May you know the love of the One who created you.
May you sense it within your body, like a comforting and protecting hug.
May you see that love in your neighbor:
The one who brought you baked goods when you were stuck at home,
The one who voted for the “other” person,
The one who called you when you felt alone,
The one who hoarded the toilet paper.
May you experience the fierce wind of the Spirit.
May you breathe in deeply without fear.
When you are speechless, let the Spirit grant you sighs too deep for words.
When injustice happens again, may the Spirit stir within us so we may not sit silently, but stand for truth and justice.
When those who have been oppressed are speaking, when our siblings of color share (for the one hundredth time) their struggles, may the Spirit close our mouths and open our ears, and may we genuinely listen.
May we remember breath is a right and not a privilege.
May the Risen Christ be ever on our hearts and minds, made manifest by our hands and feet.
As we gather regularly to feast at God’s table telling the story of Christ’s life, death and resurrection, may we hold the lessons of the past in our minds, and the potential of a redeemed future in our hearts. May we not be stuck in either place, but rather hold the gentle tug of each and remain present.
Remember who you are.
May our memories of Scripture fill us, our memories of the tragic events of the past year fuel us, and the memories of God’s grace and love nudge us.
Be the you God created you to be.
Tell the stories of great joy and laughter: the hobby you picked up, the bad television you watched, the Zoom calls.
Tell the stories of grief: those who have died, the loss of milestones, of friendships, January 6, the pain of separation and isolation. Being a witness to grief is an act of courage.
Remember those who have died unjustly, and never stop saying their names: George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Ma’Khia Bryant, Adam Toledo, Daunte Wright… and too many more.
Hug your loved ones.
May we witness each other’s stories, for we are a community of faith. And our faith has so many stories to feed us, nourish us and send us into the world.
Whether you continue to mask your face or not, may you not mask your emotions.
Go in love, giving yourself more grace than you assume necessary.
Go in justice, seeking equity for all.
Go — into the depths of a hurting world, confident of God’s abiding love and transformative power.
Amen.
