We pause, pray, meditate, doze and reflect on all that is, what has been and what will be. We abide in the NOW; we lose ourselves in distractions and nagging small stuff. What a mix of humanity we are – with our fallibility and beautiful uniqueness. We focus on what is life-giving this day and re-commit to gentling our homes, communities, families and workplaces with the peace and justice we seek to live out in thought, word and habit. May we remember always that life is never as serious as we suppose, yet more precious than to take it for granted even for a moment.

We celebrate the honesty and freedom of living in this world and creating what is meaningful and real. Would that this community and this gathering be relevant, useful and inspiring. For why would we be here – if not to be encouraged, stimulated, comforted, humanized, invited to live lives that get at what is essential for each of us? We are grateful for this community that seeks to live out core values and thus slowly and deliberately transform the world we share – our nation, our community, our world, our households near and far.

We honor what each brings to this place: Beliefs, understandings, traditional and alternative interpretations, spirituality, a Christ-likeness or consciousness, common sense, honoring sages and saviors across traditions and ages. We value the particulars that guide, ground and set us free to be the gift others need…to be the change we wish to see in the world. So too do we celebrate our common humanity and transcend what may divide or limit. We share too much to be separate. The unity, common ground and shared experiences compel us to look beyond our arrogant assumptions toward a shared global village that continues to challenge individual, national and tribal ego. Amen to freedom, to creativity, to honesty and to what is possible in our world!

We affirm those who say “yes” to this community and to the shared journey – those we publicly welcome today. We strive to honor their minds, their questions, their ideas and presence and to invite them into their inner peace. We celebrate the ways they enrich this community and indeed this world. So too do we honor all visitors and friends to this place. May they catch a glimpse of what is worthwhile, an honesty, hospitality and kindness to inspire them to be more of who they are - so that they might give of their best selves to those they love and all they encounter this day.

We remember those loved and lost; those recovering, those delighting in the most enjoyable experiences of life and love. We remember all those living with cancer; all those experiencing the loss of a parent or friend or child. Those living through the devastation of war, Midwest floods, the loss of life in the Philippines and so many countless global and national crises. We affirm God between as intimate experiences with those with us now and those departed; the sharing of sexes and souls, of hands held, prolonged embraces, playtime with kids or grandkids…and all that reminds us of our rich and emerging humanity.

We pause, pray, reflect in honor of all friends, visitors, newcomer and long-timers. We honor the God of all our understandings and life itself on this amazing, challenging human journey. Amen.

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