Good Evening, God
This photo of a European ground squirrel with a tiny aster — moved me. There was such a delicacy of touch and of awareness present. And tonight as I was beginning Brothers in the Beloved Community: The Friendship of Thich That Hanh and Martin Luther King Jr. I remembered this photo.
I’m smiling, God, but it seems to me that this small ground squirrel is one of the Beloved Community. A creature living in peace with one another. A creature treasuring other portions of creation like this flower. I first heard the phrase “Beloved Community” back in early 2019. I immediately longed to be part of a beloved community. At the time, I referred to our church as our beloved community.
But, that is too small a way to understand this phrase. At least, God, my heart is creating her own understanding, in which all creatures desiring to dwell in harmonious appreciation of one another are part of the Beloved Community. Now, desiring is — at least for me — often very far from actually dwelling. But, being as unfinished as we are — I am hoping our intentions and desires do matter.
And for me, just the phrase — Beloved Community — calls me to be. Calls me to compassion, to appreciation of each one of us as we are …. Calls me to respect — to an honoring — of each one with the flame of life.
And each one of us has a small path to travel lightly on. Travel without crushing the spirit of any of those traveling along side.
Aaah, back to bed. Preparing for a new day.
Story teller,
A Moment with God 
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