Beloved by “I Am”

Who are we?
We are God’s beloved.

Who calls us out of the sin and darkness,
of hatred, of fear, and of exclusion?
“I Am,” the LORD of Israel, the One God who loves all.

As God’s beloved, what does “I Am,” what does God call us to be?
The God of Abraham,
  the God of ALL peoples by whatever name used,
      calls us to love one another as we are loved.

Focus your hearts this morning on the divine breath that blows today.
Focus on the very breath of God that swept across the waters,
that took the mud and breathed life into us.
“I Am” is the breath that connects,
  the breath that gives us life,
  and the breath of love that unfolds all around us.

Embrace the “I Am.” Dance in the divine breath of God.
Praise be to God!
Praise be to the breath of life and love!
Praise be to the love that moves us to be love in the world!

Amen.

About Tim Graves

Tim is a runner, a hiker, a devoted husband, a father of two adult children, and their spouses, and a grandfather of four perfect children. A former early childhood educator, Tim is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). He has served as pastor of both Disciples and United Church of Christ congregations. As we enter what we hope is the final phase of the pandemic, Tim is beginning a journey of rediscovering himself and discerning next steps. He writes from his home in Albany, Oregon and wherever the Spirit lures him.