I had just finished reading Ron Rolheiser’s recommended end-of-year reading list, when I clicked on one of the books mentioned, Human(kind) by Ashlee Eiland. The belief that the book you need to read finds you at exactly the right time is so true when I think of this book. As we consider our collective future, it is the author’s belief that only when we understand and practice kindness, will we truly come out of this challenging time having evolved for the better. “Transformational kindness toward other humans will require something that frenzied fingers flying across a keyboard never have: bravery. It takes a brave person to come out of hiding, to come off a Twitter feed or Instagram live video and sit in the flesh with another human being who was crafted with intentionality and great love, injected with the imago Dei, the image of God himself.”

Many of the calls we receive at the OCS, and I suspect in your offices as well, center on this very thought – to develop the courage to sit with another, and through our wounded eyes, find the image and likeness of God in the other. May we all take the time to breathe in God’s grace to fully be present to this time that requires every one of us to put on the armor of Christ – the armor of a simple tunic, sandals and walking stick. Our armor is our love for one another.

We, in the OCS, continue to keep you and your communities in our prayers.

KRISTIN DIXON |  Superintendent