Finding Balance – July 3, 2022

Scripture:  Galatians 5:1, 13-15

Movie:  “In the Heights”

Synopsis:   The passage we consider in Galatians calls us to embrace our freedom to become all that God has created us to be, while being duly considerate of those to whom we are committed in community. “The Galatians are invited as a community, rather than just as individuals, to live by the Spirit and to enjoy the freedom of life in the Spirit. Such is the journey of following God’s Spirit—a journey best traveled with companions alongside, a journey that intermingles freedom and obligation.” (Abbington).  The characters in this high energy musical are diverse, yet they have one thing in common.  They all feel stuck in their neighborhood and in their jobs, “afraid of flying” as one character puts it. Each one  must ask themselves, “What must I be willing to let go in order to soar? How do I make my dream come true?”  “In the Heights” is a story of self-discovery, family, community, and fidelity to self and others.  In this message, we’ll explore insights from the movie and the scriptures to help us find our balance and set our priorities in life.  We’ll look at ways of finding strength in one another, building trust, charity, unconditional love, compassion and acceptance for who we are.