Little bits of Jesus or Buddha or “The higher power of your understanding”
Since I have recently moved to Florida from the Wheeling/Pittsburgh area I am acutely aware of the blessings of community. I had probably forgotten how long it took when I moved to the Wheeling/Pittsburgh area to begin to feel at home and to have a sense of belonging to a community.
In the meantime I am acutely aware of my scattered community which coalesces in my new home. Whether it is listening to Anne Lamott’s “Plan B” which was a gift of my friend Julia, seeing the many pieces of artwork done by friends such as Barbara, Pat, Liz, Diane and others, picking up one of the small gifts from Doreen, Vilja, Jamie my son, or a host of others, or reading a book by one of the many who have nurtured and challenged me through their writing talent, I am reminded that I am loved.
On this first Sunday of Lent in the Christian tradition I am aware of how much we humans complicate the simple messages of the Buddha, Christ, Allah or any of the other spiritual leaders. There are all love; they are all reminders that there is not us and them; that we have a sacred relationship with mother nature; that we all have gifts to share with each other; that we have all the same pain and joy; that the source of our pain or joy may vary but it is the same. We know each other if we know ourselves.
On this Sunday I am reminded that I am always surrounded by little bits of Jesus or whoever or whatever represents our higher power. Love is not complicated. We are all community. Whether it was the friendly help of someone new at the gym this morning or the amazing welcome of the organizers of the workshop on Animating for Social Change yesterday in Tampa, I am reminded that I do not have to search for love. I do have to open my eyes and trust these simple “bits of Jesus” scattered throughout my walk on this journey of life.
Since I have recently moved to Florida from the Wheeling/Pittsburgh area I am acutely aware of the blessings of community. I had probably forgotten how long it took when I moved to the Wheeling/Pittsburgh area to begin to feel at home and to have a sense of belonging to a community.
In the meantime I am acutely aware of my scattered community which coalesces in my new home. Whether it is listening to Anne Lamott’s “Plan B” which was a gift of my friend Julia, seeing the many pieces of artwork done by friends such as Barbara, Pat, Liz, Diane and others, picking up one of the small gifts from Doreen, Vilja, Jamie my son, or a host of others, or reading a book by one of the many who have nurtured and challenged me through their writing talent, I am reminded that I am loved.
On this first Sunday of Lent in the Christian tradition I am aware of how much we humans complicate the simple messages of the Buddha, Christ, Allah or any of the other spiritual leaders. There are all love; they are all reminders that there is not us and them; that we have a sacred relationship with mother nature; that we all have gifts to share with each other; that we have all the same pain and joy; that the source of our pain or joy may vary but it is the same. We know each other if we know ourselves.
On this Sunday I am reminded that I am always surrounded by little bits of Jesus or whoever or whatever represents our higher power. Love is not complicated. We are all community. Whether it was the friendly help of someone new at the gym this morning or the amazing welcome of the organizers of the workshop on Animating for Social Change yesterday in Tampa, I am reminded that I do not have to search for love. I do have to open my eyes and trust these simple “bits of Jesus” scattered throughout my walk on this journey of life.
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