Compassion is the Theme of the Week
Poppin In with some updates, a book recommendation, my favorite tool for scheduling sanity, a sermon suggestion, and my theme of the week-plus an opportunity to share yours!
Ittttt’s Monday, and in my life this week I’m focusing on the theme of Compassion-which is something I am always learning and working on.
This week I want to focus on it more, though as the lack of compassion that I have for myself as well as others is showing up big and bright in this eclipse season. I’ve been really working on frustration, anger, confusion, feeling offended or misunderstood, and how I use those feelings to get points across. Idk about you, but the line between “holy fire” and “lashing out” can be thin and hard to see-especially when I have to deal with people’s uninformed political, religious, philosophical opinions. I do often find myself getting a little spicier than I need to, and then not showing myself the compassion of using the block button to preserve my own nervous system.
On Sunday, I asked God to really show me and bring me information, people, sermons, memes, whatever that would help me on this, and BOYYYY did God deliver. I didn’t go to church this last Sunday, and planned on watching the live stream instead. Turns out, the Sunday I don’t go, is the Sunday that our church had technical difficulties and didn’t stream, which gave me the opportunity to shop new streams. I stumbled on this video from Calvary Chapel Dixon, that was on the parable of the Prodigal Son from Luke Chapter 15.
Now this story is told a lot in churches and for sermons, so I almost turned it off, until I heard the pastor say “this isn’t a sermon from a sermon,” indicating that he too has heard the Prodigal Son parable taught a bajillion times.
Usually the lesson of the Prodigal Son, is that when we turn from God, we deserve to be in the pig stye, the muck, be treated badly and rebuked-I don’t love this form of message.
I want to recommend the video, because that’s not the sermon that Pastor Luke in Dixon, CA preached. Actually, he talks a lot about self acceptance. He talks about how too much of anything is bad, whether it be working, cleaning, drinking, eating, sleeping-but also that all those things can be fine and good when we need to do them.
One point that had me clapping in my kitchen, was a point he made about the father of the Prodigal Son, who welcomes back the kid with open arms as if he never left. Pastor Luke then says
“I can’t think of anyone who God isn’t 100 % for” in reference to anyone who’s made mistakes, doesn’t know or doesn’t accept truth, can be turning from what God wants, etc.
He then challenges: “Think of someone right now that God isn’t rooting for.”
To which he answers for himself:
“That whole time, I thought of ME, and that’s just bad theology.”
Multiple times in this sermon, the recognition of bad theology, of the story used to condemn and treat others and ourselves with shame, and without compassion, is pointed out. I love this. I love when pastors challenge theology and harm from the pulpit in front of their congregation. And it was just what I needed to hear.
Here’s the sermon, it’s not long, and it’s not boring. He’s pretty funny, and I’ve linked it from the start of the sermon, and after the music portion.
If you follow me on Threads, you know that my “please help me with Compassion” petition to God is being cashed in and tested today; and, I would say that had I not heard this sermon yesterday it would be a lot harder for me to deal with in terms of both my behavior towards those coming at me, and myself in how I do or don’t respond.
From the Captain’s Quarters:
In an effort to show myself more compassion, I’m taking myself out of the doom scroll and into other things.
Earlier this year, I started some certification courses with a design school for interior decoration, design, and professional organizing. I was super enthusiastic when I first registered, fell off, and am now back in the groove again.
Reading books, who knew, is a better way to pass the time than working too much or scrolling too much. Some books I’ve been reading:
Strange Beasts of China by Ge Yan I originally started reading things because I thought it would be about traditional ancient Chinese beast myths. NOPE. It’s fantastical, modern, dark, and overall one of the most interesting and shocking books I’ve ever read. Well…that Eric is reading to me. This specifically is a book we’re reading together some nights every week.
Image via Amazon.com The Inferno by Dante Alighieri translated by John Ciardi One of the greatest Biblically based fan fictions of all time. I’m slowly getting through this. Dante was on drugs, for sure.
I’ve been sober for a few weeks, and even before that I was drinking only when I was outside the house. This has been a health decision, not a moral one. I’ve been on a low histamine diet to isolate allergies and sensitivities that I have to food, which has shown me that I-as a wine lover-shouldn’t have wine because I’m allergic to grapes, lol. This has been a great time for me to get into mocktails, and low-histamine, acid reflux friendly mocktails have been a weird new way I didn’t think I could express my creativity. I’m having fun working through the Libra Moonstone Libration Mocktails that Lynae has been doing for awhile.
I’m looking for writing work!
I was perusing my old articles for
that I did all the way in 2017 (where I predicted the insane rise of Riverdale like the prophet that I am), and realized that I want to dip my toes into writing for other publications again.SO, if you have a Substack, zine, blog, or other publication and you’re wanting to diversify your content, I would love to spotlight or guest write for ya. It doesn’t have to be about religion/spirituality-but can be. We all know I have lots to say about lots of things, so I’ve been called to cast my net out to my net of a community! Depending on the project, I’m giving pretty low rates and God says I’m allowed to take on some projects I really love without charging my regular rate if I feel called to.
Email me at holyshiftsis@gmail.com
Shifted Sanctuary News:
I’ve finally decided on a schedule for the U.S.S. Sanctuary. Articles drop for early access subscribers on Thursdays; and, then go public on Mondays. In between of course I’ll pop in and do other articles, depending on how I feel moved, but I do want to have a set structure for at least ONE article a week on specific days-for my sanity and to keep better boundaries about how I spend my time.
I’ve talked about it before, but I do want to recommend Reclaim AI, which I’ve been using (the free version) to keep some structure in my day. The fact that this ai thing can link to my Google calendar, and then adjust my day around it, around “free hours” or “work hours”, reschedule stuff for me if it looks like my day or week is too busy; and, make sure that I’m doing the habits I want to do like read, move my body, study my classes, and still get articles out is….amazing. I’d be a doctor by now if I had this tool when I was in high school.
I recently got into their affiliate program, so if you sign up for the free version through my link I think I get like…25 cents!
Join the Prayer Wall
Last week I made our Prayer Wall on Wall of Text. I’ve deleted some of my old prayer requests, updated with new ones, and added some new praise reports-Pancetta also added one of hers. So don’t forget that space is free and open to anyone who wants to be supported, or support others in our community. If you want to know more about that, click the link or check out the chat thread about it.
Last but not LEAST:
I’m writing an eBook + Work Book!
I’ve been wanting to create an interactive thing to give to the Sanctuary for some time. I just couldn’t really figure out how to do it or what to do it on. I’ve finally decided to address spiritual gifts, after so many online interactions have shown me that people really don’t see how God gives out spiritual talents; and, that they show up in so many different ways. Many of us with gifts of prophecy, healing, leadership, channeling of tongues have been labeled as evil or demonic-and I really want this eBook to help everyone not only strip that stigma away, but then get down to the real action of using our gifts for our divine purpose.
As an act of compassion for myself, I’m not giving it or myself a “due date”, and am even telling my little Reclaim AI Angel Baby to not give me more than 45min-1hr of a work for it in my calendar at any given time. I also work fast, though, so hopefully it won’t take THAT long.
That’s all everyone! It’s eclipse season, spooky season, almost SCORPIO season. We’re seeing so much chaos within the inner and outer worlds we operate, so I hope you take some of my recs and a virtual hug from me to get ya through the week.
I’m praying for you all!
Yesssss!! We love a preacher who calls out bad theology AND hears the living spirit in the word, coming in with fresh looks instead of same old same old!