Everyone is God’s Beloved

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Saturday, December 19, 2015

Everyone is God’s Beloved

When I think about my fear, my anxiety, my insecurity, my anger at myself and at others, what can possibly take those negative feelings away? God. More specifically, God’s love. And, knowing that God loves me. Me, myself. Exactly the way I am. I don’t have to change. I don’t need to become something different. God loves me exactly the way I am right now.

Once I start getting used to this earthshaking idea (Imagine—God loves me! I am God’s beloved!), I can start to explore the idea that God also loves other people. Perhaps just as much as God loves me.

Can God really and truly love everyone? Can each person be beloved by God?

That’s what Henri Nouwen says, in the reading for Saturday. “ … When you discover yourself as being the beloved son or daughter of God, you suddenly have new eyes to see the belovedness of other people.” [1]

The Advent Action for Saturday is: “Make a list of the blessings and benefits that have been given to you by God, your Savior. Take a few minutes today to give thanks for one of these undeserved blessings. If possible, pass this blessing on to others.” [2] What a marvelous way to express this feeling of being God’s beloved.

Dear Lord, loving God, thank You for Your love. You are so generous with Your love, mercy and kindness. You shower me with undeserved blessings each and every day. What’s more, I am not even aware of many of these blessings. Forgive me for being so oblivious. And, thank You for being willing to overlook these flaws and faults. Thank You so much for loving me.

@chaplaineliza

Like what you read? Disagree? Share your thoughts with your loved ones and continue the conversation.

Why not visit my sister blogs, “the best of” A Year of Being Kind.   @chaplaineliza And, read my sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er

(also published at www.matterofprayer.net

[1] Advent and Christmas: Wisdom from Henri J. M. Nouwen (Linguori, Missouri: Redemptorist Pastoral Publications, 2004), 42.

[2] Ibid, 43.

Embrace the Everyday Presence of the Sacred

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Thursday, June 4, 2015

Clipart Illustration –
Black And White Senior Couple

Embrace the Everyday Presence of the Sacred

Each day, every day, we are presented with all number of choices. Each thing, every facet of day-to-day life is potentially sacred. Hallowed. Such qualities as beauty, intimacy, community and imagination. All of these can be blessed, and a way of accessing the soul within.

Divinity? What is that? How is divinity quantified? How much does it weigh? What color is it?

I don’t think the writer of our chapter for today—Thomas Moore—would look upon divinity or soul in such a quantitative, measurable way, either. Yet, he describes soul—divinity—as an everyday function. We ought to be able to find it in ordinary experiences, and circumstances.

The problem is that so many people are so far from any idea of the soul, at all. Oblivious, really.

As Thomas Moore says, “When we are so estranged from the everyday presence of the sacred, how can we rekindle a relationship with the soul? There are many ways, though they’re not necessarily easy. A good beginning is to stop what we’re doing every so often—take time out from the crazy pace we’re caught up in—and use that time to contemplate, whether through formal meditation, or by talking to each other more deeply, or simply by enjoying nature.” [1]

Oh, I need to slow down and pay attention to the everyday happenings of the day. Look more closely and celebrate each one’s blessed ordinary-ness. I need to care for my soul, using everyday things. Activities. Meditation and prayer. Yes, celebrate the everyday people, too. Like me.

@chaplaineliza

Like what you read? Disagree? Share your thoughts with your loved ones and continue the conversation.

Why not visit my sister blogs, “the best of” A Year of Being Kind.   @chaplaineliza And, read my sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er .

[1] Handbook for the Soul, Richard Carlson and Benjamin Shield, editors. (Boston: Little, Brown & Co., 1995), 27.