I was privileged to enjoy a day visit to a reunion, arriving in time for the morning sharing service. The theme being discussed was “We share the Sacred Story.” I listened as several people shared how much the reunion community meant to them, and how the story of the grounds had become sacred in their experience. Perhaps surprisingly, as the conversation continued in that vein, I found myself growing somewhat uneasy.
It was not that there was anything wrong with what was being shared; in fact the stories were both touching and wonderful. What was scratching at the door of my consciousness, however, was a fear that we might grow to think that this is the place where the sacred story happens. To be more precise, I would not want us to think that this is the only place where the sacred story happens.
In that context, I began to let my mind wander and think of other places; other stories. I thought of our Montreal congregation with their passionate and joyful music and deep prayer life. I thought of that community gathering resources to share with our Haitian brothers and sisters who are so desperately in need following the earthquakes. I know both these places and all of these people to be sacred.
I thought of the little team of dedicated disciples who serve others through Sionito Development Corporation. I thought of the lives they touch: some the elderly poor, some persons who are physically challenged, and others who suffer with mental illness or addictions. I thought of the difference that our devoted Sionito team is making in their lives. I know these people and stories to be precious and sacred.
I thought of a group of young adults and others gathered around tables at GTA-West congregation, forming a production line to pack more than 150 lunches to be shared with homeless or poor people in the city of Toronto. I thought of the love that went into those bags with the cookies and apples and peanut butter sandwiches. I thought of the smiles those lunches produced. I know these moments to be sacred and precious indeed.
The point is that every life is sacred, and so is every encounter and every story. Our task is to share our sacred story with others, and to listen carefully to theirs. It is not just in our sacred space that this happens, but in every space made sacred by the fact of God’s creation and the presence of God’s children. It is in the sharing that we create new sacred stories. I know this deeply to be true.
As we each go throughout our day today, may we each be blessed by an awareness that each moment and each person we encounter is sacred, and may we share and create sacred stories as we go.
Posted by Carman
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It would seem that there is a human need to link the intangible to the tangible. When a "special" experience happens to us we need to hold onto that. I think we tend to reflect on that experience and look back to it as a challenge and a guide to our going forward. Sometimes we want to refresh that experience. At this point we often seem to turn to a place or an item as the focal point of this/or those experiences. Unfortunately we then have a tendency to focus on the place or thing instead of people or experience itself. I think because the place or thing is easier to understand.
ReplyDeleteHow often have we seen division or discomfort in the community when the time comes that a place/item that has served a useful purpose has passed it's value to the community, and it is time to move on.
Most of us have special places in our lives, but as Carman has pointed out it is very important to understand that is the people and the Spirit we have met at those places that hold the real value, and deserve the real focus of our attention.
David
Thank you, David.
ReplyDeleteI hope people will share the reunion experience with as many people as they can. Sharing how we were blessed in that environment will create opportunities to grow closer to others and share new encounter there.
We were richly blessed.
Carman