To give a blessing is to affirm, to say “yes”, to a person’s belovedness. A blessing touches the original goodness of the other, calling forth his or her belovedness, and can provide the encouragement we need to keep going when life is hard and filled with challenges and uncertainties.

Each Friday’s bonus episode will include a Lovingkindness meditation. Like God’s love, the love offered in this meditation is unconditional.  The meditation starts with the self, for once we start experiencing self-love and self-compassion for ourselves, we can offer the same to others, and to creation itself.

Our Wednesday episodes bring our topic for the week a little closer to home as I invite you to examine something about your own life and journey.  a little more closely. This week, we reflect on what it feels like to be chosen, but also, to  not be chosen.

To grow into becoming the beloved of God, we acknowledge with our whole being that we’re God’s chosen ones -- chosen just like Jesus was. It’s powerful to deeply absorb the feeling of being special, unique, precious, and treasured by God.

What does your own particular brand of ministry look like? You have unique gifts, talents, and life circumstances that create opportunities to love and serve others. How does ministry already show up in your life, or -- how might it show up?

Never underestimate the power of the smallest act of kindness and care. For when our words and actions flow from loving connection with God and others, then the world becomes an increasingly loving place filled with ministry, where the needs of all are noticed and tended to.

Perhaps someday there will be a world where all will know they’re the beloved of the Divine, and where caring community will exist and continue to grow through the momentum of this love. For now, don’t lose heart! Be assured of your belovedness, and then keep practicing helping others to hear that same voice sounding in them.

Community.  It’s a wonderful part of life to be accepted and loved, and taken into a caring circle of friends or family. It’s truly a space in which our belovedness in God meets up with the same in others, and then a flywheel of love, acceptance, and inclusion is set in motion.

Communion, or connecting with God, provides time and some open space when God can tell you who you are, and how much you are loved. It’s a wonderful starting point for each day, and for each task that we encounter,  filling us with enough love to give the same to others.

There is nothing better than a deep, inner knowing of the reality of being the beloved daughter or son of God. No matter what life brings your way, being in relationship with the Divine is living the good life!