Dear Friends,

I haven’t yet assembled a “get-and-go” bag  for emergencies, especially not for fire.  But I was talking about it with Friends this week as we noticed the smoke in the air: what goes in, what you need to do in your house, what important papers to take, what should be left out.  The conversation made me start thinking about a spiritual “get-and-go” bag.  What would we put together that we can take with us and “get-and-go” anytime we are hit with a catastrophic emergency of faith?  What would that look like?  What are some things to make sure I have ready to use at a minute’s notice?  What’s important to take on my spiritual journey.  What is necessary?  Should that be pretty much my entire life’s get-and-go bag and not for emergencies? What if our spiritual get-and-go bags are just what we carry with us on the long journey of life?  How do we drop the things we really don’t need?  What are some bad habits that generally happen with a crisis.

I know I would have prayer stuffed in.  I need that consistently, especially for gratitude and what is going right.  Imagine if you told Spirit “thanks” every time you experienced something naturally beautiful or a had a situation in life that worked out well. So many times, Spirit is the thing we complain to or beg for help.  But an attitude of gratitude and a willingness to speak thanks to a Higher Power might be something you need during a crisis.

I know I’d include the community.  It is easy to feel isolated in today’s world.  We don’t even get the chance to become bored. There seems to be constant noise and stimulation on some level.  But having community support can help immensely in tough situations.  It makes the situation feel doable and livable.  Being wrapped in friendship or family is important, and it is important that these are all trustworthy, positive, helpful people.  Surround yourself with these people and you can navigate a crisis.

Pack your SPICES.  Know who you are and hold firmly to your values.  If not, you could bend your values during a crisis time.  Keep your SPICES in the front of your mind.  They can help with problem-solving and keeping the crisis from getting worse.  It sounds easy enough, until you try it.

The last thing to make sure you have is a spiritual practice.  Do you walk in nature, have centering prayer every day, or do yoga and meditation?  During a crisis, it might be tempting to not take the time and energy for your spiritual practice.  But like the old saying goes, “I meditate once a day unless I’m in a hurry, and then I meditate twice.” Spiritual practices are a healthy part of anyone’s life, particularly when things get rough.

I hope that you don’t have a crisis, but these are good on a good day too.   So pack with me that “get-and-go” bag.

The announcements for this week include Peace and Social Concerns at 9 this Sunday. Agenda items include: Food Pantry, T-shirt update, Immigration, Protests (July 17 protest, etc.),  3rd Thursday, Quaker Bakers, Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP), Trainings for protests and nonviolent direct action, Recap: tribal  transitional housing meal, P.A.L.M. Dinners, Cooling centers, and how to serve our neighborhood.

 After worship we will have a party for Carl and Sarah, and Sarah has choreographed a time of joy and connection for the party.  It is guaranteed to give you laughter, and hopefully joy.  So please come as we tell them goodbye.

Monday is a “conversation” about the stigma of drug abuse at our public library at 10AM to noon.

Monday afternoon is the meeting of the Administrative Team to put together next week’s business meeting.  If you are on the team, it meets at 5:30.

Thanks for all you do in the community to help others and make this a kinder world.

Leigh