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Beloved Light Bearers, Thank you for staying with the "first two days" of our virtual series, Holy Discomfort and Profound Hope, the days of Resistance and Struggle. It is not easy. Indeed, it is deeply uncomfortable. But the truth and the grace of life is that we are not stuck here, and that perhaps these first two days will open us up, deepen our perception, to new possibilities. On the "third day" --- and yes, do you hear some echoes here with any other pattern with which you may be familiar? Ha!-- we begin to move into Profound Hope. That will be our movement in our next gathering, on Thursday, March 27. Below are links for some of the rich variety of offerings our community has brought forward to share with one another thus far. Some of the offerings I will bring forward a little down the road. I know there is an abundance. So pick and choose what holds resonance for you at this moment. I invite you to respond, reflect, and share further resources in the comments here on the blog. In the meantime, I share with you a video offered by one of our folks. It is a taize song that can help us to hold the space in the midst of all things. Let Nothing Disturb You Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you, all things will pass away. God never changes; patience obtains all things, whoever has God lacks nothing. God alone suffices. Amen. --St Theresa of Avila Here's a link to the sung version in Spanish, "Nada Te Turbe," on Youtube: https://youtu.be/FgtNVMsLU0E Other resources: Jillian Pranksy "When we land, arrive, and relax, we create space. In this space is the power to choose our response, in which is our growth and freedom. It is our experience of aliveness." - Jillian Pransky I consider Jillian to be one of my most important mentors and teachers regarding how to walk, be, and take action in the midst of the choas. She is who taught me LARLAR. Jillian's website is here: https://www.jillianpransky.com/. She also wrote a wonderful book, Deep Listening: A Healing Practice to Calm Your Body, Clear Your Mind, and Open Your Heart. Victor Frankl "Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom." - Victor Frankl Victor Frankl was a neurologist, psychologist, philosopher, and holocaust survivor. "The Guest House" by Rumi Text translation by Coleman Barks: https://grateful.org/resource/guest-house-rumi/ Artistic interpretation by Zen Pencils: https://www.zenpencils.com/comic/rumi/
"WE WILL NOT PRETEND. We will not give up, go away, or be quiet. We will remain here, standing in the way of the victory parade, spoiling the photo op, embarrassing the guests at the penthouse party. We will continue to resist oppression. We will not allow society to return to a culture of closets. We will not pretend that this is the best of all ecological worlds. We do not think we have all the answers, but we will never stop asking questions. We are the quiet people of the center, the struggling people of the margins, the determined survivors of the bottom rung. We are the new community of faith, unified by a shared vision of human dignity, strengthened by a common belief in the power of love. Until history moves toward justice we will not give up, go away or be quiet." (p. 63)
As always, a deep bow of gratitude to you for your presence on this journey.
And as always, much love and many prayers, Julia
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 Friends, As we continue to walk this journey that is the present moment, I share with you a quote from Victor Frankl -- neurologist, psychologist, philosopher, and Holocaust survivor. "Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom." Practice: Notice this space in various situations throughout your day. Explore it. Be curious. Know too, that you can also explore the space in your breath, between inhale and exhale, and between exhale and inhale. How might all these noticings relate with one another in your incarnational experience, and thus in your response to a given moment, the eternal now? With much love, Julia  In this time, when injustice, oppression, and fear think they have the last word, join us as we gather together to support and to encourage one another in Jesus’ call to be rooted and grounded in love: rich, deep, active and engaged love. It is a call that includes, and I will go so far as to say is particularly essential, when our comfort is challenged for the care, protection, and uplifting of the most vulnerable amongst us.
Holy Discomfort and Profound Hope: Our first virtual gathering is tonight at 7:30 Central! I look forward to seeing you there. |
AuthorThe Rev. Julia G. Rusling, founder ArchivesCategories |
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