Dear Beloved Community,
The Power of Love in a Changing World
This year, I started a certificate program through the Cobb Institute in Process Thought and Practice. Over the past four weeks, I’ve been diving into the fundamental principles of process thought, a way of understanding God and the world that is deeply relational. At its core, process thought teaches that everything is connected, everything is changing, and God is with us in the process. Instead of seeing God as distant and unchanging, process thought sees God as deeply involved in the world—feeling, responding, and guiding us toward love and goodness.
One of the most beautiful ideas in process thought is that love is not about control—it’s about invitation. God doesn’t force us to act in a certain way, but instead offers possibilities, constantly drawing us toward the best choices, the most life-giving actions. In every moment, God is inviting us toward love, healing, and wholeness, but we still have the freedom to choose how we respond. This means that God’s power isn’t about domination or coercion—it’s the power of gentle persuasion, presence, and relationship.
This way of thinking challenges the idea that God is the cause of suffering or that everything happens according to some rigid divine plan. Instead, process thought reminds us that God is present in our pain, grieving with us, walking alongside us, and working through us to bring about something new. When we love, when we choose compassion over division, when we work for justice—we are participating in the divine flow of love that is always at work in the world.
If this sounds a little abstract, just think of Jesus. His life wasn’t about controlling people or demanding blind obedience—it was about calling people into relationship, meeting them where they were, and inviting them into a deeper, more loving way of living. That same invitation is always before us. We are never stuck. We are always being called forward, always being nudged toward a love that transforms.
So as we move through the week, let’s pay attention to where God is inviting us toward love. Maybe it’s in a difficult conversation that needs patience. Maybe it’s in choosing kindness when we feel frustrated. Maybe it’s in seeing another person’s pain and stepping toward them instead of looking away. The beauty of process thought is that it reminds us—God is not finished with us. Love is still at work. And we are part of the process.
Blessings,
Pastor Brian