Spirituality is God hugging me. Spirituality is our direct relationship with God. It is our daily encounter with God. Believing in the Trinitarian God, ever-present in my life and in the entire creation, I feel God’s embrace. As I walk through life’s path, in all its joys and sufferings God is hugging me with grace, providing me the warmth of encouragement when I started to have cold feet; a tighter hug of comfort in times of despair and grief; a tender-loving care twenty-four hours a day. I feel God’s embrace also in the beauty of nature, cool breeze, flowers blooming, birds chirping, my cats purring and most specially with my family and friends’ laughter and tears. Spirituality is Group hug. Spirituality is the sharing of each other’s encounters with God. It is the collective testimonies of our faith journey. Each testimony is like an arm reaching out to another, expressing support and cheer. As we share our stories, we inspire each other, and our faith grows stronger. We lift each other’s burdens and victories in prayers. We come together in praise and thanksgiving. In embracing each other’s faith testimonies, prayers and worship, we create an ecosystem of peace, hope, joy and love. <!–split–>

Spirituality is an invitation to hug. Spirituality is an invitation to hug as God hugs. An invitation to embrace God’s creation with no buts, without reservations, no judgments, without superiority complex playing. What did Jesus say? (WDJS)

• John 15:12, “My commandment is this: love one another, just as I love you.”
• Mark 12:31, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.”
• Matthew 25:35-36, “I was hungry, and you fed me, thirsty and you gave me a drink; I was a stranger and you received me in your homes, naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me, in prison and you visited me.”

Spirituality is an opportunity to be God’s embrace for the needy, unwelcomed, sick, lost and forgotten. Spirituality is not a state of being, its is being in God’s loving embrace.

Share God’s hug today!

Last July 10, Bethel Wesley UMC family and friends went to Dubuque, Iowa to visit St Luke’s United Methodist Church and Steeple Square (formerly Saint Mary’s Catholic Church). Both churches were built in the 1800’s in faith by their growing congregations. Over the years they were both blessed with members who have deep appreciation of arts as shown in the architecture of the church building, stained glass windows, paintings, mosaic arts, sculptures, bells, pipe organs, and the exterior and interior designs. <!–split–>

St. Luke’s memorial Tiffany windows were remarkable. Louis Comfort Tiffany’s stained-glass artworks were unique of its own. The former Saint Mary’s Catholic Church steeple and interior paintings were amazing as well. The church’s steeple is one of the tallest in the area.

Today, St Luke’s is still a place of worship. “A place where faith can grow, empowering people to live lives of generosity, compassion, service and justice.” (stlukesdbq.org)  Steeple Square is a place of service, a center for culture, community and education. It houses a childcare center, culinary kitchen, and community center.

The tour is a showcase of God’s creativity through the people who, over centuries, have created and restored those artworks. It shows the amazing talents of artists and hard work of the laborers. It’s a showcase of commitment and generosity of people who made it happen. It shows the variety of ministries we can do as people of God. May we be inspired to be God’s partners in creating and making our world a more beautiful place.

As I was searching for a picture that shows Victory in Surrender, I found this copy of Renae Zanella’s painting entitled Surrender. Her write up about this painting is what I have in mind about the topic. Here is the excerpt of her testimony (https://renae-zanella.com/2022/10/12/surrender/):

“I planned to paint this outside to celebrate my 4-year sobriety anniversary. I got to start the piece outside but then the wind started whipping. My paint was drying instantly as it touched the canvas. I couldn’t see half the time cuz my hair was in my face. Then the farmer across the road pulled up with a few tractors and semis to harvest. Which was just hilarious to have so much going on for this painting I’m calling “Surrender”! But with what felt like chaos surrounding me it turned out to be the greatest example of how we need to surrender and go with the flow. It’s not our plan but Gods! …

I painted a silhouette of a person in a surrender pose down on their knees forehead down with their arms stretched out straight in front of them on the ground. Then I painted light starting to come up behind the silhouette of the person that looks like people pulling each other up. They represent all the people alive and in heaven that help us and guide us. The overall image at this point also represents a fire that is burning inside my heart and soul for God. “  <!–split–>

The black lines that drip from underneath the person represent the pain from the past that grips us and the temptation of the future that tries to keep us stuck in the past by making the same choices. Then I start to paint water over and through those black lines to represent the Holy Spirit working through us to free us from everything. Then I painted the blue sky to represent a new day where there is hope, progress and growth. Every day is a clean slate where we can start again and try to do better. It’s a choice every day who you’re going to serve the Light or the Dark. I was inspired to paint bubbles being released from the person into the sky to represent all the things that we need to let go of. “Surrender” is the path to peace, joy and contentment. And that path is paved with prayers and gratitude. Through it all I have learned that surrendering every day, sometimes all day long is good for my heart, mind and soul. Some days are more challenging but then there is growth. Let go.

Trust in God. God uses everything for his good. Trust in God with all of your heart and do not lean onto your own understanding.   Proverbs 3:5-6