Happy Monday, Friends!
Yesterday, my friend and pastor, Revd Dr Jacqui Lewis, preached at the historic Riverside Church in New York City. During her sermon on the power of love in a broken world, she said "You will love yourself and then you will experience reconciliation." Broken people who act in their brokenness hurt other people, but broken people who love themselves can change the world.
I imagine we've all been taught that we need to sacrifice until it hurts and share more and more of ourselves and think of others before ourselves. There's nothing wrong with these statements, but loving ourselves is a holy act. We should never forget that even God rested (Genesis 2:1-3).
Friends, we are all broken people called to healing and reconciling work in and beyond the church. But how are we healing ourselves? Do we take the time to see ourselves as we are? Do we hold space for ourselves and give ourselves the compassion and understanding we deserve?
Let us pray: God, we are broken people, but we desire to love and reconcile with each other. Help us to see you in ourselves and to love ourselves as the wonderful people you created us to be. Help us excuse our own faults. Lead us to accept our flaws, love our bodies, and make known those places we try hard to keep secret. May we remember that broken people, loving boldly, can change the world. We ask this through Jesus, our only redeemer. Amen.
Faithfully,
Ben