This month, we have been focusing on the gift of welcome. The writers here have shared with us many dimensions of that gift.
Words. The words we speak to one another do matter, and how we choose to speak to each other when we gather in community is a real act of creation. Every gathering, whether for a Sunday service, a meeting of some sort, religious exploration, a social gathering or celebration, a work day on the grounds or building, or some service in the larger community–each begins to be created by the words we say to each other. Our words, mindful or mindless, hold the power to begin creating community or dismantle it. That makes choosing our words a power in its own right.
Actions. Words just begin the act of creating community. Welcoming words die quickly on the vine if they are not accompanied by welcoming actions. We spend an important amount of energy in our weekly announcements, monthly newsletters and the various emails alerting each other to the needs for action in and beyond our community. Beloved community begins to have its effect on us and others when we act our welcome.
Being. In and under all of this is an often unspoken reality. Our words and actions of welcome really start inside each of us. We cannot create welcome and build welcome if we don’t know welcome insider ourselves. We are a people who gather each week and choose, with the sound of a bell, the lighting of a flame, the singing of songs, and the silent power of our breathing to let go of those things that hinder us from being who we are, a people of welcome.
Which is why there are always double dynamics of welcome. We can give a welcome and we can receive a welcome. We all need both. Receiving a welcome reminds us of who we are. Giving a welcome expands the circle of Love.
That’s why even with the end of September, we are not leaving behind the Gift of Welcome. It will be, as we will see, the foundation of everything else that we consider here.
~Bob Patrick
Thank you Bob. I hope to be able to continued being welcomed and welcoming in my words, actions, and being. I’ve so enjoyed writing and can’t wait to write more.