As the days grow shorter and the year winds down, we turn our attention to the theme of repair. Repair is a practice that asks us to acknowledge what has been broken, neglected, or strained—and to commit ourselves to the work of mending.
In our personal lives, this might mean tending to relationships that have frayed over time. Perhaps there is a friend or family member with whom your connection has become distant or strained. What would it look like to reach out, to offer a word of reconciliation, or to simply listen with an open heart? Repair requires vulnerability, humility, and a willingness to face discomfort for the sake of healing.
Our world, too, is in desperate need of repair. As we approach a time of national elections, the fractures in our society become more pronounced. We see divisions that run deep, with communities polarized and dialogue often breaking down into discord. What relationships, what connections, are in need of repair in this tense landscape? How might we begin to bridge the gaps, not by papering over differences, but by acknowledging the pain and seeking paths to understanding?
Within our congregation, we are invited to embody the spirit of repair. How can we ensure that our community is a place where brokenness can be acknowledged and healing can begin? What practices can we adopt to support one another in the hard work of mending relationships, whether within these walls or beyond them?
As we move through this month, let us reflect on where repair is needed in our lives, our congregation, and our world. May we find the courage to engage in this sacred work, trusting that even the smallest acts of repair can lead to profound transformation.
Blessings on this journey of mending and renewal.
Rev. Michelle