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Oasis of Peace
 
A Message from the  Chaplain Team
 
May 26, 2020
 

To Our Beloved Residents and Staff
 

I received a beautiful tile plaque a few years ago with the inscription above on it.

It was given to me by a woman who was walking a very difficult road of loss in her life.

I have it displayed in my kitchen at home, and every time I look at it, I remember this woman and her grief journey.  I remember how she was able to communicate such important words of hope and meaning not just in spite of but because of what she experienced.

Lately, I’ve been realizing that I’ve been looking at it a lot - that it’s become a part of my morning ritual.

I pour my cup of coffee and I glance at these words.

Now, more than ever, the world needs you.
The world needs me.
The world needs all of us.

We are each gifted with unique talents, perspectives and traits.

As Piglet, from Disney's Winnie the Pooh, puts so beautifully, "The things that make me different are the things that make me, me."


And what makes each of us a "me" will see us through this season.

Perhaps you are gifted with your hands: you will care for those around you day, in and out through preparing meals, sewing masks, folding laundry, fixing AC systems, taking temperatures and 

Perhaps you are gifted with your mind: you will create new avenues for communication, envision new strategies for safety, design helpful tools and locate needed resources.  

Perhaps you are gifted with your heart: you will compose new songs, write new poems, draw cartoons and capture a moment of history and all of our hearts in a new way. 

Perhaps you are gifted with your spirit: you will hold sacred space for all of us as we navigate the unknown, you will lift fellow spirits with phone calls and video chats, you will induce medicinal belly laughs and providing soothing listening ears.

Remember today that whatever gifts you bring: they matter.  You matter.  This world needs you.

In the spirit of celebrating personal gifts and traits, we bring you today, the writing of Dr. Ryan M. Niemiec.  Niemiec is the education director at the VIA Institute on Character.  His blog What Matters Most, is frequently featured on Psychology Today and other platforms.

The world needs you.

The world needs your ideas, your strategies, your best coping tools.

The world needs you to talk curiously, with interest, to those around you, to let them express themselves and release their burdens.

The world needs your ways of thinking rationally and balanced, showing the many voices in our heads that can counterbalance the inner voices of panic and anxiety.

The world needs you to keep learning and growing in new ways, so you can feel good about your day or week.

The world needs your sound advice, a glimpse of the bigger picture amidst the scary details.

The world needs your bravery—the courage to help someone you’ve never helped, the courage to dust off the strengths you’ve allowed to erode, the courage to see the world anew.

The world needs you to persevere—to push through huge obstacles and suffering you’ve never faced before.

The world needs your truthfulness—now is not a time for exaggeration or guesswork.

The world needs your enthusiasm—we can get sucked dry as we try to create a new normal or take a peek at the surrounding uncertainty—but each time you uplift your energy, you help others.

The world needs your love—every ounce of warmth, genuineness, and care matters right now—each ounce is worth 10 times its original value.

The world needs you to not lose sight of your compassion and generosity or your active seeking of ways to help.

The world needs your empathy—every country, every neighborhood, every being can be a subject of your concern.

The world needs you to see that you are a citizen of the world, not living on an island alone, but part of a large group that can choose to be collaborative.

The world needs you to act fairly—instead of keeping everything to yourself, give; instead of blaming, praise; instead of being the victim, be the hero to someone.

The world needs your leadership —your fresh ideas will inspire the different groups to which you belong...

The world needs you to feel elevated, which means to be inspired by the good actions of others…because that means you’ll be more likely to do the same.

The world needs your hope and your silver linings offered thoughtfully, as so many around us are falling into cracks of darkness and despair.

The world needs your appreciation because that shows others you are seeing them and their kind acts, and they will then do more of them.

The world needs your humor, your playfulness, your ability to create levity when we feel heavy and frazzled.

The world needs you to see we are all in this together, interconnected, that every action does not occur in a silo, but it has a preceding action and a consequence.

The world is requiring “the all” that is in all of us.

The world needs you.

All of you.

Remember, today, the wonderful gifts you bring to the world.
May you find delight in sharing them in this season,
And may you draw closer to the Source of all Love as you share them.

~Chaplain Hannah Creager
Students, faculty and alumni from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee and Berklee College of Music collaborated virtually to create a moving rendition of Burt Bacharach and Hal David's 1965 hit "What The World Needs Now."  Click the Play button above to view the popular and uplifting piece that has caught the attention of Good Morning America, NPR and more. 

Wondering what the world needs from you in this season?  Curious as to what some of your own character strengths might be?  We recommend perusing the list provided by The VIA Institute of Character.   You can also take their free online survey to determine your character strengths.  Click on the button below to try out the survey.  

VIA Institute of Character Survey
Father/daughter duo Mat and Savanna Shaw have captured the attention and hearts of thousands of Americans over the last few weeks with their at-home renditions of various songs.  To read more about the duo, click here.  Click the Play button above to listen to them sing “The Prayer.”
Welcome to Our Own Williamsburg Landing:
"It's A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood"  Column!

We are honored and delighted to share your words and pictures of encouragement and inspiration. All  submissions are welcome and will be reviewed by the Editing Team before posting. If you would like your name to be included, please note this in your submissions, otherwise it will be listed anonymously. Thank you all so very much for your interest and participation. Together, we are making each  day here at Williamsburg Landing a truly beautiful day in our neighborhood.
 


Encouragement From Around the Neighborhood: 

  “The beauty I discover answer is a source of joy.

          Let my heart be lit with its glow.

          Waves of joy wash over me as I think of my connection with

          the vast family of the universe.  This earth beneath my feet

          is my anchor—the sky, my roof. The air I breathe is life

          itself. Sunshine give me cheer. The ocean teaches me to be

          calm. With open arms, nature embraces me and assures me

          that I am happy, safe, and loved. With all its cares and

          worries, this world is a beautiful place, and I am fortunate

          to be part of it. I am thankful for my countless blessings.”

~ Shubbra Krishan


Shared by: Anonymous

Let us look with wonder to see that it really is a beautiful day in the neighborhood!  May we be open to the beauty all around and within us. 
Missing attending your place of worship on Sundays? We understand and for this very reason have  assembled several online resources, such as worship and devotional services, and other tools to help you nurture your spiritual and emotional health during this time. To access please click on the button below:
Electronic Pathways to Nurture Your Spiritual and Emotional Health
Looking for a favorite previous issue of the Oasis or the First Mate? Click on this button to access the Archives


The Chaplain Team's  Contact Information


Please don't hesitate to contact us. We are here for you always and especially during this challenging time.

Contacts
Lead Chaplain | Reverend Caitilin Hoy
email:choy@williamsburglanding.org
  phone: 253-9679

Chaplain | Reverend Hannah Creager
email: hcreager@williamsburglanding.org
 phone: 253-9685
 
~ Peace Be With You  All ~
If you no longer wish to receive our daily emails, please contact Alana White at awhite@williamsburglanding.com and specify that you no longer wish to receive the Daily Oasis of Peace. 
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Williamsburg Landing · 5700 Williamsburg Landing Dr · Williamsburg, VA 23185-3779 · USA