by Rev. Dr. Pjae Stanley
ANTN Board Vice-President

Beloveds of ANTN,

I enjoy having pithy little sayings and quotes that help me move through my day and remind me of who I am, what I believe, and what’s possible for me. I thought I might share a couple of my favorites with you in the hopes they’d be of service to you.

One of my favorites, and so naturally the most difficult for me to follow is, “You can’t answer a question that hasn’t been asked.” Duh! Of course not. The question hasn’t been asked. And yet, how many times have I given unsolicited advice, out of the kindness of my heart to be sure, that has fallen with a loud “thunk” at my feet?

It is so tempting to try and ease someone else’s suffering by offering them the “wisdom” of our past experiences. It turns out what really happens is we deny them the faith building moment of growing through a lived experience. It also has the very real possibility of leaving the offeree feeling as though you don’t quite trust their choices. Rut ro!

My absolute favorite saying, “Love, be here now”, is one I utter in the quiet of my mind during good times and stressful moments. The utterance allows me to intentionally remember who I am and who we are together, connected heart to heart. It ushers in a calm, peaceful, easy feeling that reminds me when Love is welcomed, all is well, and so it is.