This week: Adding Your Voice to the Song Edited by: Sophy New Year  
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Hi, I'm Sophy New Year ~ your editor for this edition of the Spiritual Newsletter.
The Rev. Scotty McLennan, author of the book Finding Your Religion, compares humanity's innate need for spiritual searching to climbing a mountaain. In his view, we are all endeavoring to climb the same figurative mountain in our search for the divine, we just may take different ways to get there. In other words, there is one "God," but many paths. I honor whatever path or paths you have chosen to climb that mountain in your quest for the Sacred.  |
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Adding Your Voice to the Song
For some of us, the world seems like a very dark place. Where I live, hurricanes have ravaged already vulnerable communities and politics appear to be dividing us more than ever before. Immigrant children are being housed in what amount to dog kennels, and folks are dying from treatable illness because they can't afford health care. Eligible voters are being purged from rolls just before an election, primarily affecting people of color, and basic human decency and civility are at a premium, these days.
More than one person I know has asked me if I think we will be okay, or if is this the beginning of the end. I don't know the answer to that question - and of course it's a very layered question. Will we be okay? Who is we? What is okay? So while I can't answer their question, I can tell them what I do know, which is …
1. Right now, in this moment, in this time and place, I am okay. In fact I am better than okay when compared to most of the other members of my global human family.
2. Others are not as okay as I am, in this moment. They are truly struggling and need a compassionate hand to reach out and help them - which I am called to do as a person of faith.
3. There are more people in the world who are not okay than I can possibly help, so I will do the best I can to help those I can. Whether it’s a monetary donation, or volunteering my time and talents, writing a letter, or just showing up to vote in our upcoming election, I will do my best to make things better for those who have less than I do.
4. While doing #3, I need to remember to take care of myself in order to avoid compassion overload, or compassion fatigue, which is a secondary traumatic stress disorder that happens when people are so overwhelmed with the images and amount of need that exists they move into a survival mode, trying to block out the need which feels as though it could never be filled. Sometimes we may feel so overwhelmed by all of the wrongs in our world we may try to protect ourselves by averting our eyes from a situation, or narrowing our attention to the circle of our own family and friends. It is common among relief workers, including someone as dedicated as Mother Theresa, who expressed despair and doubts in the midst of her work. It happens to community organizers who work for the cause of justice within political action groups – where the celebration of one success is often overshadowed by the next set of problems that immediately step up to take its place. It is also common among those providing primary care for an ailing loved one in their home.
Lately I find inspiration in this quote attributed to Michael Moore:
"This morning I have been pondering a nearly forgotten lesson I learned in high school music. Sometimes in band or choir, music requires players or singers to hold a note longer than they actually can hold a note. In those cases, we were taught to mindfully stagger when we took a breath so the sound appeared uninterrupted. Everyone got to breathe, and the music stayed strong and vibrant… So let's remember the advice of music: Take a breath. The rest of the chorus will sing. The rest of the band will play. Rejoin so others can breathe. Together, we can sustain a very long, beautiful song for a very, very long time. You don’t have to do it all, but you must add your voice to the song.” (from a speech attributed to Michael Moore)
It reminds me that I am part of a chorus larger than myself, and while I need to lift my voice to help make the beautiful music, my voice is not the only one in the choir. And together we can sustain a beautiful song for a very long time.
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Below you'll find some spiritual offerings from other WDC members. Please let the folks know if you read their piece by leaving a thoughtful comment or review. If you have something you would like me to highlight, please do share it with me, thanks!
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Here is a response to my last newsletter "Spiritual Newsletter (September 19, 2018)" about "Days of Awe:"
From shepherd46
Sophy, wonderful newsletter! I love the points about accountability and wanting to do better. Accountability is so needed and it keeps us focused on how to be a better person. Thanks so much for writing this.
Morningstar
So glad you found it helpful - thank you for letting me know!
      
From Mia - craving colour 
Hi Sophy, Thank you for drawing another gem from a spiritual tradition and sharing it with us. It’s an informative and thoughtful piece. Much appreciated.
Thank you!
From Zeke
I wonder what year it is for those of the Jewish faith.
2018/1019 is year 5779.
From Lou-Here By His Grace :
I am not of the Hebrew faith, but I remember.
From Mary Ann MCPhedran 
Thank you for sharing with me your most interesting news letter. I havent thought about what I have or havent reflected ln over the past yea, but your news letter sparked an interest and gave me the idea of a poem.
My reflections of my life this year
Lord why do ask you to be near
I moan about being by myself
And about my health
When there is persons worse off than me
I should be lucky that I'm able to serve thee
And if I stumble I will rise and try once more
Instead of moaning as before
Reflection of my life begin
To serve You Lord and be free from sin..
Mary Ann MCPhedran.
Thank you for sharing this.
Please keep your comments and suggestions coming! Until next time! Sophy New Year |
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Spiritual: October 17, 2018 Issue [#9172]
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