Micah 6:8 ~ left forearm, i carry this with me always.
On Sunday we gathered (socially distantly) under the shade of a tree. Most in camping chairs or wooden benches, but I sat in a red chair. It wasn’t until later I realized the significance of the red chair. It was the first time our church family gathered after the global pause. No coffee and pj’s on the couch for a zoom call. It was goodgood to finally be together. We talked about “the great commission” and race. Welcome back, church. Welcome back. Damn!
song. prayers. the Scriptures. questions.
People spoke. People shared. Some sat silent. Some wept. All, I believe, questioned. A few words stood out to me as people spoke:
proximity. posture. solidarity. purpose.
Of those four, two have been on repeat:
proximity & posture
These 2 words led to questions: Who and what are in proximity to the life I live? Have I placed myself in ________ (their/its) proximity? Have _______ (they/it) been placed in proximity to me? I believe in the Spiritual placement of life. If I can answer that question, I move to the next question: With what posture do I enter and engage what is in my proximity?
This is where I sit: in the quiet, Palo Santo in the air, mala beads move through my fingers repeating “help, help, help…” it’s my prayer and mantra. I need to sit more and longer, so I will. xx,
*For years we had red chairs in our kitchen. They became the symbol of our home. They were the place we celebrated, healed, argued, laughed, coffee-ed…created and held space. The original red chairs are gone and replaced with others, not red, but the kitchen chairs are still referred to as the red chairs.