openNess

Beloveds,

How is it with your spirit?
I hope that during this time you are doing things that nurture you. Taking time outside, talking to loved ones, creating art, oh! and minding your altar and focusing your intent for this time. 
Last week I mentioned our fellowship inspiration word for the year was “Light.” 
I decided to pull a word for us for the coming week and I picked “Openness.” To be honest, I didn’t appreciate it. What are we supposed to open to? What if things are not going well? But...but…
 I was thinking we needed a word like “grace” or “power” or “freedom.” 
So, well...I put it back. And I got “acceptance.” 

As you who have been picking words know, you can reject the word, but the next word you pick will simply reinforce the first one.

So - OPENNESS it is.

As I thought about openness in the context of where we are right now. 
What can openness teach us?

The first thing that came to mind is being open to where you are at at this moment.
What feelings are you experiencing?

What might happen if you are open to experiencing everything? 

This is what it means to be embodied. It doesn’t mean if there are difficult feelings that we push them down, nor does it mean that we hang on to them. We can just be open.

Openness also brought up for me being open to life’s gifts - 
Where do you find beauty?

Where do you experience grace and goodness and love?

Openness to what is happening in this political moment may mean seeing what is before us with clarity, insight and eyes wide open hope.

What about being open to the Moreness?To Love? To God?
Openness to the love and mystery holding us all?

Beloveds, 
Let us be open to the realities and possibilities before us
Together…
Here are some times for connection in the coming days:

See you this Sunday for worship at 10am!
Breathe - Push

Join me along with the Poor People’s Campaign for these events
https://www.facebook.com/anewppc

• M.O.R.E. Prophetic Vote  each day at 9amPT/NoonET
  Guided by the shared purpose to pursue justice and to answer the prophetic call, we are committing to a week-long witness for democracy leading up and through Election Day. We join our voices to say clearly that the fight for every vote to be counted is still our sacred duty. The integrity of a free and fair election in which every eligible voter’s rights are protected is a critical matter of public concern. We call on faith leaders from congregations, synagogues, churches, mosques, and temples as well as those leading national faith bodies and denominations led by the Spirit of Justice and Liberation to join us virtually for daily prayer and action at 9amPT/NOON ET for 15 minutes from October 27th to November 2nd and then a 12-hour prayerful action beginning on Nov. 3rd. Join us.
• I will be giving one of the reflections Saturday 10/31

​Election Day 
Live from National City Christian Church: Morning Session
Beginning Tuesday, November 3rd at 5:00amPT/8:00am ET we will be broadcasting our prayerful action live from National City Christian Church in Washington, DC until 5:00pmPT/8:00pm ET. Join this witness insisting that voting is free of harassment and intimidation, and that every vote is counted.

Live From National City Christian Church: Evening Session
Starting at 6:00pmPT/9:00pm ET on election day, our prayerful action will continue as Washington, DC faith leaders and voices from around the country lead us in a program of prayer, prophecy, and witness for a just democracy now. The broadcast will last until 8:30pmPT/11:30pm ET.