“In troubled times it takes great concentration to align ourselves with grace instead of force, with love instead of fear.” Steve Garnass-Holmes
Dear friends,
What do Bobby Jo Valentine, Pastor Steve Garnass-Holmes, and the anonymous author of the Letter to the Hebrews have in common? Or picture it this way– a young, gay singer songwriter, a retired Methodist pastor/poet, and a 1st century writer walk into a bar….. And they order up the same “drink”--miles and centuries apart, they drink deeply of the “heart.” Each in their own way, through music, poetry, and bold proclamation, they remind us of our common humanity, the human ability to love and learn, to grow and transform when we open our hearts to the truth of our connection to one another and to the One who created(s) us.
Bobby Jo offers “The thing about a heart is it opens from the inside”
A timely song about loving people where they are. Click on the link to hear about why he wrote the song and to listen.
Pastor Steve sends a poem every morning. This week he grabbed hold of my heart with this one, helping me to remember “the station my heart is tuned to”:
In darkness, light
There are many who are not praying for peace—
people who are praying resentment and grievance,
violence and division, people praying fear and anger.
But that’s not the station my heart is tuned to.
I listen for the voice of healing.
I am attuned to the spirit of peace.
I open myself to the power of love, even toward the cruel.
I entrust myself to the mystery of grace.
I offer myself to the flow of mercy.
Amid cruelty I practice kindness.
In the face of lies I speak truth.
While others are shouting, I listen.
In chaos, I choose love.
In conflict, I choose love.
Even to the end, I will choose love.
I will not save the world,
but I will help the world;
I will be a force for good.
I may not change minds or sway an election,
but I will shine light.
And the darkness can not overcome it.
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Unfolding Light
And the author of the Letter to the Hebrews, enjoins us all to worship together, “with a true heart, in complete assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10:22) and to be encouragement for one another-“let us stir up one another’s minds to energetic effort in love and good works” (10:24) for that is where our hearts become truly human. N.T. Wright puts it this way: “Something happens to people when God places his laws in our hearts and writes them in our minds. We become truly human beings, from the inside out. It starts with the heart and works its way into the rest of the personality, thinking, behavior and all.”
In this time of heightened anxiety and uncertainty, I am listening for words of hope, words of love, words of faith. These words are more often than not, quietly delivered, reminiscent of the “still small voice” Elijah heard (1 Kings 19:12). God spoke to Elijah not in the loud storms, or the crashing of an earthquake, or in the blazing fire, but in a quiet way; beyond the thrashing and shouting.
It has been helpful for me to remember the story of Elijah as I sit on the Chapel porch in quiet contemplation and prayer, amidst the beauty of the late autumn days. Bobby Jo’s message of love through his music, Pastor Steve’s daily poems, and the rich conversations some of us are having on Wednesdays about the Letter to the Hebrews are places where God’s voice comes through. I pray you are finding still places, quiet places in the midst of all the shouting.
Trinity Church, as a community of faith, is a living witness to God’s presence both past, present, and future. We are part of a long story of God’s people, living by the grace of God’s faithfulness to us. As we pray this week, may our hearts be opened and transformed in love.
I look forward to seeing you on Sunday when we will worship together and celebrate the lives of all the saints whose prayers bolster ours now, and we will welcome Luca Nappa to the household God through Holy Baptism. The work of the faithful, the prayers of the faithful, the life of God goes on. The Chapel will be open on Monday, Nov. 4 from 4 pm to 7 pm for prayer. May we continue to encourage one another, trusting in God’s promises of new life always.
Peace and blessings,
Nancy+
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