Stay Safe Stay Strong Live Life

by Gordon Street III, Commissioned Minister for Reimagining and Connecting with the God of One’s Own Understanding

“Stay Safe Stay Strong Live Life!”

That’s how I end my Facebook Messenger outreach messages. I need to remind myself and give others a focus point . My original intent was to reach out to seek and give support at the beginning of the pandemic. I just wanted to make sure everyone was ok and let them know they were not alone . As time passed my messages evolved to offering words of hope and light. Staying connected during the pandemic is and was very important to me. What began as a simple outreach, Facebook Messenger became a great tool for me and part of my ministry.

I share words of inspiration and acknowledge the struggle. Early in the morning I search for inspirational pictures and connect them to my outreach message. I continue to get responses that range from “Thanks” to “I really need that today” to “I look forward to your messages” and “your words of hope and light helped me through difficult moments.”

Well over a year of outreach and still going strong . I have moments when I think “what do I say today” and often Spirit speaks to me with inspiration. As with all my outreach, I don’t expect a reply—that’s not the point of why I do it. I share the Love, Grace, and Hope that God gives to me. I have to give away what has so graciously given to me.

Hope all is well.

Stay Safe Stay Strong Live Life

I’ve got nothing.

by Amanda Peterson

I’ve got nothing. Am I the only one who has experienced that?  Inspiration seems like a fickle energy some days.   The funny or meaningful story, sermon, art work, class plan just doesn’t come. Just showing up becomes challenging work.  Yet here I am showing up and I’ve got nothing. One of my favorite definitions of contemplation is “a long loving look at the real.”  Developing one’s spirituality is rooted in being real.  And somedays real is just nothing.

Once the truth is stated there is a freedom to dwell in the loving part of that definition.  Maybe the nothing is a something.  Maybe the nothing helps point to the Something without expectations, duty or shoulds.  I do know when life is like this I listen, wonder, and notice life a bit differently.  For instance, I have been creating a lot lately so when nothing is there I look around at my life.  What have I let go during a very fruitful and inspired time?  Nothing times allow space to take care of home,  relationships and one’s soul.  Maybe having nothing isn’t so bad after all.  Maybe the nothing is a call to Something.

Practice:

Are nothing times a call to “take care”?  What in your life needs your care right now?

image: © original artwork by Amanda Peterson