Your confession and contrition say a lot about your embarrassment. Do not judge yourself too harshly as the person who talked to you after the meeting was gracious to you. You are not the only one having 'word-accidents'. I, for one, can also 'put my foot in my mouth'....

For Mark and I we can feel the love that Elizabethtown Church of the Brethren gives freely and abundantly to 'online people' like us. It is not an obligation for you/them but it comes as a gift. Thank you all for this great gift! We love you back too!

I think for me it is difficult to stop and rest. My focus is to do just that in order to hear God's voice.

I like that what the author said : 'Christ is the beginning point for conversation and reconciliation, and in him we experience the fullness of community. Through the cross, all our differences and disagreements are reconciled to God, and we can know peace'. For me, Christ is also the starting point of our conversation. My own starting point would be to listen to people who do not have the same views as mine.

From cradle to grave most of us need to be 'enveloped' by love very often conveyed by touch. I totally agree with what you said in your first paragraph Ellen.

Yes, it's Frederique! Hope you can see my name in the future.

Opposite to you Ellen, I grew up in the south west of France. Every morning I opened the shutters to find the majestic snow-capped Pyrenees in front of me. Mountains are for me the representation of God's power, and when going to the mountains (Pyrenees or Alps) I always felt very small (making me even smaller than my 4'11"...) compared to the beauty displayed, not only rocks but forests of fir trees, plants, flowers, mountain streams etc. Breathing the mountain fresh air was also regenerating, clearing my mind, and feeling closer to God.

I totally agree with what you said in your first paragraph Ellen. There is a lot to be said about feeling guilty when we cannot actually do anything to help others than pray of give money gits as Gina said. It makes us uncomfortable but we should look closer to home and find ways of helping others near us.

Like the author of the devotional booklet my Dad was a very wise man. I have been lucky to inherit part of his wisdom. I try to use it daily not only in my own life but also to help other people. But overall this gift goes hand-in-hand with discernment given by God. In my view, without this blessing nothing can happen.