Stories for all Ages all include a visual graphic. Sermons do not have a visual graphic in their post.
Our memories leave us with stories of overcoming and failures, heroism and defeats that shape and mold who we are. Yet, memories are not set in stone but acts of creation. Science shows us that we change our memories slightly every time we engage with them. If we actively engage, we can choose what memories tell us our truth, and re-create memories to be a source of strength. This is not “how” we remember, but “what” we remember, re-framing and crafting our own history to build strength, wisdom, and kindness today.
What shapes us, guides us, and provides us valuable wisdom, and what serves to break us down? We each hold close our personal histories, shaped and molded by death, illness, regrets, mistakes, love, and lessons learned. This Sunday, we are invited to engage with the experiences we hold within us, grappling with those questions of what to hold close and what to release.
Loneliness is pervasive. We may experience periods when, even if surrounded by people, our insides yearn for something beyond the emptiness we may feel. We are called to find the answer within ourselves, loving and connecting with our core. We are called towards fullness and wholeness as we orient ourselves towards our own unique spirituality. This Sunday, we explore escaping loneliness and fostering healing as we first turn inward, cultivating the strength to turn outward.
By Rev. Jane Smith at Channing Memorial Church