25.4.11 Good Company

Dear Friends of Sacred Ground,

Who is keeping you company these days? We need good company. We need the kind of company that ignites and guards the light of courage and love in our hearts.

Good company can be the words and courage passed down to us from people who have gone before us. Maybe it’s the company of connecting over coffee and soul-filled conversation. Or the company of people gathered to create or to lift their voices together—in prayers of song, in prayers of protest, in prayers of hope.

 This morning, these words in Nan C. Merrill’s Psalms for Praying, caught my heart:

“For, I keep company with fear, and dwell in the heart of ignorance. Yet, I was brought forth in love, and love is my birthright.” (From Psalm 51.)

Fear is real and loud right now. But we need not let fear dictate who we are and how we show up in the world. Love is our birthright. We are not alone. How are we being invited to show up for one another?

I’m so glad that we have many opportunities this month to explore these invitations. At this Tuesday’s Groundings, Diane Millis, Ph.D. will invite us to Befriend our Belovedness. (You do not need to be a spiritual director to join this important conversation!) On April 26, we have an opportunity to practice a Courageous Conversation with Rev. Paul Slack. And on April 28, we are happy to offer an online panel discussion for spiritual directors on Walking with Directees through “Deconstruction”—a time of unraveling and disorientation for those experiencing a deeply changing faith. 

With everything that is going on in our lives and in the world around us, may we remember: Love is our birthright.

May we continue to show up for one another and for our world. May we continue to offer and find good company.

In hope and with gratitude,

Jessica Sanborn (she/her)

Program Coordinator