August is finally here and next to her family, I am going to be the happiest person to see Talia return. I missed her the second most of any of you because I knew she knew what I didn’t know in my startup.
Anyway, welcome back Talia. I know you will be different, Dr. Raymond. I know you will be refreshed, girlfriend. I know you will be ready to go, warrior. Can’t wait to see you so we can get this show on the road.
And for everyone else’s information, Warren and I will be away from August 7 – 11. We will be going to the site of our first date in Martinsburg, West Virginia, staying in Harpers Ferry where we had that first date. I invited him to be my date for my high school reunion at ten years out. We are returning to these sites for my 60th high school reunion. I know. That’s impossible.
Otherwise we are here and about to launch some big news: 2025 IS OUR 60TH ANNIVERSARY AS A CONGREGATION. We will kick off our festivities on August 17 by honoring one of our founding members, Bob Adkins, whose son John will offer a reading on what would have been Bob’s 100th birthday! The following Sunday, August 24, we will join together in our annual Gathering of the Waters service, and celebrate at one of our favorite watering holes, Cypress and Grove, that afternoon. Stay tuned for more details about upcoming programs and events as we commemorate this milestone on UCG’s timeline!
A Prayer from an interim for an interim
Spirit of the living God, I don’t know where I’m going next. Nor do I completely understand all the places I have already been. I had a path and then it went missing. There were times I thought you had forgotten my name. And surely there were times when I had forgotten yours.
Today I need a little spirit, a little life, a little god — just like the last time you showed up, on time just in time, in tune when I was out of tune. Dare I ask you for another song? Or is it the reverse ?
Would you give me a little song one just one more time?
In the name of the Christs, the Grails, the Energy, Allah and Ruach and all the Holy Spirits who thrive incognito. Amen.
Kabbalah (for your use at home):
In the Jewish art of Kabbalah, we are taught to practice CHESED or the art of loving kindness, which is at the heart of Torah, by a sequence of blessings. First on the self, then on the beloved, then on your enemy, or the friend you haven’t made yet of your enemy.
Yes, enemies are friends you don’t know yet. They are here to teach you something you don’t know. They may be intimates as well. Enemies, near or far, intimate, or public, dissolve in loving kindness, sometimes. Here are the blessings, roughly translated from the Hebrew:
May I be free from danger.
May I have mental happiness.
May I have physical happiness.
May I have ease of well-being.
Examples to repeat: May Warren, my Beloved, have each one of the four above.
May Jane, my so-called enemy, have each one of the four above. (My beloved, by name. My enemy, by name. Treat them with the respect they deserve.)
I enjoyed your description of Chesed. Sounds very similar to the practice of Metta in the Buddhist traditions. Yes, the world needs our loving kindness!
I appreciate (dare I say LOVE?) everything you wrote above. I will practice that prayer today.
This reminder is exactly what I needed right now. Thank you
Thank you for sharing these personal thoughts.
Thank you so much for the prayer!! I had prayed this in the past, but lost my copy. I am terrible at memorizing. I am so grateful you are here to minister, guide, and heal UCG. The church is ready for big things and brave adventures.