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Spirituality
September 21 – October 4, 2013
www.SanTanSun.com
Spiritual Reflections Living our dreams, connecting
Sharing our humanity
BY OLIVIA VELOSO
BY BARBARA DILLARD
“All our desires exist every moment we stand connected to God/the universe/ source in love and joy. Complete happiness comes to us naturally as we live our lives in harmony. We are all worthy to live our dreams. This is God’s plan for us.” Olivia Veloso Reiki master and teacher Chandler
Our bodies were sprawled across the Honolulu Airport terminal like the contents of my suitcase upon our return. Most were wrapped in blankets, some propped up in chairs and still others curled up with family members on the floor. All fancy travel attire had long ago been reduced to comfort. There were no divisions of ethnicity, color or sex—only our joint humanity was on display. We were in survival mode after our flight’s cancellation. Strangers talked with strangers while smiles, humor and helpful suggestions were exchanged. Though accompanied by our own baggage—the kind we all have—we were way too tired for facades so outer coverings had given way to exhaustion hours earlier. All of us were “in the same boat.” In a strange way, there was a sweetness to our predicament. Though each of us was traveling a different course, for those few hours, we shared that which makes us human. Sometimes, like amateur Houdinis, we try to escape this very thing that enables us to relate to others. We pretend to impress.
Spiritual Reflections Share your spiritual reflections... The spiritual leaders of SanTan Sun area churches, temples, mosques and other religious and spiritual gathering places are invited to contribute their Spiritual Reflections in essay format by sending their thoughts, enlightening insights and other writings of a spiritual nature to News@SanTanSun.com. Be certain to put “Spiritual Reflections submission” in the subject line, and keep your articles around 200-300 words, or they may be edited for length. Include your first and last name, title and facility name, address, phone number and website. Spiritual Reflections are printed on a space-available basis, and submission does not guarantee print. The opinions represented in this column are those of the author and not that of the SanTan Sun News.
Author Madeleine L’Engle has said, “As Christians, we are meant to be not less human than other people but more human, just as Jesus of Nazareth was more human.” If God took on our humanity so that He could relate His Love to us, then how much more should we be willing to share in order to relate. The same sun brightens our days, newborn babies make us smile and tragedy causes our collective hearts to ache. We are all as “one beggar offering another beggar a piece of bread.” If we forget that, we are in grave danger of losing the message of the gospel. For we come to God like the song says, “Just as I am.” The more sensitive we are to our humanity, the more closely we can walk those dusty roads of life, sharing His Love with others. Even when cancelled flights interrupt our lives. Barbara Dillard Chandler Affiliated with Redemption Gateway Church in Mesa Unswervinglyheld.blogspot.com
SEPTEMBER 29TH THROUGH OCTOBER 20TH
SUNDAY WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Sunday Mornings Traditional Worship
7:30 & 11:30 A.M.
Contemporary Worship 8:50 & 10:10 A.M. Sunday School
Sunday Evenings CORE (6th - 8th Grade)
6:00 P.M.
High School Youth Group 6:00 P.M.
8:50 & 10:10 A.M.
Adult Forum Bible Study 8:50 A.M.
RISEN SAVIOR LUTHERAN CHURCH & SCHOOL 23914 S. Alma School Road, Chandler, AZ 85248 SW CORNER OF ALMA SCHOOL & CHANDLER HEIGHTS ROADS
Phone: 480-895-6782 • Email: info@RSLCS.org • Website: www.RSLCS.org