Calvary ​United Methodist 

Church

Musings from a Minister’s Mind

Quite a while ago I was in Barnes and Noble to buy a gift. As I passed the magazine racks, a magazine called Bella Grace: Life’s a Beautiful Journey caught my eye. I picked it up and leafed through it quickly. Just those few moments drew me to its creativity, thoughtfulness, beautiful pictures, and challenges for living a better, more connected life to the world around me. I carried to the checkout along with other purchases. When the lovely young girl announced my total, I was a bit shocked. Then I looked at the tiny, tiny, printed price on this magazine. It was $19.99! To be fair, it is more like a book with heavy paper pages. But, $19.00 for “just” a magazine! Oh well, I took the risk of investing and told myself this was a one-time purchase.

            Recently, on a cleaning spree, I went through books, papers, etc. to keep or send them on their way. Guess what…there was that book magazine looking as pristine as I the day I bought it. The issue was Dec/Jan/Feb 2017. 2017. This magazine traveled from New York State with me to Rhode Island as I moved everything including my husband, Tom, two cats and two dogs to a new life. And a new faith community. Looking at this pricey piece of literary collection, I realized that when I invested in its possibilities, I was doing the same thing with my whole life. Taking a chance. Taking a risk. Investing in something greater than myself. Opening myself up to inspiration, change, adaption, growth.

            So much has happened in the past nine years for all of us. What I cherish is that we have been in the joys and sorrows, the challenges and successes, the unknown and the familiar together. For that I am so thankful to God. And to you. Every aspect of my life is connected to you in ways that I know. In ways that I have yet to discover.

As Lent pushes us forward toward experiencing Jesus’ life journey, his steps offer me a new place in my own journey of life. There are so many avenues of inspiration, change, adaption, growth that await me to further define my connection to God. On the back of Bella Grace: Life’s a Beautiful Journey, the mission statement reads, “We believe: An ordinary life can be extraordinary, there is beauty in IMPERFECTION, and that magic can be found in the everyday.” I like this. The magic for me, is not conjuring or self-aggrandizement. Instead, it is the wonder the mystery and possibility that can be me in relationship with God. And with you. That means, I will add the readings in this book to those of the sacred texts and other inspired writings. I pray you find inspiration, change, adaption, growth in your spiritual practices.

 

   Putting my investment to better use,

                  Pastor Laurie​​

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