Peace for Ukraine
Dear Friends,
It wasn't until I logged onto our St. Paul's Coffee Chat Thursday morning that I learned about Russia's attack on Ukraine. The reality of this war, the lives lost already, the death and violence still to come has been sinking in with a particular sense of grief and horror throughout the past day.
We, in our time, are already saturated with unforeseen loss. We are living in a historical pandemic, during a historical fight for human rights, while the church is evolving to whatever comes next, and our personal lives are still full of blessings and struggles. What room do our hearts have for this war? They are already so full.
This is precisely why we need one another, because not a single one of our hearts can hold the terror of our siblings living and dying in yet another war-zone. Not a single one of our minds can fathom how humanity could be doing this to one another yet again.
But together, we hold space. We must. Our ability to communally hold space (in prayer, in grief, in finding a better way) is the only thing that will keep humanity anchored to ultimate love. Please see the ways we can come together in prayer below.
Spreading our reach, holding our bigger communal heart, expanding love, this is where we will begin to leverage peace without overloading any one heart beyond repair.
For if the bombs of the world are ever to yield to the balm of love in God, we will all (each to our own current ability and capacity) need to be a part of that ever expanding life-force, illuminating the precious humanity of each human to the point where no one would ever dream of destroying another.
Am I being too idealistic? Leading us astray of reality? So be it. For a reality of war is never what Jesus led us to accept.
Yours in Christ,
Pray with the Diocese: 7pm Compline and Prayers for Peace with Bishop Gates
Pray with the Nation: Prayer Vigil with Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and Interfaith leaders.
Tags: Rector's Reflections / Events
Rector
