slow pace, breathe, and enjoy God's Cathedral of life. How are you feeling? What are you thinking? Are you ready to do it again? In your time of small talk and before you left to return on your way did you make an effort to do another time of halfway meeting on the bridge?
Take time to use this meditation today, tomorrow, and in the days and weeks to come!
Happy Self-Care Saturday! It is now time for us to settle in and join together in our Virtual Candlelight Prayer Vigil. Tonight we pray for all of our family members who are homeless, hungry, and lacking proper clothing and shelter on this rainy night. We pray for all who work and minister to our most vulnerable family members who are staying in warming centers and shelters this night. We pray for our family members who are having to flee their homes and find their way into refugee camps and seek asylum. We pray for all who are in danger and need protection. We pray this night for the many aid agencies that come to the aid of our family members. We pray that we may be willing to minister to all people and say yes to God even if it means that we are challenged to be a voice for those who differ from us and those who haven't any voice. May we pray and consider wisely the words of the Prophet Isaiah-
And many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; That He may teach us concerning His ways And that we may walk in His paths." For the law will go forth from Zion And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4And He will judge between the nations, And will render decisions for many peoples; And they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, And never again will they learn war. 5Come, house of Jacob, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.
An additional time of prayer may be added!
God we pray for peace your broken world.
May peace and love prevail.
God we pray for women and children and the most vulnerable who are in danger or abuse.
May peace, love, and compassionate care prevail.
God we pray for our enemies and our enemies' family members who are caught in war's cross hairs.
May peace and love prevail.
God we pray for all refugees, captives, and all who are victims of human trafficking.
May they be set free to live in safety and may peace and love prevail.
God we pray for all of our leaders that they may stop legislating cruelty and be aware that when they are hurting another human or living being they are hurting and doing violence to you.
May justice roll down and may peace and love prevail
God we pray for all of us who are struggling to live out in the open as the beautiful children whom God has made. May we not be afraid to live authentically into our own truth.
May we have strength and courage to be ourselves and may peace, justice, equality, and love prevail.
God we pray for all who are ill in body mind and spirit may they be healed of all their infirmities!
May health and healing take place and may love and peace prevail in our bodies, minds, and spirits.
God we pray for all who are in mourning over any kind of loss.
May love ,comfort and peace prevail in their hearts.
God we pray this night for all who are homeless, hungry, and ill clad.
May we lovingly respond to their needs and may they find shelter from the cold and nourishment for their bodies.
God we add our thanksgivings, thoughtful thoughts, and additional prayers________________
Let us lift these our prayers in the Name of Jesus, our brother, friend, savior, teacher, and healer. Amen.
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Good Night Dear Ones! I love you! May you have a blessed and restful night! I give God thanks for you this night and always!
May love and peace prevail,
Sara
Music selected for tonight!
Stay Here- Taize Mix
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