Rev. Vicky's Message July 23, 2026

After spending the weekend at beautiful Villa Maria del Mar (for the Women's Retreat) and being lulled to sleep by the ocean, I was reminded of this lesson (3/4/24) by Father Richard Rohr, "Making a Morning Connection" (based on a talk he gave in 2009)

"On spring and summer mornings, I love to go out early with my little cup of coffee and walk through my garden with my dog Venus . If I can somehow let my 'roots and tendrils' reconnect me with the 'givens' of life, as Bill Plotkin calls them [1]—not the ideas about life, but the natural world, what is—I experience the most extraordinary grounding, connection, healing, and even revelation. One little hopping bird can do me in!

"Many of us have a sense of self or identity created by our relationship to ideas, thoughts, and words. We can spend our whole lives rattling around inside of ideas, rarely touching upon what is right in front of us, when it’s the 'givens' that heal us and reconnect us to Reality. We spend a majority of our time interacting with thoughts and opinions about everything. We’re almost entirely fixated on our computers, smart phones, news feeds, email, social media, and selfies. This is, of course, an 'unnatural' world of our own creation. We don’t even realize that we’ve disconnected ourselves from the only world that people lived in for most of human history.

"One of the foundational reasons for our sense of isolation and unhappiness is that we have lost our contact with nature. In the natural world, there is no theology to agree or disagree with. We don’t have to identify as Presbyterian or Lutheran, male or female, conservative or progressive. There is nothing to argue about. It is in contact with all the 'givens'—that which has been available to every creature God has created since the Big Bang—that something is indeed given. I guess in the spiritual world we would call it grace.

"This is not some New Age idea. In Scripture we read, 'What can be known about God is perfectly plain, since God has made it plain. Ever since God created the world, God’s everlasting power and divinity, however invisible, have been there for the mind to see in the things that God has made' (Romans 1:19–20). Every day, we are given a natural way to reconnect with God and it doesn’t depend upon intelligence, education, or a religion. It depends on really being present and connecting with the soul."

"Of course, it’s not as simple as just standing in my garden. If I get my email first or start worrying and planning my day, the moment’s over. It’s done because I’m not really present. But we can preserve and protect those sacred moments before we read the news or check our email, before we look at social media or review the day’s agenda. If we can find a way to be present to the 'givens,' especially the natural 'givens,' I believe we can be happy."

That last paragraph (and the part I emphasized by bolding) is the most important part for me. In these times when there is an intentional, ongoing effort to disempower us by overwhelming, distracting, confusing, infuriating, and discouraging us – it is more important than ever that we remember: life happens from the INSIDE > OUT ... meaning we ground ourselves in God and Love and Peace and Truth with prayer, affirmations, and being present to the 'givens' of God's creation, EVERY DAY, before we allow the outside world–in.

Remember: the first 30 minutes after waking are a critical transition window where our brains move from deep rest into active consciousness, and set the tone for the rest of the day. Modern neuroscience shows this period governs our cortisol awakening response, dopamine regulation, and stress baseline for the day.

To optimize our morning awakening, psychologists and neuroscientists recommend the following:

> Avoid Screens: to prevent a surge of early stress hormones.

> Get Sunlight: step outside, or open a window; natural light exposure helps set our circadian rhythm boosting mood and alertness.

> Hydrate: drink water to rehydrate our bodies (before coffee, tea, etc.)

> Move and Reflect: engage in gentle stretching, deep breathing, or simple mindfulness (prayer, affirmations, meditation also great) to increase blood flow and establish a calm intention for the day.

Together, we are holding a high watch for our lives, our nation, and our world.

Blessings & Love

Rev. Vicky