Sarah’s scribblings…

       As many of you know, we’re undertaking a new initiative here, to help focus our mission, and charge our ministry batteries with new juice for the journey.
       A huge component of the process will be our willingness to engage in real dialogue with each other about our hopes and dreams, our thoughts and feelings, and yes, even our fears and misgivings.
      The most challenging and rewarding aspect of dialogue is the part where we get to listen to another—really listen, so as to understand, and grow.
      I adapted the words below for an AAIM delegate assembly this week, as an opening prayer for a time of listening to each other respond to questions drawn from the new book, The Amazing Faith of Texas.  I think they speak beautifully to us (to everyone, really), especially as we commit to growing in the Spirit, deepening in compassionate connection, and expanding in capability for ministry.
      I look forward to being in dialogue with you this Sunday, and all our days to come.

Shalom,
Sarah

 The Word in Love with Dialogue

In the beginning was the Word,
      from the Creating Mind,
 and from eternity to eternity
 is the Word.
The Word seeks dialogue,
The Word pines for utterance,
       for human dialogue,
   for flesh and blood conversation.
The Word becomes real
       in holy creativity,
 living through us,
through our dialogue
with the Source, and each other.
This Word cuts loose
     our monologues,
     frees and stills our lonely, lone voices,
       and impels us into dialogue.
The whole creation lives in dialogue,
     day and night, in holy, creating
         conversation.
Therefore, “they” become “us,”
      a family,
      listening and learning,
      speaking and growing,
      shaping and being shaped
          by dialogue, for loving action.
Holy Mind, Holy One,
    nudge us into laughter and listening,
    into tears and opening,
    into strength and vulnerability,
into the joy and struggle of real
    community-making.
Draw us from the shadow lands
    of isolation and fear,
    all the illusions that hold us back,
          that keep us from opening
our minds, our hearts, our very being,
          to new life in you.
Holy Source, who breathes life into us,
       and all creation,
breathe love into our
       community-making efforts.
Help us to live true
       to the Word, the Mind, the Love
       from which we all are made,
the Holy Word, forever in love
        with dialogue.  Amen.
(Adapted by Sarah, from
Creating Interfaith Community,By Marston Speight, study guide by Glory and Jacob Dharmaraj)