"We don't adopt the world. It has adopted us. We are in the world's embrace, for we partake of its culture, language and values.

Yet we don't need to accept all of its dictates. We can live in the world and be be guided by a different vision. Not only that, but we can also seek to change our world. This requires strenuous activism and even more strenuous resistance for the world will attempt to seduce those who walk to the sound of a different drum." (Dare to Journey with Henri Nouwen, Charles Ringma, Reflection 153--The Midst of Life, Prayer and Activism. For more on Henri Nouwen click HERE)

This week I sat with a couple, very dear friends of mine, whose son suffers with mental illness including psychotic breaks. The burden they carry for the son they love is a heavy one. 

I'm sure people with other needs sought you out.

Along with you, we have endured another week of Covid questions, fears, dangers. and debates.

It seems, more days than not, the whole world is in crisis.

But this is our world and it has adopted us.  It is here and now we live our lives and conduct our ministries. How can we maintain our hearts of care and build sustainable ministries that make a difference in the world instead of being consumed by the turmoil that surrounds us?

Nouwen writes that the one with compassion and the strength to make a difference is "'the one who enters the center of the world and prays from there.' A new vision of life does not require the cloister. It can come from the midst of life, but only to the one who prays." (more from Reflection 153)

Caring people need to be praying people. When you pray for God's Spirit to give you strength, to help those receiving care, to bring peace and comfort to a troubled world, what you do matters!

And the world needs you now!
 

Your life matters, 

Chaplain Dan
Rev. Daniel R. Hettinger
303.905.0478