| Dear friends and members of University UMC:
I speak of the importance and value of friendship, but I don’t always prioritize my friendships. Life is full, after all, and I confess that sometimes making the commitment to keep in touch and meet up with friends falls to the back burner. If you are the same way, I think the advice we give one another is to follow the nudge to connect when we sense it rising up within us. If you feel the nudge to pick up the phone or reach out, do it! At times, our days can be filled to overflowing. What we don’t need is one more reminder that we’ve failed or fallen short. What we might need to be reminded of is that it’s okay to choose self-care and to prioritize the nurturing of relationships that are joyful and life-giving.
A blessing for friendship by the late John O’Donohue reads, “May you be blessed with good friends. And May you learn to be a good friend to yourself.” I appreciate the reminder that we are not only to love others well, we are also to love ourselves. You might benefit from that reminder, too!
Friendship is on my mind because it will be touched on in this Sunday’s sermon. Through the writings of O’Donohue, I learned about the term “anam cara.” In Gaelic, anam means soul and cara means friend. |
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| O’Donohue writes about the understanding of a “soul friend”: |
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| “In the early Celtic church, a person who acted as a teacher, companion, or spiritual guide was called an anam cara. It originally referred to someone to whom you confessed, revealing the hidden intimacies of your life. With the anam cara you could share your inner-most self, your mind and your heart. This friendship was an act of recognition and belonging. The Celtic understanding did not set limitations of space or time on the soul. There is no cage for the soul. The soul is a divine light that flows into you and into your Other. This art of belonging awakened and fostered a deep and special companionship.” |
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| Friends make joyful moments even more joyful. I often experience this with laughter. It’s one thing to laugh alone, but laughing with others moves the laughter to a whole different level! And, of course, when times are hard and heavy, having friends helps to lighten our load.
In recent days, we’ve experienced rainy weather—and our thoughts are filled with hopes and worries for communities in the Hill Country. I appreciated our bishop’s message that she sent yesterday, saying: |
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| "Once again, our hearts ache as we watch the devastating news of flooding across the Texas Hill Country. Almost one year ago, many of these same communities endured unimaginable loss, and now they face yet another season of grief and uncertainty.
Please continue to hold all who are affected in your prayers—those who fear, those who have been displaced, first responders, relief workers, and the churches that will become places of refuge and hope.
As opportunities arise to serve, we will communicate those needs as quickly as possible. Until then, the most faithful response is to pray, to give, and to trust that God will continue to work through the people called United Methodist to bring hope and healing."— Bishop Cynthia Fierro Harvey |
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| | In Michigan and Wisconsin, friends and extended family members of mine are avoiding the outdoors because of recent fires in neighboring states and smoke advisories. |
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| Come, behold the works of the Beloved,
how love does reign even in
humanity's desolation.
For the Beloved yearns for wars to cease,
shining light into fearful hearts…
"Be still and know that I am Love.
Awaken! Befriend justice and mercy;
Do you not know you bear my Love?
Who among you will respond?"
O Blessed One, You know all hearts,
You are ever with us;
may Love ever guide our lives!– Nan Merrill from her interpretation of Psalm 46 |
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| My grandmother was known for saying, “There’s enough to pray over.” Fire and rain. Personal losses and concerns for the world. One of my prayers is that all living upon this earth would be gifted with friends with whom to share the joys and sorrows of life. And Jesus, of course, offers us good words about the gifts of love and friendship: |
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| “I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I’m no longer calling you servants…I called you friends.” – John 15:11-15 |
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| Below you’ll find John O’Donohue’s Blessing for Friendship and an Affirmation of Faith centered on the value of relationships.
What a joy to be your pastor!
Teresa |
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| Blessing for Friendship
May you be blessed with good friends.
May you learn to be a good friend to yourself.
May you be able to journey to that place in your soul where there is great love, warmth, feeling, and forgiveness.
May this change you.
May it transfigure that which is negative, distant, or cold in you.
May you be brought in to the real passion, kinship, and affinity of belonging.
May you treasure your friends.
May you be good to them and may you be there for them; may they bring you all the blessings, challenges, truth and light that you need for your journey.
May you never be isolated.
May you always be in the gentle nest of belonging with your anam cara.– John O'Donohue |
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| | An Affirmation of Faith
We believe in relationships.
We believe in asking hard questions,
in showing up for one another,
and in sitting together through the pain.
We believe in listening with grace,
learning with curiosity,
and apologizing with sincerity.
We believe in asking for help,
saying what we need,
and trusting that no degree of vulnerability
could strip us of God’s love.
We believe in trying our best
and offering grace
when our best is not enough.
And we believe that God is in all relationships—
modeling for us the value of community
through the relationships of the Trinity.
So we love today,
and we strive to love
even more tomorrow.
Let it be so. Amen. – from A Sanctified Art |
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