Love Notes... A few words from our pastor

Merriam-Webster, the dictionary people, just announced their word of the year. Any guesses what it is? It’s “authentic”—a word chosen because, in 2023, it was searched on the company’s website with far greater frequency than ever before.

In a time when things may seem genuine but aren’t (Hello artificial intelligence! Hello George Santos pretending to be someone he wasn’t! Hello spoofed emails that aren’t really from our banks or credit card companies!), people ache to know who and what is authentic. Knowing what’s really real and truly true isn’t just good for the mind; it’s also a tonic for the heart. The same is true when we ourselves are being authentic; we each do far better when what we say and do honestly reflects our inner truth and values.

Community Spirit has many things going for it, but to my mind, one of our greatest strengths is that together we are authentic. Just as Popeye proudly says, “I am what I am,” so we are who we are. There’s no artifice among us, no pretending, no going through the motions. Recalling one of our Five Smooth Stones, “Free to Be”, it’s because we are each free to be who we truly are that we foster a kind of community where being authentic is possible—and liberating.

One of the things I most love about Jesus is how authentic he was. He made no apologies for being poor, for being compassionate, for being clear about his ministry. Even though his disciples wished he would stop talking about taking the risky path that led to Jerusalem, Jesus waved away a move that would not be honest. Even when Jesus could have backpedaled when he was arrested, he stood strong.

This Sunday, December 31st, our worship will invite us into authentic reflection on the year just passed and the year that is waiting for us. Come with a candle to light, with paper and a pen, and a spirit of curiosity and openness as you keep company with your authentic self. Because you won’t be asked to share your most intimate thoughts and questions, you are free to be true to yourself—which is a gift as well as a responsibility.

Between now and Sunday, you might take some time to think back on the year just passed. What happened? What didn’t? When did you experience joy, challenge, new growth? Think too about the year ahead. What are you hoping to find? What are you needing to prepare for? What excites you? What concerns you?

Whatever answers arise as you consider them now and as you enter into our mini-retreat on Sunday, I encourage you to let them be as authentic to you as you dare. For the Spirit always meets us right where we are, never where we aren’t.

With you on the journey,
Karen