21 Comments
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Alma Drake's avatar

This message has never been more necessary than it is just now. Beautifully written. Thank you again, Sibling Alek!

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Amy Reese's avatar

Just wow…this leaves me weeping. 🙏❤️

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Judith Frizlen's avatar

There are no words to describe how I feel after reading this post. It's true: All you need is Love. And I have never heard a more profound and true description of what love is. "Love remains open even when openness hurts. This is not because suffering is holy. It is because love, once fully given, cannot suddenly protect itself without ceasing to be love." This message could change lives, including mine.

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Kaja Sommer's avatar

God’s love flowed through Jesus & Mary. We don’t leave our loved ones when they’re hurt or dying — Mary loved Jesus, so she stayed by him when he was dying, it’s as simple as that. And she could feel all of his pain & suffering, but God’s love took care of it.🙏

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Beth Ann Kepple's avatar

Can I copy that just to read & remind myself of how real yet simple truth can be?

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Kaja Sommer's avatar

Hi Beth, Merry Christmas Eve!🎄This evening, I’m going to my Dad’s church for the Christmas Eve candlelight service.🕯️

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Beth Ann Kepple's avatar

Hey Kaja, my friend is picking me up in a few hours for an early Christmas Eve service w/ a female minister, very casual, with communion - both of which i havent taken part in since I moved here 40 yrs ago (at least I don’t remember it). We’re both feeling lonely & sad & that will help more than anything we think - except maybe for the fireworks at midnite the Mexicans set off to welcome baby Jesus to the world. Itz amazing. Sending you that holy peace & joy w/ your Dad 💞

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A HEART FOR JUSTICE's avatar

Thought provoking. Heart provoking. Spirit and soul provoking. It is a tough mind battle to let go of years of appeasement theology and teachings.

This Truth you present is so beautiful, raw yet wonderful. My spirit is on the path and my heart knows the way . . . choosing to stay with Mary, breathing in Presence, breathing out the well meaning but wrong concepts, years of religious radicalization. My mind still screams “run!” but my heart moves deeper into staying. There is so much peace here yet I must admit it’s also uncomfortable. Does that make sense?

I want to say thank you but it’s more of a humorous question. Thank you?🙏 😌

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Beth Ann Kepple's avatar

Everything you said rings true & makes perfect sense to me. Or maybe it doesn’t make sense but does that really matter? It struck a chord that vibrated thru me. 💓

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Rebecca Piffard's avatar

Absolutely beautiful!

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Deborah McGlauflin's avatar

So much to unpack. Beautifully said.

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Kaja Sommer's avatar

God’s love is infinite!❤️

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Hazel sweetie's avatar

🙏 thank you

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Beth Ann Kepple's avatar

I read this out loud. The whole thing, not just the parts (many) that sucker-punched me or made those tears roll silently down my cheeks entirely against my will. Next time i read it tonite I’ll read it silently. Or maybe whisper. Once wasn’t enuf to absorb what itz triggering in me. Gratitude 🧎🏻‍♀️‍➡️

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Celia Abbott's avatar

I had to sit with this awhile. This is a profound writing.

I never understood the substition theology or the born bad theory. But accepted it and decided love was something like obligation.

That never squared with the story of Jesus in John's gospel.

I think your insight of Magdelene being both witness and cord to the act of Love's sacrifice rings true. Also that once you love, you have to follow that path or it wasn't love.

I still keep being amazed that in altering the perspective, clarity emerges. Thank you.

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Madeleine Ann Eames's avatar

Wow. I will be chewing on this all through the holidays in bite-size chunks.

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Dawn Klinge's avatar

You've explained this in such a beautiful way. It's all about love.

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Andrea Peterson Straus's avatar

♥️

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Tim Miller's avatar

Beautiful or original!

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Tim Miller's avatar

I meant beautiful AND original.

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Mary Sharum's avatar

I, for one, no longer believe in “atonement theology.” It is a logical construct that is taught to many of us, not true unless one wants it to be true. Christianity has since the days post Jesus, always taught contradictions. Thank you, unenlightened Apostles! One would think intelligent people would see and correct such contradictions, but no one has or does. The contradiction being viewed now is: if God loves us fully and unconditionally, how is it that we are born in sin and must make atonement to be loved by God and saved? If God proclaimed his creation as “good,” how is it that there is Original Sin? I say, forget the nonsense and believe God.

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