Sunday, July 1, 2018

Freedom: Our Greatest Blessing

Synopsis: ​Sometimes, it takes a whole village (so to speak) to free ourselves from our self imposed prisons. In such cases, it is often those who have been wounded and healed, who are our best teachers. Their experience and perspective give hope when nothing else can. The result is a sense of freedom. This new-found liberty is what allows us to return to a life full of purpose, joy and connection.
 
Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded.
It's a relationship between equals.
Only when we know our own darkness well can we be present with the darkness of others.
Compassion becomes real when we recognize our shared humanity.
- Pema Chodron

With music by: Michael Robinson

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We all experience fear and anxiety from time to time. Most often, it’s subtle and easily managed with positive affirmations and prayerful meditation. Sometimes, however, these uneasy feelings can become crippling and debilitating. When fear takes over, we can become trapped by our unease. The result is often a daily cycle of coping and hiding from our fears. To make matters worse, these feelings of helplessness can affect every area of our lives. When we are dealing with the loneliness and hopelessness of untreated anxiety we withdraw. To make matters worse, this retreat from the world often affects our ability to function effectively with others. Life becomes a virtual prison of our own making. During such times, we need others to help us break free from fear. Sometimes, it takes a whole village (so to speak) to free ourselves. In such cases, it is often those who have been wounded and healed, who are our best teachers. Their experience and perspective give hope when nothing else can. The result is a sense of freedom. This new-found liberty is what allows us to return to a life full of purpose, joy and connection.
 
This Sunday, we will start our summer lesson series. Our first guest speaker is Bob Macdonald. Many of you know Bob. Bob has firsthand experience facing fear and finding a path of recovery. His talk is entitled “Freedom, Our Greatest Blessing”.
 
Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded.
It's a relationship between equals.
Only when we know our own darkness well can we be present with the darkness of others.
Compassion becomes real when we recognize our shared humanity.
- Pema Chodron
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Our featured musician is Michael Robinson. He will be joined by Gwen Gathercoal, Gary Buettner, Gary Edwards, and Dagan Williamson. David Krak will be our song leader.
 
Be Free.