POWER

I love having church outside where you are aware of nature and feel comfortable with a small group of kind and gracious people. Jane and Geff hosted the gathering of the Unitarian Church at their home yesterday morning. This church has had a big influence on their lives and still does especially for Geff.

The message was given by Pearle Glenn, our friend who went visiting at Peace Arch Hospital with me for seven years after we had been trained as lay-chaplains together. We shared many good stories together and at the beginning we thought differently about what we believed we learned there was more we agreed upon and more we could appreciate in the faith of each other.

Christianity is practiced in many ways but the message is to be of service in this hurting world. By giving up our power and our desire to be in control we gain an inner strength that helps us over-come and keep positive. The message of Jesus is simple but it is also becomes real when we go beneath the surface of our culture's religious symbols and doctrines to practice humility and unconditional love. It was easy to feel at home with a group of caring and loving souls.

We all have had pain and sorrow along with joy touch our lives in unexpected and unwanted ways. Yet, as Pearle mentioned we carry within us a dream, which is the foundation of our spirituality. We have been influenced in many ways by the people who become apart of our experiences.

I at times feel very different and out of place even among my own family. I enjoy being around their energy and their enthusiasm for life and I feel loved when we are together.

Love is the strongest force that keeps our hearts beating
and if we are able to let go of the past and be forgiving daily
we can learn to soar freely.

We are reminded to love and accept ourselves and each other because we are all at the place where we are meant to be and as long as we are open to a deeper spirituality it will come to us.