Beloved,
I got to spend a little over 2 days with the people who are in the candidacy process. We are on interview teams and we meet with people every year as they make their way to ordination. It is hard holy work. I love it! Do you know why? There are so many words! Written, spoken, sung, whispered, yelled, and all of it is holy. I love it! The second best part is that we were together in person! It is so much better to be in the room with these people. Plus, the team gets to be together too. I love it! Serving in this way fills me up even as I am emptied. It has been 2 years since I had to drive, get up earlier, get dressed, and be dressed all day. I even loved this! It gives me such hope to be with people who love Jesus and are called to serve the church and God in this way. I love it! It is my sweet spot! I love it! Where do you find yourself filled even as you are being emptied? Much Love, Temple
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Beloved,
I have had a couple of conversations this week about telling the truth. I know this topic comes up so often in politics, in telling someone if you like their new hair cut or not, in being brutally honest and hurting another. We tell the truth, people are set free, people are released from despair, and are able to move forward with this knowledge to make decisions. All of this is done in the name of truth. Truth can be a weapon or a blessing. It depends on how this truth is used. Jesus told the truth to his disciples and the crowds, and many could not receive his truth. They simply could not or would not hear it. I have been there. I read in a book years ago about an alien that believed if he closed his eyes, no one could see him. I do this with truth that I don't want to hear. When we lean into the truth of God, when we hear the truth of God's love for us, when we see God's love at work in the world, do we speak of this? Do we honor the holy work we have been called to be speaking truth? Here is some truth we all need to hear: You are beloved. Wildly, Abundantly, Joyfully, Completely Beloved! Now! Go live out that truth so that others might know as well. Much Love, Temple Beloved,
This Friday note is brought to you by Gratitude. I have had several interactions this week with people who are living into their best selves. It is so exciting to see this. To witness someone using their gifts to help others. To receive this gift from another is such a holy offering. The joy that makes my heart sing, the light that is in the world in all of us ordinary people is almost to much to hold. People changing the world in everyday ways, living into their fulness, out of their love of God makes me turn to God and say-"Are you seeing this? It is amazing! How cool is that? Way to go God! Way to go Child of God!" May we find gratitude in our everyday moments. Much Love, Temple Beloved, I was with a friend recently and she reminded me of this phrase: Curious and not judgmental. We were talking about hard conversations and how to stay engaged when there is conflict or different perspectives. It seems to me that the tenor of conversations lately has not been curious and is very heavy on the judgmental side. We write people off when they believe or say something we do not agree with wholeheartedly. Staying curious does not mean we have to agree. Staying curious means we are invested in the person and the relationship. We can listen and see their perspective. We can listen and completely disagree but not make a judgment call on their whole being. It is much easier to disregard someone than it is to stay in relationship. My hope and prayer is that we will do that hard work. I know there is blessing for everyone. The connections we make, the things that we do agree on allow us to stay connected. Where do you need to be more curious and less judgmental? I know my answer. Much Love, Temple After 2 very long years, this extrovert got to go somewhere and be with friends! All the joy! The 4 of us gathered and worked, and visited, and talked. We Talked. So. Much. All of us are extroverts so someone was ready to have a conversation. We laughed, we cried, we were serious, we ate, and most importantly, we were together. The support and holy conversations we had were a balm to my soul. My soul is so nourished and happy! What are you doing to make your soul happy? If you want to talk about it, you know I have all the words! Much Love, Temple Beloved, Years ago there were these commercials about a cat and his journal. This was hilarious and one really stuck with me. He was journaling and he said something like-The person I live with petted me today. But with only one hand. I know that when the person uses both hands that means love. When the person only uses one hand that is LO. I hadan instructor in seminary talking about being present. Especially in preaching. He told of us the time he was pushing his daughter on a swing and he was reading on his phone. She put her legs out and stopped herself. She looked at him and said, "Daddy, two hands". He put his phone away and was present with her in the moment. We are celebrating Holy Communion every week during Lent. I pray that as we come to the table, we do so with two hands. Two hands to receive this gift freely given. Two hands to receive and to LOVE. Much Love, Temple |
Rev. temple diehlI arrived in Cushing in June of 2018 and am very excited to minister with, serve with, and worship with everyone God places in our lives. Archives
June 2022
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