Lying, thinking last night
How to find my soul a home
Where water is not thirsty
And bread is not a stone
I came up with one thing
And I don’t believe I’m wrong
That nobody, but nobody
Can make it out here alone
−Maya Angelou
Lately, I have been wondering “how do people make it through these times without a belief in a higher power (or in my case God).” Increasingly, people seem more isolated. Our government seems mean-spirited. And many of us are at sixes and sevens about how we can be of help inmaking this a “kinder, gentler” world.So what Gospel message helps in a time like this? I think I would pick the great commandment“Love one another as I have loved you.” But how did Jesus love? We are all familiar with Corinthians 1:13 & ff.: “Love is patient, love is kind, love is not envious, or boastful, or rude…”These are all good things and the Gospels show that Jesus practiced them. But to them I would add “Love is creative, imaginative, and sometimes even quirky.”
Think about Jesus very practically turning water into wine…creative! Or walking on the sea…imaginative! Or quirky? Well, just look at the company he preferred.So this month I recommend that each of us reflect God’s love by following one unexpected impulse to reach out. I know a man, for instance, who meets strangers, converses with them, and then gives them a button that says ”Just Say hello.” That gesture of his (I am sure) comes straight from the Holy Spirit. He may know it or he may not. No matter.So these days, when I worry, and feel burdened, and look too hard for God, usually something happens that reminds me I am not in this alone and God has not given up on me or my friends or the world. I hope and believe this will happen for you as well and if it does, make sure you respond in kind. Go for it, you creative, imaginative, quirky child of God.Faithfully,Cooper+
