Creating safe spaces...

Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
~ Psalm 51:6

Each day I am invited into the home of the hospice patients I get to visit.  Surrounded by their own belongings and family, I often am drawn in by their stories, milestones and the things that have brought them joy throughout their life.  It is a place of comfort, and so much of the time, I also recognize the sacredness of the space, and that the ground is often holy.  It is a safe place where they can share of their life, which then becomes a safe place for those who enter.  Creating a safe space for others is something we are all capable of doing.

There is something about being able to be transparent and present with others in a way that it allows for vulnerability and safety. We can do this in many ways. When we free our lives of judgement and condemnation when we are with others, we suddenly then can become a place where others can openly share their lives.

When we live our lives as God has designed, loving one another, we cannot help but invite others to do the same.

One of the greatest gifts that we can give one another is ourselves. Without some hidden agenda or underlying need, where we are completely present, and able to be a source of peace and reconciliation, we then create a place where sacred conversations can happen. For many, I think that it becomes a place of liberation where feelings and experiences can be shared, without fear of "What will he think of me once he knows this about me?"

I try to remind myself that Jesus did not come into the world to condemn the world, but to save it.

Providing a simple, nonjudgmental presence, often without a plan, can be exactly what others need to know that we can be part of the safe place with them. What a wonderful place to be with, and for, one another!

Stay in God's grip!

G. Todd Williams (c) 2020