"Mindsets"

My dad was a master builder and in England he was considered an architect; His style followed the Modernist expression and he would say that form was only beautiful if it was functional and ornamentation hid poor workmanship. This mindset expressed itself in streamlined and functional designs of homes and furniture he built with integrity and no frivolity.

My mom, on the other hand came from parents whose shop, Gurnhill's nestled on a corner in downtown Grimsbey baked and sold cakes and tarts, pies and puddings piled high on excessively decorated tables surrounded by displays of silks, wools, beads and baskets filled with ornamental ribbons, buttons and bows. She loved texture, gems, frills, fragrance and flowers.

These two cultural mindsets sometimes collided over the purpose of giving birthday or Valentine's gifts, cards and flowers. But through the neutralizing and harmonizing aspects of love, mindsets learn to honor and create a third more eclectic one. Perhaps this is the meaning behind the story of Jesus healing the blind man.

As Jesus walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus replied "Neither this man nor his parents, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me. As long as I am in the world I am the light of the world" And the Teacher healed him.

The way we live is an act of worship. We heal our hearts and souls as our mind turns away from believing there is only one right way to worship and sets on SEEing and experiencing the unconditional love that emerges when praying in monk-like austere fashion to celebrating elaborate, ornate and carefully crafted rituals, to crafting an article, rocking a baby or watering flowers.

We heal our blindness by being still and know "I am God."

Be well,
Rev Janice