Harvest Meditation

Transcript for October 11, 2009 by Bob Kleinheksel

It’s time to pause, as perhaps it is always a time to pause, in order to take in the moment and see more clearly who and what is around. We meditate and pray experiencing God within, God between and God beyond. Everyone here important, everyone here adding and enhancing to community. Each here a wonder, a spark, a light, a fabric of possibilities. Here’s to each of you. Here’s to your thoughtfulness, your convictions and questions. Here’s to your individuality which will not blink out of existence in the context of community; here’s to community which invites and celebrates our greater selves connected to one another and the world.

Let us not forget the pains and injustice in the world, the soldier dying with unclear purpose; the civilian from planned or random violence; the unfairness and disparities within our lives and broader societal systems. May we be moved from our apathy and indifference; may we be invited or jolted toward greater awareness and compassion into our spheres of influence – so that change and light and love happen one person at a time beginning with ourselves.

May our light and possibility not be hidden but rather seen by those around – that we would be an encouragement and hope, a song and a smile.

The Autumn tempests have come and gone. Shingles and sofits tested again. Trees straining, bending and groaning, threatening to tumble. Now calm. Wind and rain nurture the earth and goad the leaves into flight and decay. Change so evident again. Let us recognize and move along with the parade of personal and seasonal change. While no one change is permanent, change is. Each of us on the way; this community, imperfect as it is, is emerging, becoming, growing, identifying, renewing. Let it all be.

We usher in harvest festival spirit, with bounty and beauty; we affirm community in the midst – full of variety and giftedness. Let all people and all things be unleashed; let creativity, unique ownership, lived out values be known and demonstrated, shared and enjoyed. And may a connecting and claiming mentality and reality be all of ours – so that freedom and growth, learning and comforting happen in fresh and vibrant ways. So be it. We find the balance again between the celebration of self rooted in community – and that it is not all about any one of us. It’s not all about me and my selfish expectations, troublesome preoccupations, unrealistic needs, or unclear perceptions. Yet, it is about you, me, us – abiding with each other, putting up with each other, loving, forgiving, reconciling, including, taking on and letting go. Darn it…it’s all of this and more.

With God as love, with saints and sages inspiring us still, with the god of our understandings we take our place connected to each other and open ourselves up to seeing again the beauty, each other, the quandary, the possibility, this community –as if for the first time. Amen.