A message from Rev. Jim
Dear Members and Friends of CCEH,
I don’t need to remind you that we are living in strange and anxious times. A common, but rarely helpful, response when feeling anxious is to freeze – to do nothing. But if you’re like me, this response only increases the anxiety. I find the best response to getting unfrozen, thereby lowering anxiety, is to take action. But what kind of action?
Below are some ideas shared with me by life coaching colleague, Laurie Shiers:
1. Ask, “What would person X do?” Person X being someone you admire, or someone who inspires you.
2. Make in inspiration box. Make an actual box if you want to, but it’s what’s inside that counts: articles, quotes, song lyrics, pressed flowers, postcards, photos, colorful rocks – anything that sparks your imagination.
3. Serenade a stranger (or a neighbor). Maggie and I have been having fun with this one. We call up a neighbor and ask if we can serenade them from their porch. It’s rather like Christmas caroling, just as fun and relaxing, and brings lots of smiles.
4. Grab a favorite quote, a line from a favorite poem or song, and tape it to your bathroom mirror or somewhere you will see it every day. Here are a few of mine:
• Who would you be if you didn’t believe in your limitations?
• Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive! (Howard Thurman)
• The quality of our relationships determines the quality of our lives. (Esther Perel)
• You do not think yourself into a new way of living, you live yourself into a new way of thinking. (R. Rohr)
• Create something, and your world changes. (Robert Fritz)
You and I don’t need a grand vision to make a difference for the Gospel of Jesus Christ in these anxious and violent time, just some simple action.
In Christ-love,
Rev. Jim