Leicester Unitarian Church

05/31/2026

Silent Messengers

Rev. Sioux Mallard
May 31st, 2026

The Flower Communion is unique to Unitarianism. In the Spring, we have some sunny days, some rainy days; what more could the flowers of this earth ask for? With all the challenges throughout the world, our Flower Communion may just put us all in the right frame of mind.

Flowers have been associated with names, meanings and symbols since time immemorial. Each flower bears a meaning and has a distinctive symbol. Flowers are so expressive and versatile. They can express sympathy and make you cry – sometimes happy tears, sometimes not. They can also bring tons of happiness.

Blossoms convey what words cannot. The bouquet being created today represents all of us and our community. It is our symbol of your truth – whatever that truth might be. Diversity with Unity. We need to bear witness to love within us.

The Flower Communion is a ritual service common in Unitarian Universalism and varies from one congregation to another. I love how we have so many nature related symbols in our faith! I think that flowers mean so much. Their shape, their smell, their simplicity, their splendor adds to our lives; every flower is so unique. The intent is to honor the universal beauty of nature by having a communion with flowers, not to alienate anyone else’s traditions.

We try to practice a “faith without borders” as we typically light a chalice candle weekly for the world peace efforts. We pray for strength for our international and national friends to endure hardships and try to help in small ways such as donating to worthy causes. But seriously, we Americans have no idea what true challenges are!

Unitarians, as you well can imagine, are as diverse and unique as these flowers. Although we don’t really know where flowers come from, they are gifts with profound beauty. Each flower that you chose to bring today to share as a gift to one another is as sacred as the mystery of its creation. They hold a special relationship with our neighbors near and far. They remind us to have grace from years past and a better understanding of what we have been granted. Love has been shared.

Going back to a flowers beginning, we think of the seeds – you prepare them for their future. You get an appropriate container, perhaps something you were going to toss. You repurpose it to hold dirt, add seeds and water it faithfully. You might start it in the winter indoors. Why? Doesn’t this take a long time waiting for it to sprout? Wouldn’t it be easier to just have a picture of flowers? But a picture can’t be held close to you and the promise of a wonderful fragrance. So, you persevere.

Think about this growth. A tiny seed starts to germinate with your love and attention. It looks for reaching out through the soil. It finally sees the light of day as it sprouts its tiny green stems. The stems have leaves and flowers start to bud, then bud finally creates a blossom. The blossoms will spread their petals reaching for the sun and rain.

As a gardener who carefully makes space to add beauty to the world around us, they gently tend to their work – only pulling out the weeds that will hinder the beauty they desire. Praying is like this – you need to tend to your own well being. Only you can pull out the weeds – carefully so as to never disrupt your entire life. Prayer takes time to learn, to be comfortable with it, and to add it to your daily routine. We must look for calmness even when it seems like it will never come to pass. I encourage you to look for the person you wish to be, to find a way to make that happen for you personally. Not how someone else thinks you should be – not to change another person to be who you want them to be – be yourself.

There is a magic that weaves a path, a connection from the earth to the sky. A good example is the dandelion! It grows, especially in your lawn where you don’t want it to. It’s very indestructible. When the flowers pass, they turn into a fluffy seed head that eventually will find a gentle breeze that will disperse it’s seeds and propagate it.

Isn’t this a lot like people? Perhaps, we might feel like we are alone. But if we take the time to nurture a relationship, it will start to blossom into an acquaintance and even a friendship. Your friendship blossoms and then it spreads to others.

What are some of the best things in life? They are all things we take for granted. Sitting by a quiet pond, maybe skipping stones across it’s surface. Watch a kid’s baseball game, going fishing, feeling a summer breeze gently caressing your cheeks, or sitting in a park listening to children play. Today we are thankful for flowers, a flower that might grace the side of the road or patiently nurtured in your garden.

Flowers are the silent messengers from the earth. They can restore a peaceful heart. In the words of Elizabeth Strong: “It has taken long months beneath the cold ground to prepare their blooming. It has taken each of us long times of growth through sorrow and joy to prepare for our living now.”

May the meaning and message of the Flower Communion be alive in our hearts, inviting us to be faithful partners in the creation of our beloved community, and guiding us towards positive relationships with all of our neighbors, near and far.

It is time to plant our seeds to protect each other.

I love you all.

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05/24/2026

Memorial Day - aka - Decoration Day
Pastor Sioux Mallard
May 24th, 2026

Memorial Day brings each one of us a different image. It all depends on your personal experience. All of us most likely had a family member that proudly served in the military, and have now passed, that had a desire to be of service to this country and allowed us basic freedoms. It was an honor more than an obligation. We will have another day to celebrate all our Veterans, but this weekend is for those that died during their Service.

The practice of placing flowers on soldier’s graves is a long tradition. After the Civil War, it is said that Memorial Day was initially called Decoration Day in the Civil War. Why? because the women “decorated” graves as a gesture of remembering their loved ones after the Civil War.

Decoration Day began as honoring the dead on both sides of the war. It’s about getting past who won or lost, it’s about sharing the grief of anothers family member. It wasn’t about freedom or taking sides with us versus them, it was a Civil War – the worst of all wars. Can you get beyond your national or religious prejudices and honor the dead on all sides of a war?

It began with a mother of a northern soldier placing a garland on the grave of a southern soldier. When asked why she would do such a thing, it is reported that she responded with “Because he has a mother someplace that cannot come to his grave today”. I like to think that this may be one of the reasons that citizens across America place flags at the graves of all soldiers, from every war, regardless of whether they know them or their families or where they lived – we know their sacrifice. Since May 5th, 1866, America has set aside a day of remembrance for her war dead.

Some time ago, while on a tour in Savanah, Georgia, I learned that their folklore has it that the “first” Memorial Day was celebrated in 1865 by the recently freed African-Americans who held a parade to honor 257 dead Union Soldiers, whose remains they had reburied from a mass grave in a Confederate prison camp. This fell into the category of: “I did not know that!” We shouldn’t just take everything we read for granted that it’s accurate. This is a part of our history that was buried for whatever reason.

Arlington Cemetery in VA is dedicated to those Veterans that gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms, including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Their sacrifice is what made us who we are! My uncle’s funeral at Arlington was one of the most memorable events in my life. It is something that leaves an impression on you. One cannot help but to be overwhelmed with the respect that each individual is given, the waves of perfectly aligned white stones and the reminder of what lies beneath the surface. There are so many that we seldom think about that gave it all for our country.

Did you notice the crosses and flags on our Town Common as you came to church today? It should cause us to remember to be a grateful country. My husband and I walk by a cemetery daily and are reminded of those Veterans buried in our town by the American flags blowing in the wind, placed next to their stone. Can we do anything less locally? We need to remember and to teach our children the importance of those flags and what they represent.

When was the last time you saluted the flag, or recited the Pledge of Allegiance, or stood when a flag passed? Are you too embarrassed to put your hand over your heart and honor this symbol of freedom? We don’t need to dishonor our flag because we might not agree with certain aspects of our country. But that is our freedom of choice that this flag represents! Perhaps you think you are too grown up for that. Try to remember that young people mimic what they see and hear from people around them. You are a role model.

I admit that the most pain I have ever suffered has been remedied with a few Advil or some prescription in my protected country. I know where I am going to sleep at night. I know that I will have a warm meal waiting for me, or a cool fruit plate on a summer’s day. I can call my family whenever I want and know that I am loved. I easily tear up when I see Arlington or the 24 hour Guard for the Unknown Soldier on News reels. Perhaps you feel sad as you go to the cemetery to place a flag or flowers on a gravesite of a loved one.

You aren’t doing any celebration for just you – you are doing it for all those men and women who gave their lives. What horrors they personally had to endure while serving for all of us to continue to be able to live freely. My guess is that every soldier that died in a battle, regardless of which side they were on, had an unshakeable faith. We cannot underestimate the power of God that helped them through their situation. God loves all of our warriors.

In 2026, it seems times are changing faster and in a more threatening way than they were in 1863. Today we worry about drugs taking hold of our citizens or terrorists working evil in the hearts of our cities. We are still in harms way.

Yes, the times are changing, and in ways we may not like. Perhaps the Bible prophecy opens the door for us to learn of the future, both the short-term pain and anguish this world will yet experience, and the long-term future God has planned for all of us. Better times will come, and they're going to be far better than anything we can even imagine. The future of humanity is in God's hands! My faith wants to believe that He has good things planned!

God Bless all of you on this Memorial Day weekend!
I love you all!

"Freedom ain’t just a word, it’s a price paid by the brave." 🇺🇸Th...

05/23/2026

Remember our debt to those who fought for our country. God bless them all!

He never came home… but his flag did.This Memorial Day, we invite ...

05/17/2026

“How Is Your Life Going?”

Pastor Sioux Mallard
May 17th, 2026

Life can seem very unstable. One day, life is grand – then without any indication, something changes. Your environment is turned upside down! I am not talking about the constant barrage from the news or the Internet – I am talking about life.

It could be a plethora of things going on. Maybe someone you love was in a car accident, maybe someone stole from you, or someone you know was unjustly accused. It is important to understand all the factors before passing judgment. It is important to keep a positive spin on life.

This week, like others before it, have yet another diagnosis of cancer. We have church friends and family that are undergoing treatment, some are successful and some, unfortunately, are not. We pray for healing – but what exactly does that mean.

Talking about cancer, one immediately thinks of physical healing. Wanting it to just go away. We are so thankful for early detection and for the many types of technology and treatments that help folks to lessen their burden. But that is only one aspect of healing.

The most important healing is from within. Now, we all need help – which leads me back to prayers. We seem to say a prayer so easily. When we hear about someone in need, we immediately think of sending along our prayers. Are those only catch phrases? You say what is the right thing – or at least you might feel as though you are just saying what needs to be said. How many of us actually “pray” for healing?

I am always impressed with the person going through such pain. They are typically very humble folk. They dig deep to find their source. If you were faced with what they are faced with – how would you react? Many people find their faith during tough times. They start to truly realize the importance of the people in their lives to help them through the darkest of nights. You need actions, not just words.

How is your life going these days? Some may be in turmoil, we are all trying to cope with the things happening in our lives. Maybe you feel like you are standing in quicksand. Others may nod and say, my life is pretty good! Solid ground is what we all want. We want the feeling of being in control to find stability. Stop and think about your priorities. What is your vision of your life? What is your vision of the life of others around you?

Some people feel they need to be in control of others. These people often use language that is argumentative, telling you where to go, what to do, who to talk to, what to wear and when you can do anything. An abusive person is always right, must win or be in charge. They always justify their actions so they can be “right” by blaming you or others. A verbally abusive person will talk down to you or call you names in order to make themselves feel better. The goal of an abusive person is to make you feel weak so they can feel powerful. Abusers are frequently insecure, and this power makes them feel better about themselves. Drugs and alcohol can create or further escalate an abusive relationship.

First and foremost, you need to respect yourself and not allow this to happen to you. This should send a signal to you that says “this needs to change”. Get help, share it with others for their inputs – remembering it is your decision. Maybe talk to a professional therapist to help you find some solid ground. What do you want to do about it – can you find your power and stand up to this person? If not, then perhaps you need to walk away or at least lower the temperature.

How do we find stability in this chaotic world? Some of us try to find some solace in the words of great scholars, whether Buddha, Mark Twain, Ben Franklin, the Apostles, Mother Teresa or Gandhi. All give us words that they learned along the way to make themselves stronger. I think you will agree that as we age, we make smarter decisions. We base our decisions on things that happen around us – things we like, things we don’t like.

What you might decide to do is to build a wall around your life, sort of like a castle. If only you can get the walls high enough... if somehow you can get the moat deep enough… you could stop what's happening to you. You can stop the pain that you're going through, the confusion, just because it's chaos. We all live in chaos. Perhaps you need more ammunition in your arsenal!

So, what do you do? What you do is to create a stability zone. What I mean about a stability zone is finding little times in your life, every day, in which you stop and look for some consistency in the chaos. Let your values act as a compass, guiding your decisions. You will find some peace in the chaos.

You must find those times in space during the day, no matter what happens, you need to find a moment that gives you the strength to go on, because in that moment, you connect to something much greater than you are. You connect to Someone. And you can find it when you turn toward God. Add prayer and meditation to your daily routine. This will give you some quiet time.

How do you do that? How do you find strength and stability in an ever-changing world? We all know that the world will continue, and it's going to continue to get increasingly chaotic. We will always be touched by someone’s suffering. It just is. The speed of life is not going to slow down.

Now, can you realize that it is possible to find solid ground--even in a world of constant instability? You can make yourself unhappy by habitually thinking unhappy thoughts. Instead, start thinking joyfully. What energizes you? Take an inventory of your talents and recurring interests. It is that simple. Practice rejoicing, not vaguely, but specifically rejoicing in God. There is every reason to rejoice and be happy, for it means that nothing can ever defeat you.

You can move from uncertainty toward a clearer sense of purpose and direction in life. We must accept reality of life. We must accept our own limitations and we should trust in God to give us that something that we need to be successful. Always remember that we are all connected to God through prayers.

I love you all!

Lauren Daigle - Hold On To Me (Lyrics)Connect with Lauren on socials below: Follow on Spotify: http://bit.ly/LaurenDaigleSpotifyFollow​​Follow on Instagram: ...

05/10/2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep5pmB1yl_k&list=RDEp5pmB1yl_k&start_radio=1

05/10/2026

Roots and Wings

Rev Sioux Mallard

May 10th, 2026

Hey Moms, have you ever wondered if you were a good mother? Never, ever say that you were not a good mom! Mother's Day is one of the most special days in all of the year. Thank God for our Mothers! For without them, we wouldn't be here today!

Mom’s are the most amazing people on earth. The most thankless job is being a Mom! There are no primers for being a Mom. You get thrown into parenting without a life raft! You must rise to the occasion and do the best that you can.

Have you ever thought about all the roles that your mother filled while you were growing up? There is no exact description of our mothers. She was different for each of us. Mother’s Day is a time to remember the best of her. How we keep her in our lives and in our minds, is a personal thing. Whether your Mom is living or passed on, we still hear her voice echoing in our mind. It is comforting.

Here’s her job description: Nurse, counselor, spiritual advisor, educator, nutritionist, accountant, transportation center, maid, peacemaker, and entertainer. Her day begins the night before; she starts planning out all the things she has to do tomorrow and remember all the things that everyone else may have forgotten to do. Put out all the clothes needed for everyone and might as well start the laundry while you’re at it. In the morning, an alarm clock isn’t needed. She automatically gets up and gets coffee started. Prepare breakfast and lunches. Wake up the household and it’s time to eat, clean up the kitchen, get everyone showered and dressed and out the door. Load up the car, don’t forget the baby! And its only 7am!

Does your Mother have to be everything? We, as a society, include a more inclusive family – perhaps one with two moms or two dads. We may struggle with what a Mother should be. It may be different than what you want it to be. Some have issues with their Mothers. Some idolize their Mothers. Try to remember the things she has done for you and inspired you to become the person you are today. Even a bad role model can have a good effect. It is all in how you choose to live your life from her teachings.

Today is a great day to recall the old Jewish Proverb: “God could not be everywhere, and so he made Mothers!” Let’s start with a few words I “borrowed” from UU Dr. Jerry N. Watts: “Things Moms Teach Us.”

Mothers teach us about foresight:
“Make sure you wear clean underwear in case you're in an accident.”

Mothers teach us about logic:
“If you fall out of that tree and break your neck, don't come crying to me.”

Mothers teach us about maturity:
“Eat your vegetables or you'll never grow up.”

Mothers teach us about religion:
“You better pray that comes out of the carpet.”

Mothers teach us about time travel:
“If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!”

Mothers teach us about contradictions:
“Shut your mouth and eat your dinner!”

Mothers teach us about contortionism:
“Will you look at the dirt on the back of your neck?”

Mothers teach us about perseverance:
“You are going to sit here until you eat every last piece of that broccoli.”

Mothers teach us about genetics:
“You're just like your father.”

Mothers teach us about the weather:
“It looks like a tornado swept through your room.”

Mothers teach us about the circle of life:
“I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.”

When frustrated with my incessant requests, my mom would say - "I only have two hands!" As a young child, I was frightened to think what other mothers might look like.

If your mother had been different, you would be different. There is no right or wrong in your mother’s love. Everything she did was out of love. From the time she heard your first cry and looked into your eyes, she loved you. She taught you to pray at your beside and most likely to say “thank you” before meals. You had a home, clothes on your back, meals on your table. She probably hung every picture you drew on her refrigerator and what about those “A” report cards! Of course, her screen saver is most likely of either her children or her grandchildren. She comforted you when you were sad, shared your joys when you were happy. No matter how old you get, Mothers are arguably the best person to have around when you are sick.

What were the gifts you received from your mother? Were they roots – letting you know your place in the world or perhaps they were wings – gifts that make you soar and make you dream of what is possible.

While many of us have had terrific mothers, not all mothers have been a positive role model for us. What is important is that you take the lessons you have learned and turn them into a new foundation that you would be proud to share with your children.

What do you need today – do you need roots or wings? What do you offer others today? We need every kind of root and wing to live our lives fully. The challenge is to get the balance right.

One must learn to love your world the way it is right now. If we are waiting for the world to be perfect, then it is a sad way to live. You need to put your roots down and work with what you have been given. Inside of you is untapped potential – wings waiting to soar! What is and what is possible – this is what we offer each other in our spiritual and community lives. Our church needs to be a place that allows us to encourage others – to receive and give aid – to develop roots and wings.

It doesn't matter who your mother was;
it matters who you remember she was.

I love you all!

05/03/2026

ME-attitudes

Pastor Sioux Mallard
May 3rd, 2026

Who can recall the Beatitudes? I think we all have heard them at one time or another. The Beatitudes were a part of Matthew 5 - 7 which has most of Jesus’ words – it’s a collection of his teachings and sayings, including The Lord’s Prayer and the Golden Rule. Unless you have a copy of them written down on a slip of paper and put into your wallet, you most likely cannot recite them. I know that every attempt I make to bring them forth, ends up with a humorous end.

Jesus shares attitudes about life – the keys to happiness - instructions on how to build a vision for your personal values. Beatitude comes from the Latin word for “Blessed”. This message does not tell one how to be saved; it tells one what it is like to be saved. It explains the quality of the life changed by the saving grace of God.

Why is it that we should still recall these words? Are these the keys of success? Will the economy change? We pray that our policymakers will make major strides in reducing costs and finding more jobs and increasing education in America. These are things that should help the people find better ways to live. But will it? Will any found money be put to good use or will people continue spending the way they always have.

During Jesus’ days, people were always told what to do from authority figures. Jesus came to them as a peer, sharing his word. Breaking the Beatitudes into two categories, one might surmise that the first four are guidelines for how to be acceptable in the eyes of God. The second four are more about living a moral life, thus being right with everyone. These are more Service oriented.

Jesus spoke to the people, as one of them. We are all thirsty for finding a better way to deal with our lives. The key was that people in 34AD, needed to hear about being blessed. Lest we not forget that the Gospel of Matthew was written to fit the norms in ~400AD, so perhaps we need to take the messages and try to interpret them in today’s world. I believe we all see things in a different way – what works for you, might not work for me and vice-versa. It’s all good!

The importance is to find a way to live a moral life or enjoy the world around you. Go look them up and once again try to interpret them. You must be meek, righteous, merciful, pure in heart, and a peacemaker. This is hard stuff! Even in difficult times, keep trusting in God and standing up for what is right. These last “blessings” are about helping others. How does one become “blessed”? It doesn’t say that God will help those who help themselves. It says that God will help those that cannot help themselves or those that are trying to help others. What is the kingdom of heaven? Is it a spring shower, a first snowfall, a mighty ocean roaring to the beach?

Jesus delivered this sermon on a hill near Capernaum, the closest thing to an amphitheater in his day. We are told he was a gentle man, so his voice was not a booming and thunderous voice. He quietly stated his mission. One wonders how all the people heard him and how they all remained so quiet for such a long time.

I still chuckle when I think of Monty Python’s “Life of Brian” scene on the Sermon on the Mount. They are all somber, listening to Jesus. Brian and his mother were standing so far back in the crowd, that his mother pipes up saying: “speak a little louder”, as she can’t hear. The people next to her tell her to “shhh” and a subsequent verbal battle starts out. They all participate in the opposite behavior of the Beatitudes, cursing each other, promising to pummel them if they don’t be quiet, and so on. Finally, they come to blows and an innocent by-stander gets punched in the face. Brian and his mother decide to go watch a stoning or some other such activity of the times.

This is a reminder to us that just hearing the words and not practicing them is a fruitless task. We listen to each other weekly, but do we really change the way we live? Do we really change the way we think? Well, some of the time we do. Then, of course, when we get angry at something, our temper flares, we blame someone else and we fall back into our normal way of acting. Can you recall a time when you have done this?

Do you even know anyone that is “poor”? We all have a “what’s in it for “ME” attitude”. Some of us might be struggling financially, but are you poor? It is the inside of us that needs to heal. It isn’t just about ME, it’s about who you are as a person and how you are perceived by others. I never knew how hard it might have been for my parents. People tend to keep that from their children, even themselves. Most of us don’t have to think about how to pay for our groceries.

Reality isn’t seeing Jesus sitting on a hill or the clothes he wears or even just reading his words. To Him, the ultimate reality is entering the eternal kingdom of God. You and I cannot see it just yet. We haven’t had a time so darkened that it needs the dawn. What we can do is try to live our lives by these words. You need to interpret them for your life and make them happen.

We do try to give back to society often with Food Bank donations or walking for a worthy cause. We need to continue to get into relationships outside our comfort zones. We are still at arm’s reach though. We may not be blessed, but we must continue -- practice makes perfect!

I love you all!

Sparrows is the first single from my upcoming album "To Love A Fool" releasing July 31. Listen on all music platforms: https://bethelmusic.lnk.to/sparrowsID...

04/27/2026

Daydreaming

Pastor Sioux Mallard

April 26th, 2026

Your thoughts are deeper when you daydream.

I want us to use the word "dream" to describe the over-arching purpose for your life. It gathers up your vocation, it gathers up your relationships, it gathers up all of your responsibilities, but it is not just the work of your subconscious when you are asleep. It is not just the work of your imagination while you are awake, and it's not just adding up the parts of your life.

Did you know your brain gets a workout every time your mind wanders? Daydreaming helps us cope and make sense of our daily lives as well.

My earliest memories about daydreaming happened as a child. Can you remember how easy it was to get lost in your thoughts? It is an innocent, mindless task. As I grew older, it bothered me that teachers never seemed to appreciate the child that stared out the window. I wanted to go back and explain this to my fifth grade teacher who frequently got on my case about my trips to la-la land. The child that is staring out the window just might be the next entrepreneur or even a Nobel Peace Prize winner. Ok, so it might not have been my destiny, but it could have been.

Daydreaming is best to influence innovative thinking. It can exercise you mentally and hone into your creativity. It’s probably a good idea to sometimes just let your mind wander and see where it takes you. Given all of the problems in the world today and the need for out-of-the-box thinking, maybe we should all spend a little more time with our head in the clouds instead of being stuck in the same old mindless rut.

When you daydream, you’re sowing the seed of self-development. Maybe, along the way, you’re finding a meaningful resolution to a realistic challenge or just turning over an existential question. Put away the electronic gadgets and other distractions. See what comes out of free, spontaneous thinking. The exercise is more primal than you think.

Daydreams are also the place where great things are born. People dreamed about going to the moon many years before we actually did it. As long as people continue to dream, we may one day have many of our dreams become a reality.

Raise your hand if you’ve ever had hopes and wish lists of the way you would like things to be, or of the things you would like to have, or of the places you would like to go. These daydreams can be a very healthy aspect of our lives, for they give us something to work for. Or these daydreams can be a way of escape from reality, and give us a secret place in which to act out our fantasies, where no one can make fun of us. Daydreaming could be harmful, so take care. If you use it as a tool to avoid addressing your problems, then it isn’t helpful. Dreams only become a reality when we work at accomplishing the goals of our dreams. A student can dream about getting an A, but without paying attention to the class work and studying, the student's dream may result in failure.

I know none of us ever daydream in church. I don't need to tell you that you do that all the time. You might be sitting here looking all attentive, but are you really listening to what is going on all the time? You might be walking through the woods right now. Or, there may be someone who's got company coming and you’re sitting there working on the shopping list, or you are just off someplace else. What kind of beverage should I get, how about a couple of steaks on the grill to catch the next nice days of… no wait – that’s my shopping list! I’m daydreaming. I think we are familiar with those kinds of dreams.

Everyone spends most of their day daydreaming. We all must be the teachers of our children, friends and family to be daydreamers. Very intelligent people who invent all the things we have become dependent upon today, were daydreamers. Let’s take a small example. You want a cup of coffee. If you don’t think about it, then you’ll never go get a cup of coffee. You need to act upon your dreams. Lots of times we use the word "dream" when what we are talking about is a vision for something. We talk about the goal we have in a relationship. A couple says, "Our dream for our marriage is ...," or a person takes a new job and says, "Let me tell you why this is my dream job."

We are familiar with dreams of the night and dreams of the day, dreams that are visions of excellence. Where are you when you think of a great idea? You have a thought and exclaim – “right, that’s what I want!” Where are you physically located when you have those thoughts? Where are you when you are conceptually alone? Maybe in the morning when you wake up – you wake up with a dream. Perhaps in the shower, or riding a bike, driving in a car, maybe walking around in nature. Because that’s when -- boom! I got it! This is when you have your best thoughts.

Dreams that involve other people, also require the other person to work at making the dreams come true. No matter how hard we wish or hope or dream or even pray for someone else to be the fulfillment of our own desire, it will not happen unless they are willing.

Church going people are said to be happier people because you spend time with others. You increase your mental capacity because you tend to spend time with people in various places and not isolate yourself. Don’t spend time thinking up things around others. Think of ideas and then share them with others.

We get busy and involved in things in our lives that seem more immediate, important, and imperative and do not pay God much mind. Our attention is elsewhere. Then, when something happens to us in our lives for which we need the spiritual wisdom that God has been trying to give us, it eludes us. It is like that student who all semester long fails to do his homework and then, on the night before the final exam, thinks he can cram and make up for his lack of study, but it doesn’t work that way (not that I have any personal knowledge about that!). It doesn’t work that way with God and the spiritual dimension of our lives, either.

Here’s a casual suggestion for the day: Embrace the leisure of each day and make some time for losing yourself in thought. Drop everything and do it now, or schedule it if you have to. Don’t go to bed tonight or first thing every morning without endeavoring some kind of cerebral journey. Your brain – and perhaps your well-being – will be the better for it.

Martin Luther King didn’t inspire people because he had a nightmare – he had a dream.

I love you all!

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