Daily Pastoral #47

When we are woken up from our condemnatory haze,
we look around in spite of ourselves and see
that the joy of God is everywhere;
even in the pain and suffering
and in our failed and fumbling neighbors.

It is then that we become free
to acknowledge and celebrate
the virtues and goodness of others
despite their cracks and crevices
more than we ever could our own.

When the reflection of God in others dazzles us
we are freed from the curse of condemnation
and brought back into communion.

Shalom restored
for another day.

As Ever,
Jonas