Cooperative Components of Embracing Inclusivity
Interim Minister Rev. John DePalma & The SBCSL Church Council
“The more I think it over, the more I feel that there is
nothing more artistic than to love people.”
– Vincent Van Gogh
Our February theme is Black history month and the theme of love. Can we truly consider ourselves as cooperative components of embracing inclusivity and expansive love in our lives? Or do we use our unconscious bias, privilege, or unworthiness as a powerful argument for our limitations and lack of cultural progress?
Do we really believe love is all there is? When we think of our life as painting on a canvas, can we fill it with vibrancy and life? Vincent Van Gogh declares “The more I think it over, the more I feel that there is nothing more artistic than to love people.”
Are your brushstrokes of love on your canvas bold, vibrant, and alive? Or uninspired insipid strokes of fearful grays and angry browns. The starting point is really paying attention to self-love. We can’t really make connection to others if we aren’t in right relationship with ourselves. As Rev Josh recommended last month, make your life an example of self-care. This is a critical step if we have any expectation of deeper relationships with family friends or a broader community. As a result of radical self-care, I can be more open to greater love and creativity in every area of my life.
As we finish the 2nd year of pandemic-induced cultural innovation, much of the shifts we had to make were imposed into our lives. More important than ever, we can focus on living from our imagination rather than experience. What that can mean for me is rather than looking to fix something I think is broken I can ask how I can bring greater acceptance, compassion, and love to the situation. In the asking I open to the solution of finding out a greater idea of who I have come here to be. When we think of change as painting on a canvas, can we fill it with vibrancy and life? Consider how the energy of covid virus occupies our attention. What if we could shift our attention to vigorous health and vitality. Consider the following prayer to paint a powerful canvas to bring us all into a vibrant, greater experience of health and vitality for all!
Health Alert!
Settling into this moment with a deep breath…
I open my heart wide to embrace a greater reality, that there is only One Life breathing as me, beating my heart and awakening me to an awareness of unconditional love, creative intelligence and infinite wisdom that is flowing through me. Syncing my entire being to this awareness I upgrade my consciousness to remember and know that everything necessary for the most vibrant health and vitality is operating through me now. Despite any appearance to the contrary, I maintain the most vigorous assertion that health and wholeness predominates my thinking, my feelings, and my activities. I claim this for myself, my family and friends and the entire Seal Beach Community. I fan the flame in my heart for the God in all creation and surrender to the intelligence, wisdom and love that sees all things perfect, whole, and complete. Something inside of me knows then exactly how to inspire, guide, and support clear thinking, intentional action and right being, which assures me that all is well!
⁃ Rev John DePalma
Rev. John DePalma
Rev John’s personal mission is to help our spiritual centers build diverse, inclusive, healthy, sustainable, and thriving spiritual communities. Why? To awaken humanity to its Spiritual Magnificence and create a world that works for all where no child goes hungry, where no one fears persecution, where no one is unloved and where prosperity and peace prevail.