Calgary Community of Christ
  • Welcome
    • Welcoming & Affirming Journey
  • About
    • Give
    • History
    • Programs
    • What to Expect
    • Youth Activities
  • Calendar
  • Blog
  • News
    • Announcements
    • Photo Gallery
    • Building Transition
    • Forms & Documents
  • Contact
    • Get Involved
    • Social

Calgary Spark

It only takes a spark to get a fire going.

World Conference 2019 - Love Your (Global) Neighbour as Yourself

5/6/2019

0 Comments

 

Author

Caitlin d'Esterre
​Calgary, AB, Canada

Picture
​I went to my first World Conference with an open heart and mind. I was grateful to know many friends from near and far who had attended before and would help guide me and ensure I had a well-rounded experience. I knew I was in for laughs, tears, hard conversations, and many hours of deliberation on important legislation that will impact the church locally and internationally.

I was privileged to offer the closing prayer after Thursday’s legislative meetings, and I freely admit that I was nervous. I wrote my prayer in pieces throughout the week, a novel practice for me, and was changing things up until we started singing the hymn right before my prayer. I wanted to get it right.

I chose to focus on what World Conference showed me most clearly: the expression of God in each of us. I am called to love, try to understand, and be accepting of those who are different from me. I always knew this meant I should never deny someone Christ-like love based on the shade of their skin, who they love, their worst choices in weak moments, or how much money they have.  I have always found it hard to truly accept and appreciate those I don’t agree with, or who I think are just plain wrong about what matters most. This is a less obvious, but I think more insidious way we can be held back from achieving the best in our world.
​
 My understanding of the endless and indiscriminate love God gives each of us continues to evolve. My time at World Conference opened my eyes fully to seeing every person as an expression of our Creator. Each of us shows a facet, a sliver of God’s infinite spectrum of presence. I am made better, more whole and closer to the Spirit when I choose to see the individuals who I contrast with as an important voice in the world, just as entitled to God’s unconditional love as I am. This is our modern-day call: to love the neighbour that you don’t agree with because they are an expression of the Divine, just as you are. God is in them too, just different pieces of the divine shimmer through them. This allows us to experience God’s truly indescribable and mercurial nature that humankind will never fully comprehend. My God is always bigger and more loving than I think they could possibly be, and I look forward to being reminded of this many, many more times in my life.
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Authors

    Calgary Spark is a collection of stories told by members and friends of the church alike. Each person's story is helping to shape our community in new ways.

    Back to the blog

    Archives

    January 2021
    June 2020
    April 2020
    October 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    June 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016

    Categories

    All
    Abolish Poverty
    Authenticity
    Camp
    Christmas
    Christms
    Community
    Confirmation
    Develop Disciples To Serve
    Education
    End Suffering
    Enduring Principles
    Equality
    Experience
    Experience Congregations In Mission
    Family
    Food
    Generation Now
    Generosity
    Graceland University
    Haiti
    History
    Homeless
    John Hamer
    Latter Day Seekers
    Latter-day Seekers
    LDS
    Leadership
    LGBTQIA+
    Love
    Magic
    Membership
    Millenials
    Mindfulness
    Mission
    Mission Conference
    MOM Project
    Music
    Politics
    Priesthood
    Relocation
    Remembrance Day
    Restoration Movement
    Retreat
    Sacrament
    Sacredness Of Creation
    Sacrifice
    Self Care
    Seminary
    Sermon
    Social Media
    SPECTACULAR
    Temple
    Testimony
    Thanksgiving
    Transformation
    Unity
    Unity In Diversity
    Veterans
    World Conference
    Worth Of All Persons
    Young Adults
    Youth

    RSS Feed

Home
About
Contact

Canada West Mission Centre
World Church
Picture
© 2017-2021 Calgary Community of Christ
Special thanks to Wayne Rowe for his beautiful photography.
  • Welcome
    • Welcoming & Affirming Journey
  • About
    • Give
    • History
    • Programs
    • What to Expect
    • Youth Activities
  • Calendar
  • Blog
  • News
    • Announcements
    • Photo Gallery
    • Building Transition
    • Forms & Documents
  • Contact
    • Get Involved
    • Social