Monday, January 30, 2012
Light Shines in the Darkness
"The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it." Epiphany is the season of light. During Epiphany ~ which follows the season of Christmas ~ we celebrate that Christ is the light that comes into the world. Christ's light shines through his baptism, in his call to the disciples, through his teaching and in his healing. Christ is the light of God shining in the world. Today I spoke at a Chittenden Country Legislative Forum hosted by Kidsafe Collaborative and the Chittenden County Domestic and Sexual Violence Task Force. I spoke as a survivor of assault and sexual violence. It was not an easy thing to do, but it was my attempt to shed light onto the darkness that surrounds domestic and sexual violence. I feel privileged to have the opportunity to share my experience and bring light and hope to others.
What darkness do you feel called to dispel? What light can you shine into the dark places of life?
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
The Art of Spiritual Growth
One piece of wisdom that has stuck with me since the event is that spiritual growth does not happen spontaneously. Spiritual growth takes deliberation and discipline. That's not to say that spiritual growth is not a joy. Even in all the joy we receive through spiritual growth, it takes work!
One of the speakers defined spiritual disciplines as those things we do for ourselves. We might not feel like spending time in prayer every morning. (I know I don't!) But as a discipline, I know it is important and it is something I do regularly for myself and my relationship with God.
There are many things we can do to nurture our spiritual growth. As the title of the gathering suggests, it is more an art that a science. Singing, drawing, time spent in quiet, reading, physical exercise, meditation, prayer, writing and conversation are all things that can lead to spiritual growth. What disciplines do you follow to nurture your spiritual growth. What are you doing for yourself today?
Monday, January 16, 2012
We Have A Dream
Today we remember the work and the dream of Martin Luther King Jr. We can celebrate that pieces of King's dream have been realized. We can commit ourselves to the work of justice to bring King's dream to full fruition.
Take a moment today to reflect on the life of Martin Luther King Jr. and to ask God where you are called to ministries of justice, reconciliation and love in your community.
"I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low. The rough places will be plain and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."Isaiah had a dream!
"I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream."
Martin had a dream!
"We come from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire, the mighty mountains of New York, the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania, the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado, the curvaceous slopes of California, from Stone Mountain in Georgia, Lookout Mountain in Tennessee, and every hill and molehill in Mississippi to let freedom ring, to remember and to celebrate.'
We have a dream!
"One day, all God's children will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: 'Free at last. Free at last. Thank God almighty, we are free at last.'"
Thanks be to God! Hallelujah
~ Eugene Blair, African American Lectionary
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