I love the dictionary – always have. Sometimes its definitions remind you of your own tongue’s (language) meaning. Renew has no less meaning than the many other words I’ve looked up.
Renew is a verb, an action word. Which means feeling renewed is the result of previous action. The dictionary describes Renew as resuming an activity after an interuption (repeating an original statement, reestablishing a relationship, gaining fresh strength), extending the validity of a license or contract, and replacing what was broken. When I think of renew, I usually concentrate on gaining fresh strength. But Mission1Race wants to incorporate more of the other aspects of Renew’s meaning. When you consider the fuller meanings of the word, you get a powerful concept.
Resuming previous activity –
For the summer, M1R took a break from 1Community gatherings with curriculum content. We took a break from the frenzy of activity around the various race events that seem to have constant needed prep. It was a pause, a time for reflection and celebration. But now, as we reach the end of the summer, we prepare to renew our activities. We’re getting excited to see what God is going to do with a new fiscal year!
Extending validity –
The contract has been renewed, so to speak, in our mission to the world. We’re going to take another year to do what we were called to do – participate in bringing understanding and oneness to the world, erasing those divisive degrees of separation. We’re ready to run, and to talk, and to live side by side in the effort to see that everyone gets the love.
Replacing what was broken –
Our relationships with others have been broken. Be it race, ability, sexuality, gender, political opinion, religion, and so many other biases, the ability to appreciate strengths in those with whom we find disagreement or just plain discomfort has diminished to almost nothing. Mission1Race stands in the gap, helping us understand how to come back together, to hear the other, to move towards understanding and oneness, to begin replacing what was broken.
Renew. Resume. Extend the work. Replace the broken.
Welcome to the end of the summer – and the beginning of what’s coming next!
Photo Credit: Alyssa Sieb, https://nappy.co/alyssasieb
We are aware of the magnitude of this subject matter and the inadequate brevity of this post. For more, please reference our podcasts, our 1Community groups, or feel free to email us at Uniquelythesame@mission1race.org.
We also wish to address our inability to consider issues of sexual, physical, emotional, and spiritual abuse in our discussions on developing understanding and oneness. If you are in an abusive situation of any kind, we encourage you to seek professional and other help; and to realize that this content does not necessarily apply to your circumstances.