La Luz
If you have live/d in Southern California for quite some time it might not be too hard to decipher what the two word theme of this reflection means, La Luz – The Light. I have to share with you, so much, and like many of you I can hear and see the distress all around and throughout this region.
We have begun the year, with fires in LA (January 7, 2025), and have witnessed the “good hearts” of neighbors helping neighbors. Both, home to home, block to block, church to church, organization to organization, community to community, city to city, state to state, and nation to nation. This disaster proved that humanity is interdependent and can be served across all kinds of socio-economic, cultural, faith, and political lines. We might hear the American Music Gospel Singer, Bishop Hezekiah Walker in response so rhythmically in song (I need you to survive) and chorus sing, “I need you, you need me, we’re all a part of God’s body.” I can’t thank our volunteers, clergy, congregations, our partners, and Week of Compassion enough for its support and care in responding to our needs in the LA fires, and providing long-term commitment to this disaster relief and recovery. Please follow our efforts and find more information on our wildfire recovery webpage. One of the “Marks of a Faithful Region,”(1) is enabling congregations to do things together that cannot be done alone.
Almost simultaneously, we have entered into a time filled with disappointing national news, disparaging rhetoric, many societal changes and challenges to our long time institutions, local and global commitments. If there is ever a moment, we need a light and the light during these times. In the midst of what can feel like a barrage of despair. I wonder, where are you finding the Light? Let me remind you, that as believers we can find, and hold on to the Light and Eternal Hope. In order to do so, we should care about our prayers, our attention, our surroundings, and our focus. Love and “Good Hearts” are all around us. If we may only search for its constant being even, in the faces of our greatest trials and contests. Love and Light can be found in these tough times.
Just before the year closed, we welcomed the Church Narrative Project and Eight Powerful and Moving Story Tellers from throughout the PSWR (watch it here on our Youtube channel). These helped to “tickle our imagination” and inspiration for our shared future. I believe these might help you find La Luz and encounter eternal hope. Please take the time and enjoy! We will be launching more information about our continued work in the Church Narrative Project, soon again.
This past weekend, in San Diego, California, I found more hope and La Luz. Thank you to Rev. Dr. Caleb Lines, Senior Pastor, University Christian Church, and Rev. Vy Nguyen, Executive Director of Week of Compassion for the invitation. We were able to participate in a series of conversations, and visits of organizations on both sides of the San Diego / Tijuana border. We had some time with our Disciples, ELCA, Episcopal, and UCC sibling in exploration about additional work and response to immigration in our very own locations. Please pray for our growing future efforts. As our visits only further proved, in the faces of our greatest trials and contests La Luz can be seen and found when we search for it. We witnessed creativity, and responses that promote dignity for all vulnerable populations. “People of Good Hearts” serving and welcoming everyone, caring for the dignity of humanity, which is interdependent. Yes… We are all a part of God’s body! More to come.
Blessings,
Richie