March 15 2022 By Matthew Phipps Leave a Comment

I love to read. I tend to read a myriad of genres. In particular I am drawn to books on deep spirituality and how we can better love understand and extend empathy to one another. With that in mind one of my favorite authors is Father Richard Rohr. One of my favorite Rohr quotes is this Most of us were taught that God would love us if and when we change. In fact God loves you so that you can change. What empowers change what makes you desirous of change is the experience of love. It is that inherent experience of love that becomes the engine of change Father Richard Rohr

I find that quote both interesting and challenging. Often in religious circles we tend to make people feel like they have to be better work harder or be more spiritual in order to receive of Gods love or to belong to community. This typical religious behavior is not always intentional but it does seem to be a consistent issue. Indeed if you were to ask people who have left religious communities why they did the above concerns would be prominent answers.

If you enter a space a group a community a church or any gathering and feel like you can never measure up you leave. I wonder what would change if we changed our welcome to be that of love Meaning the first experience people might have within our church community would be that of knowing they are loved. That would be a paradigm shift right Imagine people coming into sacred spaces first feeling loved and not the typical weight of feeling like they have to change and they dont measure up.

What can we do differently to create environments of love that welcome others into the ever present love of God that is all around us

Have a blessed week Pastor Matthew

Filed Under Weekly Reflections