Day Twenty-Six: Our Well-being Involves the Non-human as well as Human Worlds

Last updated on: February 15, 2011 at 12:02 pm By Bruce Epperly

Psalm 150 says “let everything that breathes praise God!” Holistic and adventurous spirituality embraces all creation and sees God’s presence in all things. God’s omnipresence means that God is inspiring and energizing the non-human as well as human worlds. We are called to heal the earth, not just human relationships. Romans 8 proclaims that “creation” groans in pain as it awaits the healing that comes through divine-human partnership. Our wholeness and the wholeness of creation are intimately related. When we... Read more

We are One in Spirit

Last updated on: February 14, 2011 at 12:58 pm By Bruce Epperly

There is no “other.” While each of us is unique and experiences the world from a unique and unrepeatable perspective, we are all intimately related. The whole universe, as philosopher Alfred North Whitehead asserts, conspires to create each moment of experience. And each moment of our lives shapes our future and the future of our planetary companions. In the interdependence of life, God is the energy that holds all things together. God is present in all things as the source... Read more

Day Twenty Four: We Serve God by Serving Others

Last updated on: February 11, 2011 at 11:33 am By Bruce Epperly

In the Holy Adventure, there is no ultimate distinction between loving God and loving our neighbor, including the non-human neighbor. In loving God, we gain a perspective on life that takes us beyond individualistic self-interest to care for the whole, even when it means personal sacrifice. In loving the neighbor, I bring greater beauty to God’s experience of the world. Loving God and creation are part of one dynamic spiral of relatedness. God is in all things, moving through the... Read more

Our Vocation is to be God’s Companion in Healing the World

Last updated on: February 10, 2011 at 12:45 pm By Bruce Epperly

In the Jewish tradition, the words “tikkun olam” mean repairing or mending the world. What we do really matters. Each act brings and detracts from the beauty of the world. In an open universe in which the future awaits our decisions, our calling is to companion with God in healing the world. In the interdependence of life, our acts radiate across the universe, shaping the micro and macro. Embracing our calling as members of the body of Christ brings wholeness... Read more

Day Twenty Two: You are Part of the Body of Christ

Last updated on: February 9, 2011 at 11:02 am By Bruce Epperly

The body of Christ is more than a church; it is the graceful interconnectedness of life; the place where we all belong and all have a vocation, a role – or many roles – that bring beauty and health to the whole. The body of Christ is the divine-creaturely community that embraces all of us. Our life’s mission is to discover the roles that we alone can play in bringing health to our companions in the holy adventure. Creation seeks... Read more

Day Twenty One: Your are Loved Unconditionally and Everlastingly

Last updated on: February 8, 2011 at 11:32 am By Bruce Epperly

You are loved, simply because you exist. You don’t have to earn it, just receive it. Open to those who love you without conditions. Awaken to God’s all-encompassing love – a love that embraces everlastingly all creation. Just as you are, you are loveable. Sometimes the last place we expect to find God’s presence is in our own lives. The world is filled with God, others need our care, but often we forget about ourselves. We see ourselves as God-forsaken,... Read more

Day Twenty: I Seek to Live by Forgiveness in Every Situation

Last updated on: February 7, 2011 at 11:52 am By Bruce Epperly

Daily life provides numerous opportunities for forgiveness. In the course of virtually every day, we perceive ourselves being intentionally or unintentionally slighted; we experience the thoughtlessness of others; and often encounter people who are rude, ruthless, and self-absorbed. Forgiveness is especially difficult if you are a person who constantly tries to do the right thing, go the extra mile, and treat others with care and respect. Daily slights are the tip of the iceberg. Many of us come from families... Read more

Day Nineteen: You Can See God’s Presence in Enemies and Those Who Have Hurt You

Last updated on: February 5, 2011 at 12:11 pm By Bruce Epperly

Is it possible to see God’s presence in persons who have hurt you or whom you feel have been the source of injustice in relationship to you or others? This isn’t easy. Feelings of pain and alienation often emerge when I think of certain people. But, there are moments when I can gain a larger perspective and see the holiness in them, despite their poor judgment or harmful actions. “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so... Read more

Day Seventeen : You can Experience Holiness in the Least of These

Last updated on: February 4, 2011 at 11:53 am By Bruce Epperly

We can experience God in the most unexpected persons and places. Awaken to the holiness of all creatures, and you will experience blessings as you bless others. “Just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25: 40) In a relational world, Jesus’ words are more than metaphorical. They describe our relationship with God and the world in which we live. What we do really... Read more

Day Sixteen: You Can Give and Receive God’s Love in Any Situation

Last updated on: February 3, 2011 at 1:23 pm By Bruce Epperly

Love is meant to be shared. We can in every situation, let God’s love and abundance flow through us to others. In sharing, we experience greater abundance – we let go of possessiveness and experience God’s ever-abundant love and energy as constantly renewing us. We live in an open-source, open-spirited, and open-ended universe. God’s energy flows through us to bring beauty, wholeness, and justice to our world. Prosperity and abundance are not private possessions, but our gifts, within the synergy... Read more