You know the T-Mobile ad featuring easy access to your “Fav 5”?  I was reminded of it recently as I read an ad that Mary Morrissey sent out, inviting minister’s to join in a day of expanded thinking.  She wrote about what she called the “Rule of 5”.  She asked,  “Did you know that people’s income will be very close to the average income of their five closest friends? “

There may be exceptions to this “Rule of 5”, but my hunch is it plays out in many areas of life.  Income, eating practices, exercise, vacation spots we go to, our spiritual practices and more.  We either attract people, places, circumstances and thoughts that mirror our current reality, or we have those experiences because of the thinking that we continually expose ourselves to.  Either way we tend to enjoy being with people that behave and think like we do and engage in similar activities.  We find common ground with them.  We find agreement with them.  We are comfortable with them.

We know that to experience life in different ways, we have to think differently.  One of the easiest ways to do that is to expose ourselves to different thinkers!  That means expanding our “Fav 5”!    I’m not suggesting we ditch our friends,  but rather expand our circle.  For every like-minded, like-behaved, and like-habited friend we have, consciously cultivate another friend who is differently-minded, differently-behaved, or differently-habited!  Consciously spend time in activities, with ideas, and asking questions that you might not have considered within the comfort of your “Fav 5”.

Beginning this Sunday and for the month of August at Namaste we are taking on the challenge of “Living from the Infinite”.  Let’s start by creating a “Fav 10”, and making room for some new friends – people, ideas, and habits! 

You are Precious.  You are Awesome.

Rev. Kristin