A bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking, because her trust is not in the branch but in her own wings.
– Charlie Wardle
Our liberal faith calls us to be proactive in identifying, cultivating, and sharing what can sustain us in the midst of a society facing so many brutal challenges. Rather than being reactive to every latest news headline which keeps us ensconced and diminishes our capacities for resistance and forward progress, we can chart our own course through, guided by our own commitments, practices, and values. When I was speaking with an elder of the community the other day, they shared that their response to the world is going to continue to be what it always has been: compassion, caring, and empathy.
When we proactively lead from the heart in such a manner and attend to our own wellbeing, we greatly enhance our resilience and effectiveness as agents of positive social change. Our faith in ourselves, in our beloved community, and in the spirit of life and love that flows through all, has the power to transcend the diminishing powers of fear, corruption, and bigotry, and instead lead from a place of compassion, caring, and empathy.
This sacred Islamic month of Ramazan is reminding me of the truths that joy and inspiration still abound, creativity is thriving, compassion and caring are alive and well, and generosity is abundant. Ramazan is an annual opportunity for me to turn my attention to my spiritual exercises through fasting, eating well, studying the Quran, and offering the daily cycles of adoration and prayer. All of these practices – like any spiritual exercises – help me to recenter and to remember that reality is greater than all of the bluff and bluster and turmoil and tragedy of the present moment.
So, like at the beginning of the pandemic, this is a good time to check in with yourself regarding what practices can sustain you, inspire you, fortify you, and empower you in this time. What did you learn to trust in that period to get you through the challenging days? How did you show up for yourself and others when times were rough in other periods of your life? How might you attend to heart, mind, body, and spirit in the weeks, months, and years before us?
Our theme for spiritual contemplation this month is Living Love Through the Practice of Trust. Love and trust are intimately related as are trust and faith. Soul Matters offers the following questions to deepen our spiritual reflection in theme-based ministry through our small group meetings this month:
- What have you trusted since childhood and never lost faith in?
- Have you ever been made trustworthy by someone who risked putting their trust in you?
- When did trust in the Divine show up in your life? Is there anything about that moment that might help you navigate your life right now?
- When did trust in the Divine leave your life? Do you ever feel a longing for it to return?
- When broken trust left you broken-hearted, what voice in your head or word from a friend helped you pick up the pieces?
- Has it ever been hard to trust that your children will find their way?
- It’s been said that trust is choosing to risk making something you value vulnerable to another person’s actions. Does this make you see yourself or any of your relationships in a new light?
- Is it time to start trusting yourself again?
- Do you have doubts that deserve to be more deeply trusted?
- Have you done more battling with your body than trusting it?
- What would happen if you trusted life enough to let go?
- What has your life partner taught you about trust?
- Are you upset because you were lied to or because, from now on, you can’t believe the one who lied?
- Do you regret the time you were too scared to trust the unknown and take that leap of faith?
- How would your life change if you stopped believing that people can’t be trusted?
- What have you learned about trusting grief, rather than resisting it?
We are living through difficult times to say the least and we are grateful to have a trained Pastoral Care Team available to provide a ministry of pastoral support if you are in need. You can request a confidential conversation with a Pastoral Associate by emailing pastoralcare@uusm.org.
If you have news to share with the community please email joysandsorrows@uusm.org to have it included in our Thursday announcements and shared from the pulpit on an upcoming Sunday morning.
Blessings of Ramazan and Women’s History Month to all!
Yours in the ministry of love,
Jeremiah
Rev. Jeremiah Lal Shahbaz Kalendae
Developmental Minister
