For your consideration…
Our message today is about “looks.” Immediately coming to mind might be the “mom look.” You know the one that your mom gave you that immediately told you everything you needed to know or do.
But that is not the one I was given as an example for today’s message. I was instead given my grandson’s “glare.” My daughter gets mad when I call it that but I haven’t come up with a better word for it. Of course, as I looked for a picture of it, I couldn’t find one. That is because everyone waits to get a smile before they click the camera. This was as close as I could find. Conner is happy but he simply is not generous with his smiles. He is not shy or frightened but when people talk to him, he often “glares” at them. He glares or studies people as they talk to him. He may be coaxed out of a smile or not…often not. If he wasn’t a baby, if he was an adult, it would be insulting.
But he is a baby and he is not negatively judging people. We don’t know what is going on in his head. And that is the point of today’s message.
Body language is important. We have had messages about that. It is the problem with social media. Words without body language to go with it have caused many misunderstandings and disagreements. But we also can get the same thing when we are in-person communicating. We may get that glare, dirty look and assume it is directed at us. And maybe it is, but maybe it doesn’t have anything to do with us at all.
Consider how many times you are in a moment but aren’t really. Consider how many times our mind has wandered and we are a million miles away. Our facial expressions may reflect that.
We are often asked to suspend judgment. It is always a good policy. But today’s message is more specific. It asks us not to be quick to take offense. Give the benefit of the doubt. Remember, we are loved and assume everyone can feel that.
That is the HOPE. And so it is.
Bit by bit, piece by piece, HOPE by HOPE action steps anyone can take…
-Affirm…“I am loved.”
-Meditate/pray…ask…”What is my next step for my highest good and the highest good of all?”
-Drink lots of water.
-Get outdoors and take in at least 10 deep breaths.
-Suspend judgment.
What made me smile yesterday…
-A nice rain.
-Great vegetables from my garden.
-A in prompt to get together at Shannon and Will’s. So fun with all the dogs, Alex, James, Conner, Mac, Aj, and meeting Phillip.
-A good book.
Love, Blessings, and Gratitude,
Rev. Chris
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