Friends, beloved family in faith, it's Bro Dave, and I'm so grateful to share a few thoughts with you today, thoughts that have occupied much of my personal, obligated time, shaping what I call our "triumphant life-giving bounce back tools." There's a caution I find in our abilities to effectively communicate, so let's try to pull back the layers gently, yet truthfully.
We live in a world where injustice often feels like a heavy, impenetrable curtain. It's so hard to pull back, isn't it? This curtain isn't just about grand societal wrongs; it's also the veil over our own understanding, the resistance in our hearts to confront uncomfortable truths, or the fear of what lies beyond the familiar. We cling to what we know, even when it's flawed, because the unknown, the truth, can feel threatening. This resistance, this "hard curtain," keeps us from seeing clearly, from acting justly, and from truly healing. It perpetuates cycles of hurt, not just for others, but for ourselves, as we remain bound by what we refuse to acknowledge.
But then, brothers and sisters, there are the "wide open spaces." Think of a vast, unblemished landscape stretching to the horizon. These spaces teach us about compassion and new beginnings. When we step out from behind that curtain, we find room to breathe, to see things from a higher perspective. Compassion isn't just feeling sorry for someone; it's stepping into their wide open space, understanding their journey, and recognizing our shared humanity. It's in these open spaces, free from the shadows of injustice, that true new beginnings are forged – not just a fresh start, but a profound reorientation of our spirit towards grace and understanding.
This brings us to a crucial paradox: why does hurt affect us so deeply, and pleasure so often become a mere habit? Hurt, my friends, is a profound teacher. It shatters our illusions, forces us to confront our vulnerabilities, and often, though agonizingly, propels us towards growth. It leaves an indelible mark because it demands transformation. It forces us to examine the very foundations of our being. Pleasure, on the other hand, can become a shallow pursuit, a fleeting sensation we chase repeatedly without ever truly filling the void. It can be a habit, a distraction, rather than a source of deep, abiding joy. When we seek only pleasure, we often miss the profound lessons that pain, when embraced and processed, can offer.
The truth about living in the moment, spirit-filled and centered, is our antidote to this. It means being fully present, not dwelling on past hurts or chasing future pleasures, but grounding ourselves in the now, where God's grace resides. It means allowing the Holy Spirit to fill us, guiding our thoughts, actions, and reactions. When we are centered in this way, our pleasure becomes gratitude, and our hurt becomes a pathway to empathy and resilience. This is where those "triumphant life-giving bounce back tools" come from – not from avoiding pain, but from transforming it through a spirit-filled, centered life.
I've poured enormous amounts of my personal time into nurturing, caring for, and growing these tools because I believe they are essential for navigating this complex world. They are about pulling back the curtain on our own hearts, embracing the wide open spaces of compassion, and understanding that true life is found not in avoiding hurt, but in allowing the Spirit to redeem it, making us whole and ready for new beginnings.
May we all strive to live in that centered, spirit-filled moment, ready to unveil truth and embrace compassion, always. Amen.
David Stapleton ( AKA) Bro Dave
Artsclusivity and The Free Membership Launch
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