The Heart Has No Borders

This past week, I had the honor and joy of facilitating a day of prayer on the theme of seeking surrender with a lovely group at the School of Applied Theology here in the Bay Area. The group was composed of men and women from all over the globe: Africa, Europe, Canada, as well as the east and west coasts of the United States. One thing I know for sure, from being with this group, is that the journey of living a life of grace and surrender has no borders. We are all seeking surrender.

I love exploring this multi-faceted theme with others; it has such depth and resonance, and is such a dynamic theme in all our lives. I notice that each person enters the theme of surrender through the pathway of her own life, through the pathway of her own heart. We are always seeking surrender.

Leading groups like this, also reminds me of the importance and value of sharing spiritual friendship with one another. We need to share our hearts with others, and to explore and deepen our spiritual lives in community. This seeking brings out a vulnerability in people, which I find people appreciate. People want to engage in sincere conversations about their lives, and they value honesty in a group.

Again and again, as I lead people on reflecting on the theme of surrender, I am reminded that surrendering is a journey we are all taking in our lives. And it is a journey of grace.

The gift of the day for me was the reminder that the best gift I can give people is to be present with an open heart.

Pause and reflect: What is the gift that surrender would like to offer you?