Dear Beloved Community at CCSM,
It’s it good to be back at CCSM!! What a wonderful community we have here. If you missed Sunday’s service I hope you’ll tune in sometime this week—I talked about our relationship to time and the importance of weekly rituals—like coming to church!!
Speaking of time, take a few moments to read this email—you’ll see ways to connect with one another and events going on in the life of CCSM.
I’ll share this reflection (adapted) by Chase which invites us to be in a spirit of prayer and openness as we keep the people of Ukraine in our hearts.
The 13th century poet and mystic Rumi once described grief in this way: “There is a window open from my heart to yours.”
There is a window open from my heart to yours.
We see images of fleeing refuges and a window opens from our hearts to theirs.
The crying child pulled from their father’s arms. A home in ruins. People lost in fear.
There is such temptation to run to close the window, to quickly draw the blinds.
We are tempted to turn away from these open windows.
But if you can, let your heart stay open just a little bit longer.
Yes, it is painful to be open, but remember how courageous you are.
Remember how courageous we ALL are.
Remember the possibilities in leaving the window open. What will you see? What will you hear? What can you learn? Who will you call out to? Who calls out to you?
Allow yourself to be reassured that in ALL situations, at ALL times of crisis, there are moments of rest and safety, there are people who are helping, there are strange graces that fly to meet us.
And we become the light for one another.
Come before your God with your small, empty hands, come with your tired, willing hearts.
And know this, that God’s heart window is always wide open. Always. Wide. Open.
Open the window from your heart to God’s heart. Let in the divine light.
Ask only for God’s love and say, “that is enough for me.”
Bring only your open heart. All you have is love. That is enough. That is enough.
—Chase Montara
Penny
