Becoming Safer Soil

Credit: Adobe

Jesus, in his conversation with Simon in Luke 7, doesn’t try to coerce Simon into accepting him. He doesn’t reject Simon for his resistance. He simply sits with Simon at the table, engages his resistance, and offers him a new way of seeing. Then he leaves it with Simon to think about. That was my goal on Sunday—to give us something to think about. Here are the prompts from the end of my talk so that you can continue pondering and paying attention to  your own inner soil:

How do we work the soil of our communities, so we make it safer to express our different needs, desires, and perspectives without being shunned, shamed, invalidated, or judged?

How can we wield whatever power we have well, so that instead of merely getting our own way, we seek to foster the widest possible circle of welcome, belonging, and wellbeing for everyone?

How do we work for the flourishing of all life, rather than merely the flourishing of those with power?

It’s a lot to ponder, so, let’s start slow and simple. This week, I invite you deeper into the practice of slowing down and noticing things…

Notice your resistance… where do you feel it in your  body? What are you resisting? Why? 

Notice your different needs, wants and desires? Notice how comfortable you are, or aren’t, with naming them? What makes it easier? What makes it more difficult? 

Notice how comfortable you are hearing other people name to you their needs, wants, and desires?

Notice your judgments. 

Notice your generosity. 

Notice your tendencies to coerce. 

Notice your tendencies to comply.

Notice why you made those choices, and what they gained you?

Notice your courage. 

Notice your gratitude.

Notice the lavishness of your love. 

Get to know the landscape within you—the rocks, the roots, the dryness, the constriction. The juice, the joy, the freedom, the lavish love. All of it gets to show up. All of it is worthy of your attention. This is you: the soil of your heart.

As you observe your own soil, know that God is with you, blessing you, keeping you, making Holy Love to shine upon you, giving you peace. Amen

Sun. Nov 6   Luke 8:22-39 
Unsafe or Uncomfortable?
Guest speaker: Nancy DeVries

Sun. Nov 13
Holding Space 
John 11:1-44

Sun. Nov 20
Right and Wrong
Luke 14:1-6 

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