How is 2024 treating you so far?

Have you set any New Year's goals for yourself?

While I am a little wary sometimes at what is behind “new year, new me” goal setting – shame, unrealistic expectations, and a lack of self-love, grace and generosity, I think that these moments taken for reflection and intention setting can be wonderful opportunities.

My challenge, my invitation to you for the beginning of this calendar year is to imagine what spiritual habits you might begin to develop in 2024. What spiritual exercises might help to orient your profoundly beloved self towards loving God and neighbour, towards grace, forgiveness, gratitude, peace, beauty, generosity, justice, and a rootedness in the goodness of God?

It doesn’t have to be big. Sometimes it is the very little things that grow to become a home for all the winged things.

One small thing that I like to play with is grace – a small blessing before a meal.

It doesn’t have to be complicated, even a small pause for gratitude, to think of and thank God, to think of and bless those who might be without, is a spiritual exercise that begins to slowly build our spiritual muscles.

If having a grace to pray is helpful, consider making this one part of your practice – the grace I was asked to write for St. John’s cookbook.  

 

Holy One,

Thank you.

Bless this food.

By its nourishment may we

Savour every joyful moment,

Be sustained through life’s hardships,

Hunger for healing and wholeness in our world,

Share what we have with generosity,

And be filled up for the work of forgiveness, love and mercy.

In the name of the One who broke and shared bread until all were fed.

Amen.


Thanks be to God!

CG+