I live in a boat called Surrender with two oars, Forgiveness and Gratitude

 Surrender, Forgiveness, Gratitude

“The boat I travel in is called Surrender. My two oars are instant forgiveness and gratitude—complete gratitude for the gift of life. I am thankful for the experience of this life and for the opportunity to dance. I get angry, I get mad, but as soon as I remind myself to put my oars in the water, I forgive.”—Balbir Mathur—Heron Dance interview (Issue 11).

As president of Trees for Life, Balbir Mathur planted 200 million trees in developing countries for 30 years. I thank the daily words from Inward Outward from the Church of the Saviour in Washington for introducing him to me.

Mathur’s extraordinary life is a story of constant surrender: immigrating to Wichita from India with no family contacts, mowing lawns, becoming world-renowned in business, developing a mysterious illness, leaving his business career, and starting an international nonprofit to plant trees in developing countries. The morning trees survive in dry conditions. Their leaves are rich in vitamins A and C and calcium; their seeds are used to purify water.

Mathur’s words are indeed words of peace that I hear across many disciplines and beyond all religious barriers. When I can forgive and am filled with gratitude, I stay out of trouble and find peace. What an image. 

We are in a boat called Surrender, and our two oars are gratitude and forgiveness, which keep the boat on course. I can imagine rowing on a river, not too big and not too big a boat. I will need other passengers who can take over the oars when I become too tired, who will read to me and let me rest, or simply allow me to soak in the scenery. And I will do the same for them. 

Rick Plumlee, The Wichita Eagle, May 10, 2014.

Joanna  https://www.joannaseibert.com/

The Light of Christ: The Paschal Candle

Paschal Candles and the Light of Christ

“After the Baptism, a candle (lit from the Paschal Candle) may be given to each of the newly baptized or to a godparent.” —Book of Common Prayer.

After a child is baptized, a smaller candle is lit from the large white Paschal Candle. I am often privileged to hand it to the parent or godparent and say, “The light of Christ.” Indeed, the Paschal Candle is often called the Christ Candle or the Easter Candle. Parents receive this smaller baptismal candle to take home and are encouraged to light it on their child’s baptism anniversary as a yearly remembrance. It beautifully symbolizes the light of Christ in our hearts and minds. 

We may think the light of Christ inside us is small, but we are called, mandated to share that light, and one of the ways to pass on our light is to encourage one another. As Paul modeled in writing so many letters to others, we are also called to connect with others who carry that light. That is why we have spiritual friends or sometimes a spiritual director.

When our light seems to dim, those in our lives who live in the light will lead us to the Paschal Candle, where we will once again find our light, often even brighter. We light the Paschal Candle during the Easter season, at Baptisms, and at funerals—all times when we want and need to be reminded of the light of Christ in our hearts, in others, and in the world.

Each time I meet with spiritual friends, I light a candle as they enter. This reminds me of how we share Christ’s light with one another. I find that I learn more from listening and talking with people than from what I can impart to them. We gather to see and encourage the light of Christ in one another. We meet solely to care for each other’s souls.

Joanna joannaseibert.com

Charleston, Tickle: We Are Not Done Yet

Charleston: Mentors and Community

Phyllis Tickle

"We are not done yet. We may measure our progress in inches. We may swim against the deep tides of greed and hate, but we are not done yet. Even if we do not live to see it all, we will be content to be an inspiration, to give all we have to free our world from fear."—Steven Charleston, Daily Facebook Page.

Bishop Charleston encourages us during difficult times when we feel discouraged. This is why God constantly calls us to community. We feel we have lost our connection to God when our lights are dim. We think we have accomplished nothing and believe we are failures.

Yet there are others in our community whose lights are on, more connected to God, and able to encourage and support us until we see a different picture. They are like Simon of Cyrene, briefly carrying our cross. They are like the paralytic's friends, lifting him through the rooftop to Jesus. Then, as we heal, it will be our turn to encourage. 

Often, people come for spiritual direction or meet with spiritual friends who have burned out or feel that their life or ministry is not accomplishing what they had hoped.

Our job as spiritual friends is to show each other where God is working in our lives and to keep inspiring one another, remembering that we may not see the results. Unfortunately, the results may be apparent much later, long after we have lived our lives and our names have been forgotten. 

As I grow older, I remember more vividly the people, including teachers, grandparents, co-workers, and friends, who encouraged, supported, and never gave up on me. Unfortunately, most of them are gone, so I can only thank them by trying to pay it forward and encouraging others as they did for me. 

Today, I share Jon Sweeney's biography of Phyllis Tickle, Phyllis Tickle, A Life, in which he describes how Phyllis was a major encourager for him, for me, and for many others. We will especially honor Phyllis next March, the month of her birthday (March 12).

Today, list the mentors who have helped us on this journey and the spiritual friends in our community who guide us when we cannot see the light. Honor them by sharing the light and love you learned from them with others.

Pass It On.

Joanna  https://www.joannaseibert.com/