CYF Session 3: Session 3: Sparks and Flames

Now that the holidays are over, I'm going to resume going through the CYF's Religious Education Curriculum as jumping points for when I want to write, but have writer's block.

The opening words for this session:

At times, our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each
of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within
us.
-Albert Schweitzer (Reading #447 in Singing The Living Tradition)

 Following is a poem by Howard Thurman:How Wonderful

Howard Thurman
How wonderful it is to be able to feel things deeply!
The sheer delight of fresh air when you have been indoors all day;
The never ending wonder of sunrise and sunset;
The sound of wind through the trees and the utter wetness of the rain;
The excitement of finding something that was lost and is found:
My fountain pen,
A beautiful word forgotten,
The return of an old book,
The reconciliation after estrangement,
The first step after months of illness.
How moving is the sheer wonder of being necessary to the life of another?
The source of food for a dog, a cat;
The giving of a gentle word when you did not know that such a word was
desperately needed;
The sharing of so little at the crucial point of acute urgency;
The invasion of the mind and heart with a sense of Presence in which all of one’s
being suddenly becomes God’s dwelling place.

Questions for Reflection:

What sparks a flame within you? Nature. The sea. Knowing that I'm making a difference.

What do you feel deeply? I feel deeply that we are all loved by that energy which we call "God". That everything has its place, and if we could just be in harmony with the rest of the world, we would be a much better species.

What gives you energy? A good book. Meditating by one of my altars. A starry night by the sea.

What sparks your interest or curiosity? Knowledge of the world around me. Understanding how nature works.

Talk about an everyday moment that renewed your spirit or made you feel good. Recently, I went to the beach at night. The stars were especially clear. I felt connected to the Universe, and in awe of how minute we really are in the big scheme of things.

Are there things you’re interested in trying? In short: Everything.