Reflections during a Run

Reflections during a Run


By Sean Claes

Last Saturday (7/25/2020) I woke up with a mission. In order to keep with my weekly goal (25 miles), there were just over 5 miles in my future. So Towdah and I headed out. I put my Contemporary Christian Pandora Station on and ran without a route. I ran down past my friend Gloria’s house and said a prayer for her and her daughter. Ran past the Assisted living and said a prayer for a church member who lives there... then thought about DC who lives in on in San Antonio and he posts about his accomplishments and setbacks with love, humor, rawness and heart... and said a prayer for them. Then I came upon Phillip’s street sign. Memories rushed back about his death in 2013. Of all the running I’ve done over the last 2 years... I’ve not done that 4/28 memorial run. I pray for peace, grace and healing for the family and friends of Phil. I promise to make that run on that day in 2021. 

I turned and ran down Kholers Crossing and prayed for the school system and that they make the best decision for our students, teachers and staff. I pray for new beginnings at Hays where healing can begin once selfish pride subsides and love leads.

Then Towdah took over my run... she turned me back down the path near our Mayor’s home... I pray for the city’s continued positive work toward healing and learning surrounding systemic racism. I pray God uses me to assist where He needs me. I then run past my friend Tom’s house where he power washed BLM on the sidewalk and I pray for Ahmaud Arbery who was killed for doing exactly what I was doing in a neighborhood similar to mine.

Then I ran past my friend Anne’s house and I rejoiced in the real conversations we have when we walk each day and I pray for her grace and servant’s heart.

It was a day of reflection. Prayer. Love. Hope. Grace. Joy. Fear. Uneasiness. Sadness. Regret. Forgiveness. Moving. Assurance. Embracing. Acceptance.

I will never forget what caused me to get to the place where I am today. I will thank God for putting the right people in front of me at the moments I needed them the most. I will move forward. I will lead with love.

Love Moves First.

Prayer for Healing from Racism - 7/2020

Candles placed at Kyle United Methodist Church on 7/19/2020 as part of the prayer vigil

Prayer for Healing from Racism

By Tanya Livingston
(As read at the "Prayer Vigil for Healing from Racism and Disease" on Sunday, July 19, 2020 at Kyle United Methodist Church in Kyle, Texas.)

Today we come together to pray for the end of racism and to mourn those who have died unnecessarily at the hands of others. 

Past and present we acknowledge these horrific acts of violence and we say their names:
All slavery throughout time. 
Emmitt Till.
Addie May Collins.
Cynthia Wesley.
Carole Robertson.
Carol Denise McNair.
Michael Brown.
Freddie Gray.
Eric Garner.
Philando Castile.
Tanisha Anderson.
Tamir Rice.
Breonna Taylor.
Botham Jean.
Ahmad Arbery.
Terrance Crucher.
Oscar Grant.
Atatiana Jefferson.
Trayvon Martin.
Laquan McDonald.
George Floyd.
And so many, many others. 

We will not sit around and wallow in our sorrow, though, because we have been called to action by our God and our Savior, Jesus Christ. We are called to acknowledge the truth, educate ourselves, show up and stand up and speak out for those being oppressed. 

There are many verses in the Bible that remind us that we are called to love our neighbors as ourselves, to take care of each other. 

1 John 4:19-21 (NIV)

This could be standing up to someone’s racist language, calling out misinformation, or changing racist mascots. 

We all play a part. 

Amen.

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Additional Photos from the vigil:

Self-Reflection 101

By Sean Claes

So much of my life is tied into social media. I’ve been tempted to walk away from Facebook because of the ugliness. 

People posting hate. Hurling stones blindly at a group while making a plea to have folks stop hurling stones at them. Aggression shared through memes and reposts without considering the gravity of the words. 

So many for me have been posted by people I have friended through organizations that are supposed to be about love, family, brotherhood and God. It has caused me to question my involvement in each of them. Every one.

To my family and friends and colleagues (and you if you don’t feel you fit in one of the above categories). I love you. I’m here for you. I accept you where you are, how you are. I pray for you. I wish you happiness and health.

How amazing would it be if we all led with love? Tried to find similarities instead of differences? Worked to understand instead of dominate? Listened instead of planned a retort? Built bridges instead of walls? Met people where THEY are instead of demanding they come to us?

I have a lot of work to do on myself. I see the log in my eye and I’m addressing that. I’m listening, learning and making new decisions (not changing my mind) based on the new information. I am learning. Part of this has been to make some hard decisions...even ending friendships in real life (and social media).

The biggest thing I’ve realized for myself is... in order to change direction... love needs to lead.

Love Moves First.