Slideshow image

Dear Glen Morris United Church, 

Peace be with you. I remain humbled and amazed every single year when Glen Morris becomes such a beautiful display of colour as the leaves change. We are so very blessed to live somewhere where nature puts on such a show, free of charge, and only asks that you take that moment to appreciate it. I hope you have found that moment (or two) in this past week. 

While I was on sabbatical I took the opportunity to read as often as possible and would like to share with you some of the thoughts and words that stood out to me. 

 

  Love has no other desire but to fulfil itself.

  But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:

  To melt and be like a running brook

that sings its melody to the night.

  To know the pain of too much tenderness.

  To be wounded by your own understanding of love;

  And to bleed willingly and joyfully.

  To wake at dawn with a winged heart

and give thanks for another day of loving;

  To rest at the noon hour and meditate love’s ecstasy;

  To return home at eventide with gratitude;

  And then to sleep with a prayer for the

beloved in your heart and a song of praise

upon your lips.

- Khalil Gibran, The Prophet

 

“When we are courageous, we can do the unexpected and start to mold the world around a vision bigger than one produced by fear. Every inch of progress, every ounce of love, every truly meaningful action from here on out will happen through courage, not comfort.”

― Prentis Hemphill, What It Takes to Heal: How Transforming Ourselves Can Change the World 

 

“In the same way that violence has been institutionalized, we can institutionalize its antidote—nonviolence. We can build institutions, structures, and policies that are constantly reinforcing a new way of relating to each other. When practices are constantly reinforcing justice, healing, accountability, forgiveness, love, and understanding, we can start changing who we are.”

― Kazu Haga, Healing Resistance: A Radically Different Response to Harm 

 

Looking forward to sharing more about these messages of love, hope, and courage in the future. 

 

Yours in Christ, 

Rev Michiko