Good morning…
I woke on Thanksgiving morn with this inspiring meditation blessing my inbox.
Community Makes God Visible by Henri Nouwen, November 27th, 2020
Nothing is sweet or easy about community. Community is a fellowship of people who do not hide their joys and sorrows but make them visible to each other as a gesture of hope. In community we say: “Life is full of gains and losses, joys and sorrows, ups and downs—but we do not have to live it alone. We want to drink our cup together and thus celebrate the truth that the wounds of our individual lives, which seem intolerable when lived alone, become sources of healing when we live them as part of a fellowship of mutual care.”
Community is like a large mosaic. Each little piece seems so insignificant. One piece is bright red, another cold blue or dull green, another warm purple, another sharp yellow, another shining gold. Some look precious, others ordinary. Some look valuable, others worthless. Some look gaudy, others delicate. We can do little with them as individual stones except compare them and judge their beauty and value. When, however, all these little stones are brought together in one big mosaic, portraying the face of Christ, who would ever question the importance of any one of them? If one of them, even the least spectacular one, is missing, the face is incomplete. Together in the one mosaic, each little stone is indispensable and makes a unique contribution to the glory of God. That’s community, a fellowship of little people who together make God visible in the world.
Empowered by the indwelling Spirit, we each live out our own uniqueness. Side by side in one mosaic, we are a fellowship of little people who together make God visible in the world through our mutual care.
For in the same way that one body has so many different parts, each with different functions; we, too—the many—are different parts that form one body in the Anointed One. Each one of us is joined with one another, and we become together what we could not be alone. Since our gifts vary depending on the grace poured out on each of us, it is important that we exercise the gifts we have been given (Romans 12:4-6a, VOICE).
…Sue…
P.S. One person living out her single square with brilliance is talented artist Corinne Adams, who shares with us our opening photo. Corinne wrote me this week to share a new initiative the Spirit is sparking. Corinne writes:
“Life during the pandemic gives me pause — to take my camera into nature — and to consider the gifts of creativity, peace, resilience and hope that I’ve received there. As I enter Thanksgiving week, I’m called to do more. I’m launching a new initiative called HEART FOR HOPE.
You’ll find my newest photographs — created in the woods of my Atlanta neighborhood and on the Florida Panhandle — at www.corinneadamsart.com. Starting today, I’m giving 100% of the proceeds from sales of these photos to nonprofits that promote cutting-edge photography and environmental stewardship.
So, as you step into this holiday season, give yourself and your loved ones the gift of hope that inhabits nature … and let’s write a new story together.”
