Dear Friends,

Today’s readings celebrate two special women. In the first reading, the hungry Elijah begs a woman for a cup of water and some bread. She and her son are starving and have just enough bread for a final meal before they anticipate dying from starvation. 

Elijah, the lonely prophet, promises their food will not run out before God sends rain. He ends up staying with them for a year and their food does not run out. When thinking of the woman’s generous hospitality, I actually started thinking of the Syrian refugees. How can the rest of the world welcome them in? What can we do?

The woman in the Gospel puts a couple small coins in the Temple donation box and Jesus praises her because she gave from the small pittance she needed to live on while others gave from their surplus. Generosity and gratitude seem to go together. Being grateful for what we have and recognizing it as gift prompts us to share it with others. Sometimes we might give gifts of money or material goods. Sometimes we might give the gift of listening or helping out or going beyond the call of duty or accompanying another at a difficult time. At the hospital, we have a harpist who sits in the lobby or bedside end of life room or neo-natal intensive care unit or operating room and plays her harp. She always remarks to me what a blessing it is to pass on her music, her inspiration to those nearby. She says that God always shows her where to sit and play. And then people come by and enjoy her music and sometimes invite her to come to a loved one’s room and play. How are we called to pass on our light or our care and really see/value another and extend care or peace to them?

At The Spirit of Life, we are seeking to truly become the transforming beings....open to the Spirit, and creators of “justice & joy” in our own lives, in our families and the world in which we live. Our belief in the sacredness of all created beings and loving relationships compels us to respond with care and compassion to all who are marginalized in our church and world. We invite you to come and to pray with us as we “do our own work” in growing into a deeper awareness of our own gifts and ‘growing edges’ and together create a community that invites diversity and honors the uniqueness of each individual and every journey. We are confident that you will feel welcome in the “home” of The Spirit of Life.

Loving blessings,

Ron & Jean