Dear Beloved,

Do you ever feel like you don’t know how to answer the question, how are you? I am always grateful – so very much to praise God for! Beyond that I don’t always know how to answer the how are you question. Sometimes there is much going through my being. Now is a time when there is much in my heart, mind, body, and spirit. Do you ever have that sense?

We can feel lots of things at once. I feel much hope in God’s work through so many people and organizations offering love, transformation, and care in so many varied, beautiful, creative, meaningful, powerful, and gentle ways. I feel joy when I hear of a baby born or a sign of new life. I feel concern when I hear about another person with covid and all the staffing shortages that make things challenging. I join those who mourn and grieve the brokenness and loss we experience in life – in families, schools, workplaces, neighborhoods, states, nations… On this day, my heart is still saddened by the recent earthly loss of Desmond Tutu. Yet in this month when we celebrate Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr, I rejoice in their faithful prophetic leadership and ministries. In this month of awareness about human trafficking, my heart aches when I think of continued slavery and human trafficking and is also humbled and grateful that we have a month that intentionally reminds us about it and invites us to connect with organizations working to make a difference such as our partners around the world with www.globalministries.org and local organizations https://www.allies-inc.org/ and https:/www.hopecenterindy.org/.

I share this personal experience, in the hopes that if you are feeling lots of feelings, you know you aren’t alone. Maybe you are feeling tired and weary; maybe you are feeling inspired and encouraged. Maybe you are feeling all of these things. Collectively we are feeling a lot, friends. We are not alone. The Maker of the heavens and the earth is with us even when we feel uncertain and full of doubt. You are loved!

With much care and hope,

Sarah

I lift up my eyes to the hills - from where will my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.
4 He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.
8 The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in
from this time on and forevermore.

Psalm 121