Soul Matters at Tree of Life: Being a Community of Blessing 
The “sacred lotus” flower originated in southern Asia and Australia. Because it grows in muddy water and rises above the surface to bloom with remarkable beauty and fragrance, it has been used as a symbol of purity since before the time of the Buddha. In both its physicality and its symbolism, it is a blessing.
When we think about blessing and blessings, there are several helpful questions that can help us reflect on what meaning this might have for us and our faith community: Do you believe you are a blessing? Do you notice the blessings surrounding you — that are part of your life? Are there blessings in your life that lead you to bless others?
Teachers of mindfulness – both Buddhist and secular – encourage their students to pay attention to what is “working” in their lives. This is one avenue for bringing attention to the blessings around us. Often we get bogged down, focusing on challenges and problems, when in fact there usually is so much in our lives that’s actually working well. When we hold that knowledge in our awareness, we can use it to infuse us with a state of wonderment.
It can also be helpful to remember that blessings don’t just fill us up — they cause us to overflow. Life spills into us and we spill into others – so that we actively become a blessing. In other words, blessings don’t just enrich us, they connect us. And connection in community is a marvelous blessing, indeed.
The June Soul Matters packets offer materials to explore the meaning of “blessing” – as we consider how we experience it in our lives and how it is a part of our experience in community. The Soul Matters resource packet can be accessed here. If you need a printed copy, please feel free to take one from those available in the fellowship room or ask for a copy, if they have all been taken. You might also like to consider joining a chalice circle to share your insights and hear what others are saying.
Wishing you joy in community,
M.E. Tanabe