On our Monday Adventure this week, William and I took a nice long hike at one of our favorite places: Crosby Farm Park, along the Mississippi River. It's a quiet, calm, peaceful place, and we often walk in silence, just soaking it all in. At one point our favorite trail becomes sandy and narrow, as it follows the river. This time of year the brush and flowers along the path are thick and tall, and it's hard to see around the curves of the trail. It was in a spot like this, when William was up ahead a little bit, and out of sight due to the thick brush, that another hiker came up behind me. Before I even realized she was coming, she called out, "I'm right behind you!". I turned to say thank you, and she said, "I didn't want to scare you." I thanked her again and then kept reflecting, for the rest of our hike, on how much I appreciated her simple act of consideration. 

In a world that can feel so broken sometimes, in yet another week marked by violence across our nation, maybe we can learn something from a moment like the one offered by my fellow river-trail-walker. Maybe if we can't yet manage to love like Jesus did, with endless grace, radical welcome, and gentle peace, we can at least take a first step.

We can try not to scare one another.

We can speak gently. Approach with care. Give warning before we round the metaphorical corner. We can try to remember that everyone, even strangers, deserve care and compassion. A bit of putting ourselves in their shoes. Even if we can do no more than that, maybe it will be enough. At least for now. At least it's a start.

My prayer for you this week is that you find a few moments of quiet and calm for yourself - a place to breathe, a place where green things grow and God meets you in peace. And may you also be that place for someone else, reflecting God’s love and light by moving gently, speaking kindly, and offering a bit of warmth and calm in a world that so desperately needs it.

Blessings,
Jennifer