monday meditations

Each Monday, we will post a contemplative spiritual practice or reading to help ground you in God’s presence and invite you deeper into the life Jesus opens up for us.

april 11, 2022

I sometimes forget

that I was created for Joy.

My mind is too busy.

My Heart is too heavy

for me to remember

that I have been

called to dance

the Sacred dance of life.

I was created to smile

To Love

To be lifted up

And to lift others up.

O’ Sacred One

Untangle my feet

from all that ensnares.

Free my soul.

That we might

Dance

and that our dancing

might be contagious.

~ Hafiz

april 4, 2022

Whenever you do something hard, don't forget to breathe. This is one of those things that is profoundly simple for the profound impact it makes. Air is not only needed for our body and brain to actually function, but it's also how we spiritually function too. In our tradition breath is associated with God—with that Divine Spirit who isn't only with us, but who strengthens, empowers, and inspires us.  

Remembering to breathe is one of the most basic but important spiritual practices you can do, especially when you head into something difficult and hard. As we head into Lent, we invite you to start with a breath. As you practice this, remember what you are breathing in.

Inhale ... 1 ... 2 ... 3

Hold ... 1 ... 2 ... 3

Exhale ... 1 ... 2 ... 3

march 28, 2022

Sometimes—usually all the time—one of the things we have to reckon with in order to grow is forgiveness. Maybe for you it’s forgiveness of yourself. Or maybe for you it’s forgiving someone else. Whatever it is, as legit and powerful as it may be, you can’t move forward and still hold on to that. How do you need to practice forgiveness this Lent?

march 21, 2022

The work of transformation needs four things to happen: It needs patience because it will take a while. It needs vulnerability because it requires the help of people who know more than you. It needs courage because it is scary and hard. And it requires celebration because in the work of transformation and growth, every bit of movement, even the smallest tiny bit, must be met with joy. 

march 14, 2022

If Lent is about anything, it’s about embracing the paradox that to get lost is to get found and to boldly step into a period of reflection, searching, and wandering in order to find answers to those spiritual questions: 'Who am I?' 'Who am I becoming?’ and 'Where am I going?'

Lent is this time of putting down and picking up, of getting lost and found, of reorienting and realignment, and of dying and rising, all of it rooted in grace and bent towards new life. 

And if you think about it, it’s actually quite beautiful and liberating that we have a faith that encourages this. 

It reminds us that this faith and spirituality of ours isn’t about being perfect or believing in the right things, but rather about the never-ending and grace-filled journey to becoming more and more human and alive in the world, more and more like the kind of people Jesus calls us to be: 

people connected with God, each other, and with ourselves, 

people caught up in Extravagant and Indiscriminate Love. 

march 7, 2022

One of the most liberating and powerful truths we can ever embrace is that we are made of dust and spirit. That while we are skin and bones and muscles and ligaments, we are also the breath of God within us. That while we are human, we are also divine. Sit with that today. Recognize it with each breath. There’s something within that truth we need to let go to work: while we will experience limitations, pain, and struggle, we can also experience so. much. more. Which side of your being will you lean into? 

february 28, 2022

We begin Lent with Ash Wednesday, a day where we recognize our mortality by putting ashes on our foreheads and saying “dust to dust, ashes to ashes.” Seems a bit dark, doesn’t it? But here’s why we begin here: it reminds us we will all die and therefore asks us the question Mary Oliver asked, “What will you do with your one wild and precious life?” As we begin our Lenten journey, we begin with this: we are but dust but can use this life for beautiful and wonderful things. Will you do the work of living fully or will you die before you even live? 

november 15, 2021

Icons are works of art we use to connect with the Divine.

Henry Vickers, a member of the Tsimshian, Haida and Heiltsuk First Nations, created this icon he called "Easter." Spend some time looking at it and through it, and let it take you into that mystery we call God.

november 8, 2021

november 1, 2021

Which direction are you going?

october 25, 2021

october 18, 2021

october 11, 2021

On this Thanksgiving Monday, spend some time naming what's good in your life and our world (try to name five things) and then name five ways, one way for each thing, that you can pass that gift you've experienced to someone else.

october 4, 2021

september 27, 2021

Who do you need to apologize to today?

september 20, 2021

september 13, 2021

september 6, 2021

august 30, 2021

As we celebrate Pride Week in Calgary, what can you do to be the ally and advocate Jesus calls us to be?

How can you live out your belief that God loves and embraces everyone?

august 23, 2021

august 16, 2021

august 9, 2021

august 2, 2021

God, it's been a month. I am a new me. I’m not the same me I was in July. And now that it's August? The work continues. Help me to keep growing and becoming, always changing and never the same. Amen.  

july 26, 2021

Hope has holes

in its pockets.

It leaves little

crumb trails

so that we,

when anxious,

can follow it.

Hope’s secret:

it doesn’t know

the destination—

it knows only

that all roads

begin with one

foot in front

of the other. 

- Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer

https://ahundredfallingveils.com/about/

July 19, 2021

Justice is the establishment of and working toward right relationship with God, humanity, and creation that continually seeks to make things right where they are broken.

This work happens in and through community and is informed by the truth that all people are endowed with dignity, value, and beauty that is to be celebrated and embraced and that in this pursuit of justice we are all made whole.

- Chris Orme

july 12, 2021

july 5, 2021

Why does this month need to be like last month?

(Hint: it doesn't)

Start this new month off by naming one thing that you want to be different about this month. Maybe it's something about you, your relationships, your work, or your faith. It doesn't matter. Take some time to decide on that one thing and start making it happen. Remember: it's a whole new month to be a whole new you.

june 28, 2021

merciful, loving, gracious, and reconciling God, 

you restore what’s broken,

you renew what is falling apart, 

you heal what is wounded, 

you reconcile what's been divided.

Help us be like you.

Help us to do the hard work of repentance.

Help us to listen, learn, and grow. 

Help us to lean into grace and become new kinds of people. 

june 21, 2021

Blessed are those who groan and long for healing.

Blessed are those despised and dismissed for their bodies and minds.

Blessed are those who are invisible and unheard.

Blessed are those who live with limitations.

- Tanya Marlow

tanyamarlow.com

may 24, 2021

Mercy

(after Nikki Giovanni)

She asked me to kill the spider.
Instead, I get the most
peaceful weapons I can find.

I take a cup and a napkin.
I catch the spider, put it outside
and allow it to walk away.

If I am ever caught in the wrong place
at the wrong time, just being alive
and not bothering anyone,

I hope I am greeted
with the same kind
of mercy.

- Rudy Francisco 

https://www.iamrudyfrancisco.com/bio 

may 17, 2021

"And there’s a great teaching in my tradition that says God is a painter. It’s a wordplay on a Hebrew word. The original translation is, “There is no rock like our God.” But the rabbis creatively play with that and say, “There’s no painter” — the words are very similar in Hebrew — “There’s no painter like our God.” God is like the greatest painter. And for me, it’s really that God is a painter who then gave us the paintbrush and said, “Go make something beautiful.” And I think about that; I think about, our job really is to surprise God." - Rabbi Ariel Burger

How can you surprise God today?

may 10, 2021

may 3, 2021

Once an important and successful woman was listening to her student lamenting about a problem they were having at work.

The student cried out, "Help me!" The woman replied by asking: "Have you looked at the sky today?"

The student looked up through the window and for the first time realized they were made for more than just their business.

november 23, 2020

november 16, 2020

Days are allowed to suck.

Your day doesn’t have to be productive or meet certain requirements. Sometimes it can just be a total write off.

If, at some point today, you find yourself going "ARRRGH!" because today is one of those days, remember this:

You are not your day.
You are not the write off.
You are not what sucks.

Don’t confuse the two.

Who you are and what you're worth is not measured by what you produce and what you do.

Photo by Sofia Alejandra from Pexels

november 9, 2020

Take some time this week to imagine what it would be like to live without the pain you carry. What would it mean for you to believe you don’t have to live like this? The first step to healing is believing that it is possible.

november 2, 2020

Repeat After Me:

My friend’s issues are not my issues.

My partner’s issues are not my issues.

My sister’s issues are not my issues.

My brother’s issues are not my issues.

My family members’ issues are not my issues.

My issues are my issues.

I can be there for people without making their issues my issues. It does not mean I am unkind or mean to have emotional boundaries.

meditation by Nedra Glover Tawwab

Image by chezbeate from Pixabay 

october 26, 2020

Sometimes prayer can be tough. It can be hard to figure out what words to say. Below is a prayer that gives you all the words you need, you'll just need to fill in the gaps. Fill them in however you want, it doesn’t matter, and it can change every time. But however you fill in the gaps, use this to help you pray.

I am so ____ today.

I crave _____.

I am concerned about _____.

I hope for _____.

With my heart set upon ____,

I will _____.

Our example:

I am so determined today.

I crave the opportunity to contribute meaningfully.

I am concerned about the months ahead.

I hope for us to take care of each other.

With my heart set upon a world where all my friends can rest,

I will move through this day persistent in labours of freedom.

october 19, 2020

"If you can marvel at the face before you with as much wonder and awe as the mountains, the sunset refracting, you have unearthed the Spirit of God. For we are all made of glory." - @blackliturgies

So often we see God in nature, but how often do we see God in others? Our tradition teaches that all of us – you, me, and every other human being – is saturated in God's presence. It's that presence that connects and unites us, and calls us to treat each other with love, respect, and dignity.

We invite you to spend some time this week rumbling with this quote and question: How, especially in our work of anti-racism, can we see our BIPOC siblings as made-in-God's-image, full-of-love-and-light, needed-essential-worthy human beings?

Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels

october 12, 2020

I asked God if it was okay to be melodramatic

and she said yes

I asked her if it was okay to be short

and she said it sure is

I asked her if I could wear nail polish

or not wear nail polish

and she said honey

she calls me that sometimes

she said you can do just exactly

what you want to

Thanks God I said

And is it even okay if I don't paragraph

my letters

Sweetcakes God said

who knows where she picked that up

what I'm telling you is

Yes Yes Yes

—Kaylin Haught

october 5, 2020

How do you say grace before a meal? Did you know that’s actually a radical act? It's true. Saying 'Rub a dub dub, thanks for the grub!' has the power to change everything. To help us see how, we invite you to try out this meal time practice from the Buddhist teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh. At each part of the meal, say these words and reflect on what it all means:

Serving Food: In this food I see clearly the presence of the entire universe supporting my existence.

Looking at the Filled Plate: All living beings are struggling for life. May they all have enough food to eat today.

Just Before Eating: The plate is filled with food. I am aware that each morsel is the fruit of much hard work by those who produced it.

Beginning to Eat: With the first taste, I promise to practice loving kindness. With the second, I promise to relieve the suffering of others. With the third, I promise to see others’ joy as my own. With the fourth, I promise to learn the way of non-attachment and equanimity.

Finishing the Meal: The plate is empty. My hunger is satisfied. I vow to live for the benefit of all beings. I will use this energy for the sake of the world around me.

september 28, 2020

There are two people going up ladders. One person is on the third rung, the other on the 12th. Someone in the crowd watching turns to God, who happens to be passing through town that day, and asks: "Look at how high that one person is! Wow. I want to be just like them." God shook her head and replied, "Oh, it’s not about who gets higher. It's about who keeps moving."

While our world would teach that we find life in success, wealth, and achievement, our tradition would say something else. Life, it says, is found in the movement. It's found in the becoming, the growing, the learning, and in the struggle. That's why Jesus is about transformation. He knows that to be alive is to be moving.

How can you keep moving today?

How can you take even the tiniest steps forward?

september 21, 2020

september 14, 2020

As a great prophet once said, 'You gotta serve somebody.' Dylan knew something Jesus knew: we are worshipful creatures. There will always be something we give ourselves away to; things that possess our ultimate allegiance, that everything we are and do is directed towards. These are things we believe will bring fulfillment and joy.

One of the most important questions we can ask each and every day is: 'Who am I serving?' It's a daily question because we live in a world full of things competing for our devotion: work, money, fame, status, control, sex, busyness, and power.

As good as some of those things can be, serving them doesn't lead to fulfillment and joy. In order to find those things, Jesus taught we have to serve God. To serve God, he taught, is to serve the cause of love and justice: to stand up for the oppressed, to feed the hungry, to create beautiful things, and to repair and restore what is broken. It's there – in that service – that we find life as it was meant to be.

Take time this week to ask, "What will I serve today?" May that question help you set the intention of choosing to serve the God of Love and Justice. May you find there fulfillment and joy.

september 7, 2020

We celebrated Pride last week so today’s meditation is all about reminding us why we celebrate Pride. We celebrate Pride because we believe God loves everyone, because we believe in justice, and we celebrate Pride because we believe that everyone – gay, trans, lesbian, bi, non-binary, queer, straight, two spirited, or still figuring it out – is worth being proud of. We have pride because we know that everyone is worthy of being loved, respected, and celebrated.

This week's meditation is by the Rev. Megan Rohrer, the first openly trans minister in the Lutheran church. Spend some time with Megan's words and let them go to work, helping you celebrate Pride.

august 31, 2020

Dear God,

Today I bring to you all the ways I feel 'done.'

I bring to you every area where I feel lost.

I bring to you every piece that feels like it’s too much.

I bring all this to you and I trust you're working in it and through it.

In the midst of all that feels done, remind me you're just getting started.

Take me back to the beginning. Help me to remember the good work that you began in me a long time ago.

I trust that work is not done and it hasn't stopped.

I trust that even in this pain, you're still healing.

Even in this pause, you're still moving.

Even in this season that feels stagnant, you're still transforming.

You never stop the good work you're doing because you are faithful.

Do only what you can do.

Amen.

- Jarrett Stevens

august 24, 2020

The life Jesus invites us into is a life shaped by the truth that we are loved and enough just as we are. The spiritual task isn't just coming to believe that (which is hard enough as it is) but also (and here's the even harder part) learning to live like it.

This week's meditation is from the poet and mystic Madison Morrigan and invites us into that sacred work. Take some time this week to imagine and reflect.

Imagine what it would look like to peel back the societal programming and the masks and stories that keep you small so all that was left was you remembering who you were here to be.

How much joy, goodness, and buoyancy would you have access to if you allowed the false self to fall away?

august 17, 2020

Our friends at @BlackLiturgies (a great Instagram account to follow!) posted this meditation and we want to pass on a version to you. Spend some time with the quote and prayer and then reflect on what it means to cause holy mischief.

"We need, in every community, a group of angelic troublemakers." - Bayard Rustin

Fierce God,

Would you, who overturned tables and systems, remind us that your character includes disruption?

Would you release us from the bondage of complacency, and grant us spirits marked by courage and belief in the dignity of humans and all creation, knowing when to make trouble in defense of your world and the peace it brings. Let us be a holy mischief.

Amen.

august 10, 2020

"Joy will still find me here."

No matter where you're at or what you're going through, there is always the possibility of joy.

Sit with that . . . there is always the possibility of joy, of feeling truly and fully alive. From a spontaneous dance party, to a sudden burst of laughter, to a deep sigh of contentment, to giving way to something or someone you love, there is always the possibility of joy.

This mantra from the amazing Morgan Harper Nichols reminds us to be open to that possibility, to grab onto joy whenever She comes. Let it remind us of the liberating truth that life is good.

Image: Morgan Harper Nichols

august 3, 2020

Part of becoming human is learning to be open to what's happening within us and around us. It's having the courage and vulnerability to not only see what's there, but also ... and here's the kicker ... what could be there.

Sometimes that means replacing what's there, but more often than not, it just means adding in to balance out what's already there. Sit with that for a sec ... it's not about taking away those heavy things like fear, despair, or worry, it's about adding in things like love, hope, and peace to balance those things out.

Being human is a good thing. All our emotions, even the heavy ones, have a role. They all belong. The trick is doing the work to add in and let those new things balance us out, and maybe even tip the scales towards growth, movement, and transformation.

Creator, open unto me.

Open unto me, light for my darkness

Open unto me, courage for my fear

Open unto me, hope for my despair

Open unto me, peace for my turmoil

Open unto me, joy for my sorrow

Open unto me, strength for my weakness

Open unto me, wisdom for my confusion

Open unto me, forgiveness for my sins

Open unto me, tenderness for my toughness

Open unto me, love for my hates

Open unto me, Thy Self for myself

Creator, open unto me.

- adapt. from Howard Thurman

june 22, 2020

Sometimes (maybe all the time) it can take a few times for a lesson to sink in.

Sometimes (maybe all the time) it takes repetition for us to remember something.

This doesn’t just go for things like math (times tables, am I right?!) and directions, it goes for truths too.

Sometimes it takes repeating truths again and again for them to sink in and go to work.

For this week's meditation, we invite you to pick one or two these truths and repeat them to yourself so they can sink in and change everything:

i am loved and i am enough.

my voice deserves to be heard.

i can do hard things.

the world needs me.

june 15, 2020

We talk a lot about seeing God, and not enough about being seen by God. It's one thing to behold the Divine, it's quite another to let the Divine behold us.

This week’s meditation is about letting God see us, trusting God sees us as loved, enough, and beautiful, and moving to see ourselves the same way:

Find a space where you can be still, quiet, and alone.

Allow God to see you – not who you want to be, or who you think you should be – just you and all you are.

Allow yourself to be vulnerable and exposed.

Imagine God seeing you and all you are.

Trust God sees you as lovable, enough, and beautiful. 

How does that feel? What does it do to know God sees you that way?

Now, see yourself and dare to see yourself the same way.

How does that feel? What does it do to you see yourself that way?

june 8, 2020

For this week's meditation we invite you to reflect on this contemplative art from Scott Erickson.

But here's the twist: put yourself in the shoes of the one holding the bow.

Spend some time asking yourself:

Who have I hurt and how can I begin to seek reconciliation?

june 1, 2020

When it comes to how we talk about God, more often than not, we use the names we've been given: Father, Lord, Spirit, Mother, Creator. Those are all great, but here's the thing: we don't have to use them. We can come up with our own.

Our tradition invites us to name God for ourselves. We are invited to come up with our own name for the Divine.

Here's why that's beautiful and something we should each do: it reminds us that God is SO BIG that any one name and image won't do, and it reminds us that God is something we have a relationship with. Think about the nicknames you have for your friends, family, or partner – it comes out of a relationship, it comes out of experience and love. It's our way of saying "this is who you are to me." We get to do that with God. Beautiful, isn’t it?

Your meditation this week is to spend some time naming God. Who is God to you? What name can you give that holds meaning for you? How can this naming be a way of embracing that relationship?  

may 25, 2020

A few years ago, I was convinced a friend was mad at me. We used to talk or text all the time but I hadn't heard anything in over a month so I thought the friendship was over. We had different views of politics and faith, so I figured he just can't be friends with someone like me. Another month or so later I ran into him at a bar. I did that thing where we act like a three-year-old playing hide-and-seek – covering our face with our hand or standing behind a plant thinking, "That'll do it! They'll never find me." But he saw me. I knew he'd just ignore me since our friendship was over but he yelled my name, ran across the room, gave me this huge hug, and told me how bananas life had been for him lately and said how much he missed hanging out. As we caught up, I realized that I had it all wrong. Life was just really full for him. It wasn't as I had believed. The friendship wasn't over. I made that story up.

One of the most important things I've learned in my life is that what we believe matters. What we believe matters because it shapes how we live, think, move, see, and act. From the smallest convictions to biggest value, what we believe shapes everything. But the thing is, as my story shows, just because we really believe it, doesn't make it true. For today's meditation, we take some time to reflect on some of the things we believe and some stories we tell ourselves and ask:

what stories are you making up? what truth do you need to hear?

may 18, 2020

"What else is there to look at?"

Sometimes that's the question we need to ask when we're feeling down, frustrated, and hopeless.

I don’t know about you, but I can get so fixated on whatever it is that's causing me to feel those things that I get completely overwhelmed, fall apart and give up. Know what I'm talking about? I’m sure we all do. It's in these moments we need to ask that question: "What else is there to look at?"

It's a question that forces us to look at what else is in the room. More often than not, we'll find something else to look at – something life-giving, joyous, and hopeful – something that pushes back against the overwhelm, holds us together, and keeps us going. It's amazing what a shift in perspective can do. For this week's meditation, we practice asking that question with some help from the late and great Bill Withers:

When the day that lies
ahead of me
seems too impossible to face

When someone else
instead of me
Always seems to know the way

Then I look at you
and the world's alright with me.
Just one look at you
and I know it's gonna be
a lovely day.

may 11, 2020

It's time for a spiritual practice! Spiritual practices are things we do that ground us in God's presence. They can literally be anything. It can be still, active, loud, quiet, traditional, innovative . . . you get the idea. It's anything we do that connects us with God, others, and/or ourselves. For me, it's connecting with my body. I live in my head and working out and going for a bike ride is something that quiets the noise and lets me connect with my body, heart, and soul. It's life giving. That's what spiritual practices do. If you've got your own, we'd love to hear about it! This week, we invite you to try this. It's meant to help us be present and pay attention to what's happening in us and around us. So go grab a piece of paper, open up your notes app, and write down:

• 5 things you’re grateful for

• 4 things that you're lamenting

• 3 things you're hopeful for

• 2 ways you can love your neighbours today

• 1 thing you love about yourself

may 4, 2020

What does it mean to welcome and allow in God's presence?

This week's Monday Meditation asks exactly that with The Welcoming Prayer by Fr. Thomas Keating.

We invite you to pray along with the video and sit with its message.

april 27, 2020

Parables are a big part of our tradition. Jesus used them to the point where one writer of the Bible said he didn’t teach any other way. Their power lies in the fact that they don't give us answers, but they make us rumble with truth. They are meant to confuse and shock, making us ask big questions that can pull us into new ways of seeing, moving and being.

For today's meditation, we have a parable by the Jesuit priest Anthony De Mello. Your job is to read it, sit with it, and let it challenge you. Don't fight that, allow it. That's the point. Allow it to confront your assumptions and ideas, and pull you into something new. 

The Devil and His Friend:

The devil once went for a walk with a friend.

They saw a man ahead of them stoop down and pick something from the ground.

“What did that man find?” asked the friend.

“A piece of truth,” said the devil.

“Doesn’t that disturb you?” asked the friend.

“No,” said the devil, “I shall let him make a belief out of it.”

april 20, 2020

The powerful thing about art is if we give it enough space, it'll speak to us.

For this week's meditation, spend some time with this contemplative art by our pal Scott Erickson.

Look. Don't think. Look, look, and keep looking, and let it speak to you.

april 13, 2020

Anyone else finding this pandemic really tough? There's a lot of new stuff to deal with: grief, change, worry, stress, disconnection, joblessness, fear, home-schooling . . . it all adds up, doesn't it? It begins to wear me down to the point where I begin to doubt I can make it – where I just want to go buy a gazillion pack of Oreos and give up. New things can do that. Whether it's a new skill, hobby, job, or world, navigating something new can just plain suck because it means a lot – A LOT – of failure and frustration.

But maybe that’s the thing to remember as we navigate this new life and world we're in: we're allowed to suck at it. We're supposed to suck at it. It's going to be frustrating and we're going to fail. That's normal. That's part of the process. It's actually how we get better at it. Kind of weird, I know, but it's true. So as we head into another week of learning to do all of this, here's a mantra straight from the playbook of Brene Brown (whose new podcast 'Unlocked' is a must listen) for us to repeat to ourselves when the going gets tough:

new things are allowed to be hard.
I’m going to fail and that's ok because
new things are allowed to be hard.

april 6, 2020

It’s Holy Week. This is the time of year when we remember Jesus’ last week, reflect on his way and wisdom, rumble with Good Friday, and celebrate resurrection. It’s a pretty big week (understatement of the year?) One of the stories we get this week is when Jesus, knowing he would be killed soon, gave his students one last teaching. See, he knew being crucified was a big deal. He knew the disciples would freak out and, out of fear, go back to their old lives, ways, and habits. He knew his death had the potential to stop everything.

Fear does that, doesn’t it? It stops us in our tracks and sends us reeling back to what’s safe, comfortable, and familiar. That’s what the people who wanted Jesus dead were counting on. Make them scared and they’ll just go away! But knowing the world he was calling them to build was too important, knowing that a life that hums with reverence was on the other side of fear, and knowing they needed to persevere and move forward, he gave them one final teaching:

“Here’s what it comes down to: Love. Love yourselves. Love each other. Love the people around you. Be a source of love in the world.”

As we go through Holy Week, we need to hear that too. There’s a lot to be scared of in our lives and world. There’s stuff inside of us and around us that is so overwhelming we just want to give up, run away, and admit defeat. I get it. I’m the same way. There’s really scary stuff out there! But the thing is, the life God wants us to have? The world God wants us to have? It can’t be found by giving into our fears. It’s not found by being safe and comfortable. That life and world which hums with reverence is only found through love. It’s found through choosing to say “yes” to love, regardless of how scary something may be.

For this week’s meditation, knowing that Jesus calls us to be a source of love in the world, I invite you to try out a mantra. Whenever fear is telling you to stop and go back, repeat it to yourself. Maybe that’s loudly, maybe that’s quietly; it doesn’t matter. Say it, mean it, believe it, and may it draw you through the fear into a new life and a new world.

i will not let fear stop me from loving

i will not let fear stop me from loving

i will not let fear stop me from loving

March 30, 2020

Throughout the Bible we hear God and Jesus called ‘shepherd.’

It can be a bit foreign to us today since shepherds aren’t people we bump into on a regular basis or something we aspire to be in elementary school, but here are two beautiful things about it and why it’s imagery we should hold on to:

First, it gets at the idea that God is the one who – like a shepherd – protects, guides, and watches over us, and the one who leads and keeps us safe. And second, it reminds us that if God is doing all that, then we don't. All we need to do is simply be, remembering that God is here, with us and for us.

This week’s meditation is a visual prayer that grounds us in that truth. We invite you to watch and pray along with it.