Living in the Spirit

June 2, 2023

Scripture Reading:

2 Corinthians 13:11-13
Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.

Agree with one another. My book club is reading Search by Michelle Huneven for Our June meeting. It is the story of a Universal Unitarian Church Search Committee assigned to select a new minister to recommend to the congregation. I am not a member of that group, and I must say it was enlightening to know that people are just people in similar situations. I have served on a selection committee. I probably got a more unbiased view from seeing the process through a slightly different lens. I learned from my experience to pay close attention to how references word their comments. One does not want to understand what the reference was politely trying to say when a few months after the hire, one has that Aha! moment where one recognizes what the reference was trying to say.

We live in a very divide-and-conquer world. How do we find a way to agree with one another? First and hardest, we must recognize the worth of everyone we deal with. Hear the actual words others may be saying and try to understand why they are taking their stance. Try to help them to understand the basis of your viewpoint.  I am a retired social worker and clergy female who grew up on a farm. My worldview is markedly different from others. Varied insights make democracies stronger. Learning how to communicate in sharing and receiving information for decision-making is the key to making our democracy better.

Prayer: Lord, grant us the patience and the fortitude to improve the world in which we live. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.