{"id":4907,"date":"2025-02-23T09:43:56","date_gmt":"2025-02-23T09:43:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/triciabatessmith.com:443\/?p=4907"},"modified":"2025-03-18T09:49:00","modified_gmt":"2025-03-18T09:49:00","slug":"feb-23-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/triciabatessmith.com:443\/index.php\/2025\/02\/23\/feb-23-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"An Inspirational Talk about an Inspirational Talk."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As a seminary assignment this month we were to write a 20 minute long inspirational talk, and then, cut it down to 4 minutes to share with our class.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Introduction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Welcome, and good morning to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a school writing assignment, I needed to write a 20-minute inspiration talk. I chose to talk about where I am with trusting God. Here, I would like to share how, in the process of developing the talk, I was gifted with love and support from God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The phrase \u2018love and support\u2019 has popped into my mind several times in the past month as I have had my Zoom calls with groups and mentors from seminary. In those moments I was filled with gratitude. As I look back now over my writing process, the blessings continued to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Loved and supported.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At the start of this assignment, my thoughts about trust were on the many times that I stressed over a situation and then would come to realize that I had not trusted God with it. This was where my focus was, but as I wrote about what it means to me to trust in God, I began to see synchronicities show me that, indeed, I do trust in God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One example happened when I was in the middle of a section about service to others. This part of the writing sat unfinished for a couple of days, meanwhile, I held the sense that when I got back to it what would develop would be meaningful \u2014 my intuition was correct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This section of the talk began fearful, but, as I wrote, a more positive perspective on service emerged. And with this, a new perspective of God emerged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From my more positive perspective, I noticed in my body that my heart felt lite. This good feeling said to me that when connecting with others, trust in God does not feel like a belief in something outside of me. Instead, I was feeling aligned with the Presence of Love that is in me. This God felt easy to trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Within 24 hours of writing this part of the assignment, I came across a quote by Howard Thurman which said, \u201cWhen I love people, then I find God in me.\u201d[i]<\/strong><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks Spirit, for the affirmation!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another experience that affirmed my reflection on trust came in conversation. As I was wrapping up my draft of the talk, I had a meeting with my dean. In response to his asking of how I was doing, I answered that I noticed growth within myself. He then asked me, what was the growth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I thought of how to describe the change, I recognized first, that I held less fear. There is still some nervousness to think of speaking to others, but a part of me says, \u2018just do it, it will be fine\u2019. (Like in this moment.) The other thing I noticed is a deeper understanding and connection to God from a clearer mind and a shining heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I recognized that these feelings of less fear and deeper connection were aspects of trust. Suddenly, trust in God went from being something I felt I still needed to achieve to being part of who I am.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This writing assignment brought me many gifts. I realized my trust in God. I noticed synchronicities that affirm that I am on the right path. And I feel blessed and full of gratitude from knowing that I am loved and supported on this path of ministry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

[i]<\/a> Howard Thurman, The Way of the Mystics<\/em> (Orbis Books, 2021), 115-116. Note: this quote was offered in the cac.org Daily Meditation of 2-12-2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As a seminary assignment this month we were to write a 20 minute long inspirational talk, and then, cut it down to 4 minutes to share with our class. Introduction Welcome, and good morning to you. 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