The Power of Kindness

The power to change the world may be found in kindness. Romans 2 says
the kindness of God turns hearts. Kindness opens the hearts of
people, lowers defenses, stirs interest. Just being kind to others
may be the first step of evangelism and kindness is not a spiritual
gift but a connection of how God moves thru us to the hearts,
histories and lives of others. One act of kindness followed by
another and another shapes the world.

Symbols and Celebrations For Life

We are people of symbols and celebrations. These give meaning, call
us back to that meaning, root us in a new identity that empowers
choices and determination. Without symbols and celebrations life
becomes a series of moments that are disconnected, where we live in
one moment that has no real connection to something deeper as well as
to the next moment.

Symbols and celebrations go hand in hand. The celebration reminds us
of the power of a symbol (think wedding ring or baptism). The
celebration infuses the symbol with meaning that can alter the rest of
the day and the rest of life.

Of course symbols can become flat and the celebration just another
meal. The symbol and the celebration is a calling to our roots but we
must go there, emotionally and willfully. If we fully engage in the
symbol and celebration the world opens to us once again, and we are
changed.

Symbols and celebrations give us roots which is emotional power,
activates the will and shapes life. The symbol, if reflected upon,
gives us a sense of identity, determination along with awe and
wonder. Seeing someone else experience God in baptism can empower me
to live fully obedient, fully committed. Seeing someone else in
baptism can remind me of my grace-filled acceptance by Jesus. And
that shapes the rest of my life.

We need celebrations and symbols. If we celebrate the moment, not
just have a party but celebrate the specific moment, the world of
God's love and presence opens to us again. If we reflect on the
symbol, as in a wedding ring, our joy in our chosen one is fanned into
a flame again.

We need symbols and celebrations. Just another party isn't good
enough. We need a real celebration!

A New Community

We are wired for relationships. That wiring goes back to our image of
God creation. So wired in fact that we pursue them online if they are
not available in the flesh. Online, it might seem, is safer, more
accepting. But is it? In "You are Not a Gadget" the author says we
all have a troll inside (read, we are fallen and sinful) that comes
out. ONline communities do bash, they do reject, they do hurt and
have powerful influence. In 2008 Korean movie star Choi Jin-sil, some
described her as the nations movie star, committed suicide. Why? She
was hounded by online trolls. ONLINE!!!

She is not the only one hurt by online. Far from it. Online has a
sense of anonymity but that is not safe, just distant. What we long
for is a new community, one where acceptance is given, forgiveness
releases and joy is abundant. Can't find that online necessarily.
That new community is found whenever and wherever we live out the Word
of God. Wonder if we could create a new community in the Innovation
Way of Orlando? If we began with acceptance, forgiveness, the
willingness to listen to understand would that not open ears and
eyes... and hope?