My beloved Mt. Tam Church,
One of the great joys of living in the Bay Area is the geography of microclimates. Did you know that we live in one of the few places on earth with such distinct but close together small areas of weather? What a gift—hot day in Mill Valley? Head to the coast! Too cold in southern Marin—take a drive to wine country to warm up!
I write this because I’ve been toying with the concept of how we have micro-climates in our own lives—in the midst of uncertainty, fear and doubt, there are small pockets of hope, joy, wonder and love. These are like little microclimates of being to which we can travel to either warm up or cool down! Stay with me and play with this idea. Maybe it doesn’t speak to you. But please read on and perhaps it might!
Here’s an example: as I struggle to keep my own spirits up, to “keep the faith” in staying hopeful and strong, I find a visit to the micro-climate of my wonderful 4-year old granddaughter the place I need to visit to warm my heart, cool down my fears and center myself again. Two hours of play, reading and yes, even Candyland buoys my soul. I can’t stay there forever. Yet I can take a break there from the greater climate of challenge and find myself renewed.
Another microclimate that grounds me is to start my day with poetry. Normally I read 2 newspapers, first thing, as I drink my coffee and start the day. I have found myself more depressed than informed with this practice. So now, before any headlines cross my path, I dive into the new collection of Mary Oliver poems, “Devotions,” and take a few moments to read and meditate on whatever poem lands as I open the book. Her words never fail to center my heart in joy and hope and prepare me for what I will be reading and experiencing all day. From there, my morning prayers focus on thanksgiving and praise as well as concerns and fears. The Spirit can enter into me more easily with an open and softened heart. (And whereas I used to save the comic section for the afternoon, I now make sure I read it right after the main news section!) What and where are your microclimates of joy, hope, wonder and love? How can you travel there, as you need, to cool your fears and warm your soul? And how can the Spirit guide you to these places of comfort and peace? Please let me know with an email, subject line “micro-climates.” As we share, perhaps we can journey together, by God’s grace, and together, grow in and keep the faith!
Peace,
Pastor Kim
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