April 27: Reflection on Purpose in Life

            We are seemingly always in search of our “one true purpose” in life. But we acknowledge that God created each human life with infinite complexity and we are not meant for just one narrow purpose. So we pray we find meaning in many different aspects of our lives. May we find fulfillment in serving others and in worshipping God. May our lives have meaning through the love we have for our friends and family. Whatever we do with our time and our efforts, may we remember to stop and reflect on how these actions give meaning to our lives and our missions in God.

Photo by author, taken in Sabino Canyon, Arizona.

April 25: Reflection on Gifts God Has Given

            May we pause to reflect on all the gifts God has given, the gifts we often overlook in our pursuit of better lives. As we constantly attempt to improve ourselves, let us not forget the talents and strengths with which God has blessed us. May we also reflect on all the wonderful people God has brought into our lives, from those who play the most minor roles to those who have changed our lives permanently. We acknowledge that these are not presents we have earned, but gifts God has freely given out of infinite love. May our reflections make us more grateful and more content with the life God has granted us today.

Photo by author

March 6: Loving Oneself as God Loves Us

            In a society that feeds off of self-deprecation, loving oneself as God loves us may seem like an impossible task. But we also recognize the spiritual power of practicing self-love. We will try to love ourselves as God so infinitely loves us. We recognize that love is not a denial of all flaws but a commitment to compassion and grace. God’s grace allows us to accept our own humanity, to care for ourselves as God has cared for people through the centuries.

Photo by author

Grace: February 15 through April 16

Introduction

            Grace is a word used so often in our society and our faith that the word may seem drained of meaning. We hear of God’s unconditional grace for us and yet we continue to pass judgment on others and ourselves, constantly frustrated by the shortcomings of others and by our own failings. Because of this, we must take this time to make grace an intentional practice, so that we may live the truth of Jesus’ forgiveness for humanity every day.

            We begin our search for grace in acceptance. We can learn to appreciate our minds and bodies as God has created us. We can strive to see imperfection as an essential characteristic of humanity. Through embracing God’s gift of salvation through grace alone, we are freed to give up the pursuit of earning God’s love. This means forgiving ourselves for past mistakes. This means loving others despite their flaws.

            As we look forward to Easter and the Resurrection, we choose to make grace real again by practicing acceptance and forgiveness in our own lives.

January 13: Request for Renewal in Friendships

            We recognize that we often take our friendships for granted. While it is good to feel secure in our relationships, we pray that we still remember to treat our friends with compassion and generosity. May God renew our friendships with greater closeness and trust. May we discover the motivation and methods to express our gratitude to our friends for all they have done for us. We thank God for the friends we have and ask for help in remembering to care for them during our busy lives.

Photo by author

December 28: Meditation on the Birth of Christ

Christmas Recess: December 21-January 2 

            May God grant us time on this day to meditate on the Nativity of Jesus. Let us reflect on the hope of the scene of seemingly ordinary people gathered around a newborn baby. With this image, we see humanity reborn in the most unlikely of places. We are reminded that renewal, even on the grandest of scales, is not impossible. We give thanks to God for unending hope in the form of Christ’s Birth and maintain the belief in God’s transformative power in our own lives. We celebrate this holiday by holding this image in our minds and proceeding in the days following with the same sense of love and promise.

Photo by author, taken during Christmas in Christ Chapel 2016