Wednesday, February 5, 2025: “Let’s move forward with love, not conquest; humility, not righteousness; generous curiosity, not hardened assumptions



We know that what we do flows from who we are. Our work in the healing work in the world flows from the ongoing healing we experience within ourselves. Just like hurt people hurt people, healing people heal people. But it’s not like we get healed and then we go “fix” everybody else. We’ve met people who think that’s the case, but their sense of having it all together actually makes it harder for them to help others.  


We often refer to Henry Nouwen’s image of being “wounded healers.” Our own process of healing, with all its pain and difficulty, helps us participate humbly, gently, and sensitively in the ongoing healing of others and the world. I think that’s why so many of us are attracted to the work of engaged contemplation. We know that what we do flows from our being and becoming. In contemplation, we’re attending to the curation of our own inner being and becoming. What we do in the world around us flows from this inner lifelong process of healing and growth.… 


None of us know what the near or long-term future holds, but we can gain clarity within ourselves about how we want to show up. I want to show up as a person of peace, but not alone.



I want to be in partnership with others to create a circle of peace—not a circle that puts up a wall to keep others out, but one that welcomes others in no matter what happens. We’re not the first ones who have tried to do this. We’ve got to look around, recognize, and be grateful for how many people are doing their part—what they are uniquely called and gifted to do…. 


We are so blessed in the Christian tradition to have so many amazing leaders and teachers who have been creating circles of healing and peace for generations. It is truly inspiring to learn from their examples. 


But our job is not only to learn from them, but more: to join them in this ongoing work in the world. Marine biologist Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and climate activist Katharine K. Wilkinson write,


“Let’s move forward with love, not conquest; humility, not righteousness; generous curiosity, not hardened assumptions. It is a magnificent thing to be alive in a moment that matters so much. Let’s proceed with broken-open hearts, seeking truth, summoning courage, and focused on solutions.”




Can we accept this magnificent opportunity? To be alive in a moment that matters so much? Dare we believe that this contemplative work and exploration and study that we’re engaged with is not to just make us happier people, but rather to help us be partners together in loving action? 



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Image
 Wednesday, January 15, 2025: Announcement for Our Potential Move - and we need your comments now! Dear Sisters and Brothers of Emmaus: On Monday Linda, Marcie and David visited with Lindsey Kerr, the Pastor of Christ Church Methodist in Santa Rosa in order to assess whether moving to Christ Church for our liturgies would be advantageous for all of us at Emmaus. Many of us have worked with Lindsey and consider her to be an excellent leader who is courageous and energetic. We received a warm welcome from Lindsey who showed us around Christ Church and opened the room in which we may meet. It’s not in the church – but an unused classroom that’s part of the larger set of buildings in the complex.  The room has space enough for us, lots of windows and some storage. They are buying new tables for the room. The room used to be a classroom so there’s plenty of room for our celebrations. Because it was a classroom, there’s also potential for hanging posters and making it our own. ...
Read more
Image
 Saturday, February 1, 2025: Announcement about Bill Boorman (Sir Will) Victoria just called and explained that Bill Boorman is in his transitional phase. He's no longer eating or drinking. He's still mentally sharp but is having great difficulty communicating. Let's lift up Bill as he begins his passage  Bill is one of the kindest, most talented, and generous people of this age or any other. He loved life,  companionship, friends, art, and good food. Bill used every day to live a full life. He was no visitor to this world but rather a one-person celebration of humanity in all its wonder.  As I think that he's passing from this world, to whatever comes next, I think this poem by Mary Oliver expresses so much of Sir William.  when death comes  I want to step through the door full of curiosity, wondering:  what is it going to be like, that cottage of darkness? And therefore I look upon everything  as a brotherhood and a sisterhood,  and I look ...
Read more
Image
Thursday, May 15, 2025: *Quote from Pope Leo X1V*:  Because this Church, as long as I breathe, will be a home for the homeless, and a rest for the weary. " Brothers, sisters… I speak to you, especially to those who no longer believe, no longer hope, no longer pray, because they think God has left. To those who are fed up with scandals, with misused power, with the silence of a Church that sometimes seems more like a palace than a home. I, too, was angry with God. I, too, saw good people die, children suffer, grandparents cry without medicine. And yes… there were days when I prayed and only felt an echo. But then I discovered something: God doesn't shout. God whispers. And sometimes He whispers from the mud, from pain, from a grandmother who feeds you without having anything. I don't come to offer you perfect faith. I come to tell you that faith is a walk with stones, puddles, and unexpected hugs. I'm not asking you to believe in everything. I'm asking you not to cl...
Read more