"We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. As a fair exchange -- I speak as to my children -- open wide your hearts also."
~ 2 Corinthians 6:11,13 One thing I hear more people talking about is the need for transparency. I have tried to become an open book. It has been both a blessing and a curse at times, but overall what I have noticed is that by becoming transparent, it makes for a place where open communication can occur. Something that I would hope we all might embrace. When we become vulnerable with ourselves, we can then become safe places for others. When we offer ourselves as vessels of God's love, we cannot help but invite people to love one another. When people realize that we have no hidden agendas or unspoken intentions, then we hopefully can be seen as instruments of reconciliation and hopefully peace. If we live our lives being judgemental and opinionated, we soon discover that people will not share what they truly feel for fear of being a victim of judgement. If you are a place of refuge, then you must be open to the experience of the refugees. Only then can others truly feel welcome to share of their experiences, as well as, be a place where real conversations can happen. So much of the time this happens without any thought or planning. The act of reconciliation most often takes place when we ourselves are least aware of it. Our simple, nonjudgmental presence does it. May we all learn to be agents of hospitality and places where others feel safe. Stay in God's grip! G. Todd Williams (c) 2017
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AuthorRev. G. Todd Williams lives in the Houston metro area and is a Hospice Chaplain at Essential Hospice, Webster, Texas, and is an ordained Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) pastor. Archives
May 2023
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