Messages by Rev. Ken Beldon (Page 3)
Make Way
This week, Rev. Ken opens our annual New Year’s service with the story of The Epiphany, and talks about the restoration of a painting of the Magi by Leonardo da Vinci. After the painting was cleaned, more detail and color than anyone expected was revealed. Isn’t that how life is sometimes? So many things can build up and get in the way of us living the lives we really want. Make Way Good morning, Wellsprings. It’s good to be with…
Darkness Visible
Ken shares a story from Anne Lamott wherein she talks about calling around to different friends asking about what Advent means to them. She doesn’t have much luck until she reaches a Jesuit friend who has 35 years of sobriety. He shares a dramatic event which happened early in his own recovery wherein folks at a 12-step meeting showed compassion to a man in a terrible state. The patience they showed then, evoked the feeling of Advent for this friend.…
Scary Stories
This week, Rev. Ken talks about how he is a fan of scary stories, even horror movies, even living as a person with an anxiety disorder. He shares how sometimes, experiencing fear as a story can help us realize why fear is an important part of life. He also talks about being a fan of Taylor Swift’s album, Folklore, especially a song which seems to approach fear from a child’s perspective. Scary Stories [00:00:01]Good morning, Wellspring’s. It’s good to be…
When, Not If
Rev. Ken begins our new Message series “How to Be Afraid” with a late-recorded message about the election. He remembers a slogan “Pain is just weakness leaving the body,” while recounting a time when he himself got injured during a half marathon. He also talks about the use and abuse of fear. There are some who believe that fear is only weakness, but the denial of fear is sometimes why people stop listening not only to themselves, but to each…
Simply Sad
In this short introduction to our annual Remembrance Service, Rev. Ken assures us that it’s okay to not “cheer up” every time we feel sad. Sometimes, we can sit with sadness, especially in the wake of a loss. If we sit with grief and sadness, what we find at the root of it is love. Simply Sad NAMEDATEOctober 27, 2020DURATION14m 10sMy Audio.mp3START OF TRANSCRIPT[00:00:00]Good morning, Wellspring’s, it’s it’s good to be with you again, one of the many almost seemingly…
Sing a New Song
Quarantine has led us to new forms of entertainment, and this week, Rev. Ken begins by talking about a “table read” of the Princess Bride which the original stars reunited for recently. One of his main takeaways from that movie is that when life doesn’t turn out the way we want, maybe we can then open ourselves to a different kind of story. Rev. Ken also talks about unique experiences of grief, and how the “stages” aren’t always linear. Sing…
The Care of Souls
Rev. Ken begins this new message series by offering the Mourner’s Kaddish for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg. He talks about a videogame he’s playing now where a being called “Stella” guides souls to the afterlife, and how surprisingly touching it is. He also talks about how we can help each other through our collective mourning process by honoring the connections between us. The Care of Souls [00:00:00]The following is a message from Wellspring’s congregation.[00:00:06]Good morning, Wellsprings.[00:00:09]It was on Friday evening…
The Midnight Gospel
Rev Ken. Continues our Spiritflix series with a message about the Netflix series “The Midnight Gospel.” He reminds us that it’s okay if we’re not okay right now. The Midnight Gospel START OF TRANSCRIPT[00:00:00]The following is a message from Wellspring’s congregation.[00:00:06]Good morning, Wellspring’s. It’s good to see you today. I recognize I might look a little bit odd, so hold on one oneone second. One second.[00:00:19]Let me let me fix this up. There we go.[00:00:26]Better, isn’t it? You’re probably more…
Blinded By the Light
This week, Rev. Ken continues our Spiritflix series with a message about the movie Blinded By the Light – a film where the main character is asking the question “How do I fit in?” Rev. Ken talks about how this film reminded him of the eulogy President Obama gave for John Lewis, calling us to a “Vibrant, big-hearted, tolerant America of perpetual self creation.” He also reflects on the importance of the Bruce Springsteen lyric “No one wins unless everybody…
Dead to Me
This week, Rev. Ken discusses the Netflix series “Dead To Me.” In discussing it’s themes of grief, he reveals that he has an app on his phone that reminds him about death five times a day. He talks about the five stages of grief and how complicated they are – especially now when so many Covid deaths might be the result of a rush to get back to normal. Dead to Me [00:00:00]The following is a message from Wellspring’s congregation.[00:00:05]Good…
I Am Not Your Negro
Rev. Ken continues our SpiritFlix series with the award winning documentary film, “I Am Not Your Negro.” He begins his message with a story about an uncomfortable moment at a baseball game, before getting into the subject matter of the film. This unfinished memoir by James Baldwin is about his relationships with slain civil rights leaders. Now, more than ever, this film and message offer us a chance to wake up to the realities of being black in America. I…
Groundhog Day
Rev. Ken (appropriately) brings us a second SpiritFlix Message about Groundhog Day where he addresses the repetitiveness of our days right now. How do we break the cycle of “Groundhog Day?” We can do it by being of service to others, but also by fully inhabiting our own lives. Even if you don’t know where your life is going right now, Rev. Ken emphasizes the importance of keeping after your pursuits, and your spiritual practices. That’s how we finally make…