Daily Compass

“Why do we, as a society, make almost  no effort to teach, not just the fundamentals of human relationship, but  the more advanced skills related to:  what do we do when we screw up?  How are we present to one another  across deeply held differences?  What should we do in the midst of  volatile conflict? How do we ‘show  up’ in meaningful ways for the  diversity that we claim to value and  constantly stumble over?” -Manish Mishra-Marzetti

What is something fundamental to building healthy relationships that you wish you knew more about?

When I was in seminary, we were taught that covenants involved not only the horizontal dimension–between and among people–but what was called the “vertical” dimension–between people and God. Perhaps that language is unnecessarily hierarchical or theist for you, though. We are asked somehow to involve the sacred, the holy, in the promises we make.

What is the sacred dimension of your covenant?

We use the language of promise to talk about covenant, but in reality they are subtly different from one another. CLF Learning Fellow Donté Hilliard asks us, “How do you understand the difference between covenant and a promise?”

Do you have any personal covenants with yourself? Are they major or minor? How do you restore covenant with yourself? -Katherine Hofmann (CLF)

What are the promises you have made to yourself?

“Covenantal promises are based not on certainties and specificities but on faithfulness to the love that calls each one of us out of our separateness to become a people.” -Victoria Weinsten

With whom have you connected deeply enough to become a people?