This Sunday we are reflecting on a well-known essay : by Clarissa Pinkola Estes
My friends, do not lose heart. We were made for these times…
AUTHOR BIO : These beloved words were published by Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes back in 2001. She is an American poet, Jungian psychoanalyst, post-trauma recovery specialist, author and spoken word artist. Estés grew up in the now vanished oral tradition of her immigrant, refugee families who could not read nor write, or did so haltingly, and for whom English was their third language overlying their ancient natal languages.
INTRODUCTION for our Sunday Service on Mothers’ Day this year :
These times on Earth are rugged, shocking, savage and cruel. Yet as we know – also laced with Light and Good News when we open ourselves to it. Different pieces of this following essay have been quoted over the years. It is ferocious and kind. It is beloved. Some of you undoubtedly know it well already. For me I have printed it out many times – many versions. In this one I’ve shortened it a little and replaced the singular “you’s “ to “we” in support of our greater group consciousness. Below in bold print.. are the paragraphs that some of us have prepared to share a personal story about.
So here Clarissa continues :
I have heard from so many recently who are deeply and properly bewildered. They are concerned about the state of affairs in our world right now.
Yet … I urge you, ask you, gentle you, to please not spend your spirit dry by bewailing these difficult times. Especially do not lose hope. Most particularly because, the fact is that we were made for these times. Yes. For years, we have been learning, practicing, been in training for and just waiting to meet on this exact plain of engagement.
I grew up on the Great Lakes and recognize a seaworthy vessel when I see one.
Regarding awakened souls, there have never been more able vessels in the waters than there are right now across the world. And they are fully provisioned and able to signal one another as never before in the history of humankind.
Look out over the prow; there are millions of boats of righteous souls on the waters with us. Even though our veneers may shiver from every wave in this stormy roil, I assure you that the long timbers composing your prow and rudder come from a greater forest. That long-grained lumber is known to withstand storms, to hold together, to hold its own, and to advance, regardless.
In any dark time, there is a tendency to veer toward fainting over how much is wrong or unmended in the world. Do not focus on that.
There is a tendency, too, to fall into being weakened by dwelling on what is outside your reach, by what cannot yet be. Do not focus there. That is spending the wind without raising the sails.
We are needed, that is all we can know.
And though we meet resistance, we more so will meet great souls who will hail us, love us and guide us, and we will know them when they appear.
Didn’t you say you were a believer? Didn’t you say you pledged to listen to a voice greater? Didn’t you ask for grace? Don’t you remember that to be in grace means to submit to the voice greater?
Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world all at once, but of stretching out to mend the part of the world that is within our reach.
Any small, calm thing that one soul can do to help another soul, to assist some portion of this poor suffering world, will help immensely. It is not given to us to know which acts or by whom, will cause the critical mass to tip toward an enduring good. What is needed for dramatic change is an accumulation of acts, adding, adding to, adding more, continuing.
We know that it does not take everyone on Earth to bring justice and peace, but only a small, determined group who will not give up during the first, second, or hundredth gale.
One of the most calming and powerful actions we can do to intervene in a stormy world is to stand up and show our soul. Soul on deck shines like gold in dark times.
The light of the soul throws sparks, can send up flares, builds signal fires, causes proper matters to catch fire. To display the lantern of soul in shadowy times like these,
To be fierce and to show mercy toward others; both are acts of immense bravery and greatest necessity.
Struggling souls catch light from other souls who are fully lit and willing to show it. If you would help to calm the tumult, this is one of the strongest things you can do.
There will always be times when we feel discouraged. I too have felt despair many times in my life, but I do not keep a chair for it. I will not entertain it. It is not allowed to eat from my plate.
The reason is this: In my uttermost bones I know something, as do you. It is that there can be no despair when we remember why we came to Earth, who we serve, and who sent us here. The good words we say and the good deeds we do are not ours. They are the words and deeds of the One who brought us here.
In that spirit, I hope you will write this on your wall: When a great ship is in harbor and moored, it is safe, there can be no doubt. But that is not what great ships are built for.
—— Thank you Clarissa. Thank you.
Edited for our Lake Superior Interfaith Community Church by Carolyn Sheets as president of our current Board of Trustees. Mothers’ Day, May 12, 2024.
See ANNOUNCEMENT below
Join us IN PERSON @ 10:30am or
LIVE ZOOM is available at this link
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83865904579?pwd=ZUtNWWRYT3grOVptUzMxcENka1pMUT09
PAST SERVICES on YouTube- recordings
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMGTZGmjWe6qwymZ7WYGQ5Q
A N N O U N C E M E N T :
To all of us who are offering to speak on this essay
in our Sunday Service this week May 12 : Mothers’ Day
Please Call or Text – Carolyn : 218-461-2907
or Email [email protected]We need to see how many of us we have to fill our time available.
This is a new idea with lots of promise for us to explore going forward !
For more info or questions please contact me.
Many thanks ! Carolyn
Our Service is followed by our Lunch
which we consider our Communion.
All are WELCOME !
Please bring food to share when you can.
UPCOMING SPEAKERS & WORKSHOP
- MAY 19 : Speaker: EMILY CHRISTENSON
- DRUMMING with SPIRIT
- MAY 19 : Workshop:MEDIUMSHIP by Emily Christenson
- @ 12:30-2:30 – $15 . 6-10 people .
- Flyers available : Sunday May 12
- MAY 26 : Speaker: BARBARA WITH :
- PEACE WORK ON HER WORLD TOUR
- Welcome back Barbara!
- JUNE 2 : Speaker:CHRISTY ROUNDS
- Documentary Filmmaker : PROPHESY
- filmed in Peru
- It will be shown before Lunch- 16 minutes long
- Our Service will be shorter and Lunch a bit later than usual.
Extended Zoom Link
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83865904579?pwd=ZUtNWWRYT3grOVptUzMxcENka1pMUT09
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