Good Evening!
Welcome back to our online retreat on Social Justice! I don't know about you but we all are seemingly finding ourselves in a place of Push Me Pull You during this time where often the political and spiritual meet. These are not at all happy meetings. A few months ago we talked about building bridges and tearing down walls, taking a virtual bridge walk where we meet half way, and the like. Let us return to those days and take the virtual bridge walk and then reflect upon how we can meet half way and combine the two without driving ourselves crazy.
Everyone knows that we are in the midst of our online retreat and now it is time to take a holy walk across the bridge again 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.
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 andready help; through Jesus
(Source: 1979 Book of Common Prayer, Protestant Episcopal Church in the USA)
A virtual bridge walk towards unity and understanding!
Let the CALM principle be our guide!
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:
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!
Take time to use this meditation today, tomorrow, and in the days and weeks to come!
Ponder these questions!
How are you doing with the secular bombardment of your spiritual self?
Can you find some of the political themes steering you towards a stronger more holy walk with God?
Is God telling you to shed old worn out perceptions that were drawing you away from serving God and the least of these more fully?
How do we combine the political and the spiritual without driving ourselves crazy? This is where prayer comes in and finding common ground. This is where we continue to use the scripture lessons for Peace that we used last evening. We need to become the loving family called the least of these and know that we shouldn't have to jockey for position and speak out on behalf of each other without having to point fingers. We must love one another and put our walking the walk and talking the talk into intentional practice. This will take work. We have to look towards God the heart healer as a unifier and not a divider. We must allow ourselves to be led by God to do what God calls us to do and for God's sake stop the hatred, fighting, and everything else that smells and looks like darkness. We must continue to strive to Be CALM and let it be our watchwords. The most important thing we can do now is to pray.
Prayers to God who is the Heart Healer
God you who are the heart healer of us all, make our hearts if they are hurting in any way whole and healed from anxiety, fear, distress, and broken.
God you who are the heart healer of us all,heal the brokeness of your fragile world and that peace may prevail.
God you who are the heart healer of us all, heal our bodies, minds, and spirits and all of our family members who are ill. Give us courage and strength to meet each day with joy and hope.
God you who are the heart healer of us all, take from us every root of bitterness and division that we may all be one.
God you who are the heart healer of us all, may we have courage to live authentically into our truth as the beautiful children you have made us to be in your image and likeness.
God you who are the heart healer of us all, may we do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you as we become and are the voices for the voiceless and speak truth to power.
God you who are the heart healer of us all, make our bodies strong so that we may serve you and follow where you lead.
God you who are the heart healer of us all, we pray for _______________ and give thanks for____________ for ourselves and on behalf of others.
God you who are the heart healer of us all, we pray for those who are in mourning and pre-grieving may we lovingly respond with compassion.
God you who are the heart healer of us all,heal the brokeness of your fragile world and that peace may prevail.
God you who are the heart healer of us all, heal our bodies, minds, and spirits and all of our family members who are ill. Give us courage and strength to meet each day with joy and hope.
God you who are the heart healer of us all, take from us every root of bitterness and division that we may all be one.
God you who are the heart healer of us all, may we have courage to live authentically into our truth as the beautiful children you have made us to be in your image and likeness.
God you who are the heart healer of us all, may we do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you as we become and are the voices for the voiceless and speak truth to power.
God you who are the heart healer of us all, make our bodies strong so that we may serve you and follow where you lead.
God you who are the heart healer of us all, we pray for _______________ and give thanks for____________ for ourselves and on behalf of others.
God you who are the heart healer of us all, we pray for those who are in mourning and pre-grieving may we lovingly respond with compassion.
God you who are the heart healer of us all, we pray for all who are dying and who have died today that they may have a gentle transition into the Thin Places.
Jesus, accept these our prayers in your most Holy Name. Amen.
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Good Night Dear Family of Love! Have a blessed and restful night. I love you and give God thanks for you always.
Jesus, accept these our prayers in your most Holy Name. Amen.
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Good Night Dear Family of Love! Have a blessed and restful night. I love you and give God thanks for you always.
Love, blessings, prayers, and hearts that are healed from worry,
Sara
For optional listening and meditation here is tonight's musical selection:
Hildegard von Bingen - The Voice of the Living Light
Here are the retreat blogs you may have missed!
Online retreat blog 1
Online retreat blog 2
Online retreat blog 3
A litany of Saints of Social Justice
A season of prayer for social justice! Walking in the footsteps of the refugee!
Today we begin our social justice campaign
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