August 2020 Love Letters: Day 1

Hello, my darlings!

Today is August 1, 2020. I don’t think any of us expected all the surprises this year has had in store for us so far. I know it has been a huge shift for ALL of us on the planet. There is a global pandemic happening, as well as an international uprising for civil rights to be had for all. Our lives have been thrown into upheaval, and it is time for many of the foundational structures to be rebuilt, both on a personal level and throughout all of our communities. The journey to the top of the mountain is never easy, but we are certainly on our way. Where are you on your journey?

Many of us are re-evaluating what we hold dear as well as what fruit our lives have produced so far; death and tragedy hovering close by often has a way to shake you to your core and invigorate you once again. Time seems to press in and become all the more valuable, both with the time we have to ourselves and time we give to others. For me, I have been inspired to act more quickly on creation: art and writing have become my outlets. June truly kicked this off when I got too floaty in the ether and needed to be brought back down to earth by way of four roller derby women showing up to witness the hummingbird magic fully in action as well as the more terrifying parts of a spiritual awakening. This led to a weeks-long hospital stay until I was grounded again in our shared reality. It was truly spiritual warfare, and tears come to my eyes when I think of all of you warriors who showed up to fight alongside and for me, both physically and energetically: you are an angel, and I thank you for your love and mercy when I was at my most humble.

God has placed it on my heart to begin writing again and deliver the message of divine love to YOU, specifically. WAIT – don’t just check out here because I mentioned God. You may or may not believe the same way I do. We will still find common ground to connect on if you keep an open mind and an open heart, as I promise to do with you. First, let’s get this out of the way: I am a Christian. I believe in salvation. I believe in repentance. I believe in union with our heavenly Creator. I know the negative stereotypes that are associated with many of my beliefs. I also know many of us have had experiences within religious environments that have drawn us away from those beliefs. I have been hurt by people within the church. I have cast judgment on others and had judgment cast on me. That is NOT what I am doing here. I love you, no matter who you are. I accept you wherever you are on your journey. I’d like to walk alongside you, lift you up when you need encouragement, bring hope when you are feeling hopeless, hug your pieces back together when you are feeling fractured and life just gets too heavy. I am here to serve you, by way of the gifts that have been bestowed upon me. Connection is my personal meaning of life; it’s magical, miraculous if you will, and it starts, for me, with vulnerability. I hope you can be vulnerable with me, as well.

Today starts day one of my goal for this month to write you a love letter every day. I am going to share my creations with you. I am going to shower you with FIERCE LIVELY JOY, which is the literal interpretation of my name. If you choose to join me on this journey, I guarantee your spirits will be lifted. I will challenge you to grow more of the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. We’ll tend the garden together, as we were created to do. YOUR LIFE MATTERS. YOUR EXISTENCE MATTERS. YOU ARE IMPORTANT, and everything you do has an impact. Today, day one, I challenge you to write a love letter, and send it, to someone who has made a difference in your life. I’ll see you tomorrow, darlings.

Love always,

Lauren