Dear Church Family,
Like many of you, I have followed the intense collapse of Afghanistan this week, along with the need of basic aid in Haiti ravished by another disaster, and the wild fires burning in CA and the spike of Covid cases and hospitalizations across the country. It was a week of fear, despair and woe for many people in our world. And my human impulse is to ask, “Where is God in all of this?” Where is God for the for the women & children of Afghanistan? Where is God as people suffer needing food, water, clothing & shelter in Haiti? Where is God as the Western US dries up and becomes like a tinderbox? And where is God as the people in our nation argue over individual rights in getting vaccines and wearing masks?
As Truth Students we know that God is everywhere present. We know that God is a force and power of love that is always active in our universe. We know that the power of God is accessible to all souls equally at all times. We also know that our human experience is full of challenges and conditions that while appear daunting on the human level is an opportunity for us to utilize our faith, to grow in awareness and unfold in consciousness.
Sometimes, these seem like pretty words that are shallow in practice. However, the Truth of this understanding is why we are here – to separate the Truth of Spirit from the experience of the human being, the human condition. Our purpose is to take the mask off the suffering to see the Power of God in all things.
Last week I attended the 90th birthday party of Becky McLachlan. Friends and family gathered to honor her with dinner and fellowship. I had the pleasure of sitting with three of our congregants who I love and enjoy their company very much. Mind you, I spent most of the week recovering from surgery. So, I was uncertain how much energy I would have to be present. Yet, the love of the people in the room, the opportunity to be with people I love very much lifted my spirits enormously. We laughed, joked, told stories, played games and had a wonderful time.
As we enjoyed our time, I remembered for a moment the pain of the world. I said a prayer of gratitude that we all were safe in this moment, and we were blessed with this opportunity to celebrate life. Celebrate the life our dear friend, Becky, and our lives. I am thankful for that moment and awareness. This, too, is part of our spiritual journey – to have the wisdom to appreciate the beauty, joy and moments of life as they appear.
I know you join me in prayer as we lift up the world in light and love – we lift up those who are suffering, those who live in fear, and those who live in poverty. We lift up those who live in ignorance, those who don’t yet understand they are spiritual beings. And we lift up those who seek the light and those who live in the light. We lift up our light bearers affirming their vital role of seeing rightly. We give thanks and praise to God for Its Power in our lives. Amen.
Many blessings,
Pastor Robert
Postscript: We hold in loving thought and prayer the families of our military service members who died in the bombing of Kabul airport this week. We affirm God’s presence as they grieve.