Sermon Notes: August 30, 2026
Learning to Let Go — Drop the Rope: Rev. Sheryl Padgett
Letting go is not giving up, denying pain, or pretending difficult things never happened. It is releasing the inner grip that old hurts, fears, and reactions have on us.
We often live with "conditional okayness" — fine only as long as the outer world cooperates. The moment it doesn't, our mind and heart catch fire.
The reason we suffer is not the planet or our circumstances; it is what we have stored inside.
We have three choices when a disturbing feeling rises: suppress it, express it, or transmute it — let it relax and move through us instead of getting stuck.
Transmutation means the trigger becomes the teacher; the irritation becomes the invitation. Nothing is wasted when we bring it to consciousness.
Surrender is not weakness, passivity, or staying in harm. Release the panic — and still take wise action.
The practice: when you feel triggered, relax your body, relax your grip, and breathe. Notice the energy rising rather than becoming it.
You are not your thoughts or emotions. You are the one who notices them — the deeper Self beneath the noise.
The Kingdom of God is within you, right now. You don't have to fight your way back to it; you simply stop leaving it.
When the blockages clear, Spirit rises on its own — bringing love, enthusiasm, and a life of service.
What matters most is not what you do but where you come from. Serve the moment in front of you with a pure motive.
"Where you're not, God is" — where the small, frightened self steps aside, the Christ presence has room to shine through.
Affirmation I release what no longer serves my highest good. With an open heart and a willing spirit, I meet each moment as it comes. I let go of fear, release my reactions, and allow divine love to flow freely through me. I am free, I am present, and I am here to serve. And so it is! Amen
Practice for the week: When you notice irritation, fear, or an old story rising, pause and ask: "Can I relax my grip and let this move through me?" Then breathe, relax, release — and return to the one who notices.
