Monday Message, February 14, 2022

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KNOW

There is a clergy check in this week. Please remind your pastor. These conversations are completely optional but provide a nice opportunity for clergy to check in and discuss any parish issues around sacramental prep, youth ministry, or other topics they might wish to discuss.

If you have not already advertised the Made for More event coming up in Ridgefield in March, please do so.

If you have not yet scheduled your parish visit, please contact Carmela. These will be scheduled through June.

If you have not yet checked out the Online Directory, please do so. Click this link to visit and then be sure to let us know if you want to make any changes or corrections.

REFLECT

There is a fable that the Sun and the Wind decided to have a contest to see which one of them was stronger. They spotted a man walking along the street, and agreed that whoever could make him take off his coat was the more powerful of the two. They drew straws and the Wind won the chance to go first. The Sun agreed to hide behind a cloud while the Wind took his turn.

Well, the Wind blew as hard as he could, but it only made the man draw his coat around him more tightly. No matter which direction the Wind used, the Wind absolutely could not force that man to take off his coat.

Next it was the Sun’s turn. He came out from behind the cloud and shone brightly. Soon the man started to relax a bit and unbuttoned a couple of buttons. The Sun streamed down some more, and the man stopped, smiled, and took off his coat. It was agreed that the Sun had won the contest.

We all have people in our lives like the Sun and the Wind in the story…some people try to force us to change, while others accept us and love us as we are. This lets us relax and be ourselves…and it also allows us to change at our own pace. Likewise, we cannot force another person to change, to be the way we want them to be.

This is how God loves us, with all our faults and weaknesses. This is the message that God gives us on Valentine’s Day — “I love you just the way you are.” Even when the people in our lives are unable to accept us as we are, God’s love is always there for us, unchanging. God does not force us to change — the choice is ours. But when we know we are loved, we can take the risks involved in changing our lives for the better.

LAUGH