Let Your Life Speak, part II

We are continuing our time, sitting with Parker J. Palmer’s Let Your Life Speak from last week.

If someone were to shadow you for a day, what would they conclude your priorities are?

Depending on the day, they might be fascinated from the meetings or the deep conversations that I get to have with many of you. On some evenings, my shadow might wonder why I like corny jokes and comedies on TV so much (answer: to balance the heaviness of our lives). They might even judge how many salads and cookies I eat on a regular basis.

More importantly, though, would they see my heart? My priorities, my deep care, my flawed humanity? Perhaps they would, as I try really hard to be the same person on a Sunday morning as a Friday night, the same in rush hour traffic as in a yoga class (patient and full of deep breaths). What would your shadow see in your life? How would your life speak?

When I hear the word vocation, I automatically think of a minister called by God to something holy and hard. Yet Parker Palmer expands the definition of vocation:

“Vocation is not a goal to be achieved but a gift to be received. Vocation does not come from a voice “out there” calling me to become something I am not. It comes from a voice “in here” calling me to be the person I was born to be, to fulfill the original selfhood given me at birth by God.”― Parker J. Palmer, Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation

He goes on in chapter two to talk about observing his newborn granddaughter; instead of being raw material shaped into something new, she was born already as “this kind of person rather than that, or that, or that.” Rather than becoming whoever the world wants her to be, she arrived in the “shape of her own sacred soul.” I just love that picture because it points to us being created in the image of God. And our job is to figure out who we are based on God’s presence always within us.

What do you think of this? What “speaks” to you from this passage, and do you wonder who you are? One constructive way to figure ourselves out is through prayer, specifically centering prayer. One of our church members, Tim Freeman, is hosting a Centering Prayer retreat here at Holmeswood this month (details below), if you’d like to find out more. May we keep seeking, keep moving, keep learning about the God of love who lives within us.

Happy week to you, child of God.

~Laurel

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Coming Up:

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October 14-15 – Centering Prayer Retreat

Led by Tim Freeman, this unique opportunity offers space for older teens and adults to center themselves for connection and reflection with God. Great for beginners to experts in centering prayer. This will take place at church and is not overnight. Book to be read before the retreat; please contact Tim at fladnag1955@gmail.com to sign up and receive more info. If you have childcare needs, please contact Laurel by Sept. 25 to make church arrangements.

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October 16 – Children’s Sabbath

• Children lead at Holmeswood, and this day is a global focus shared with faith communities around the world. Started and resourced by the Children’s Defense Fund, “The National Observance of Children’s Sabbath, is a time for people of all faiths to unite in shared concern for children and common commitment to improving children’s lives and working for justice on their behalf.” 
• If your child/youth would like a leadership part in Worship, be sure and attend BFG in September and October, where they will be preparing (singing, speaking, etc.); email Laurel if you have any questions.

October 30 – Trunk or Treat

• Come one, come all – it is time to dress up and celebrate! While some of us will “dress up” our vehicles in a fun theme, trick or treaters and their families will go around and join in the fun of creativity and neighborhood connections.