I awoke very early this morning,
for no apparent reason.
Like a child, I slipped out of bed,
carrying my pillow
and dragging my blanket behind me
into the dark, dark living room.
I sat,
hugging my pillow,
my blanket covering me,
my toes cold.
In this darkness
where there was not one piece of light
and in the silence,
where strangely not one bird was singing.
I wondered if this is what it feels like
to be empty of all worship.
Darkness and silence.
A nothingness.
Ah, but what is that I hear?
Is it a bird’s song?
A single bird, gloriously singing?
And is that a small bit of light
piercing the darkness of predawn?
Now, oh my, the birds are singing
in full chorus!
Even in darkness and silence,
there is the promise of worship
waiting to sing …
waiting for us to see
in yet another day
that God has indeed come into our lives!
And it was night …
and it was morning ..
and it is good!
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Friday, April 6, 2012
"Reminders on this Good Friday"
The weather is like it always is on Good Friday ... or so says my mother. "There will be moments in this day when the clouds roll in. There will be dreariness and rain." I have heard this since my early childhood years and have grown to look toward the skies on Good Friday. I think that I shall do this every Good Friday for as long as I live. Yes, it is cold and rainy and dreary this morning. I need to remind myself ... "It's Friday, but Sunday is coming. It's Friday, but Sunday is coming. It's Friday, but Sunday is coming." That is our faith, my friends ... "It's Friday, but Sunday is coming!"
May you not weep alone on this Good Friday. May God hold you steady at the foot of the cross.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Anything But Routine
Sunday, we left our palm branches
on the pews
and stopped shouting "Hosanna!".
Monday was just that ...
... a Monday with its same old routines.
Yesterday, people milled about
as if this week would prove
to be like last week.
No different.
But this week IS different ....
An upper room is being prepared.
A betrayal is in the final stages of planning.
Intimate prayers will soon be heard.
A command to 'remember' will be demonstrated.
Feet will be washed by the Servant.
Hands will be washed by one in power ...
washed to remove responsibility.
Disciples will fall asleep as Jesus prays.
Soon, there will be a kiss -
a kiss that will ultimately move us
to the foot of the cross
and finally to the victory
of an empty tomb.
This week is anything but routine.
O God, help us to walk together through this week as faithful, wide-awake disciples. Amen.
on the pews
and stopped shouting "Hosanna!".
Monday was just that ...
... a Monday with its same old routines.
Yesterday, people milled about
as if this week would prove
to be like last week.
No different.
But this week IS different ....
An upper room is being prepared.
A betrayal is in the final stages of planning.
Intimate prayers will soon be heard.
A command to 'remember' will be demonstrated.
Feet will be washed by the Servant.
Hands will be washed by one in power ...
washed to remove responsibility.
Disciples will fall asleep as Jesus prays.
Soon, there will be a kiss -
a kiss that will ultimately move us
to the foot of the cross
and finally to the victory
of an empty tomb.
This week is anything but routine.
O God, help us to walk together through this week as faithful, wide-awake disciples. Amen.
Monday, March 19, 2012
"A Nicodemus Moment"
(John 3:14-21)
She sat in a darkened sanctuary
expecting little
yet hoping for much.
She sat in a darkened sanctuary
alone …
and then Light walked in,
uninvited and unannounced,
whispering, “For God so loves you….”
Her heart beat faster
as she heard that
God had loved her in her ‘befores’ …
… before she asked for this Love,
… before she admitted to
needing this Love,
… before she sought to
understand such a Love,
… before she realized that she
wanted this Gift of Love.
She sat in a darkened sanctuary
expecting little
yet hoping for much.
She sat in a darkened sanctuary
alone …
and then Light walked in,
uninvited and unannounced,
whispering, “For God so loves you….”
Her heart beat faster
as she heard that
God had loved her in her ‘befores’ …
… before she asked for this Love,
… before she admitted to
needing this Love,
… before she sought to
understand such a Love,
… before she realized that she
wanted this Gift of Love.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
"Here I Am, Such as I Am"
(Ash Wednesday)
Here I am, such as I am ...
Imperfect.
Weak.
Broken.
In need of forgiveness.
In need of your Presence.
Here I am, such as I am ...
Confessing.
Repentant.
Hopeful.
Listening.
Here I am, such as I am ...
Willing to be melted
and molded.
Wanting a newly created
pure heart.
Here I am, such as I am ...
Branded with a mark...
your unmistakable mark.
Lead me, O God,
walk with me
in these 40 days....
walk with me always.
Amen.
Here I am, such as I am ...
Imperfect.
Weak.
Broken.
In need of forgiveness.
In need of your Presence.
Here I am, such as I am ...
Confessing.
Repentant.
Hopeful.
Listening.
Here I am, such as I am ...
Willing to be melted
and molded.
Wanting a newly created
pure heart.
Here I am, such as I am ...
Branded with a mark...
your unmistakable mark.
Lead me, O God,
walk with me
in these 40 days....
walk with me always.
Amen.
"This is our Tomorrow"
(Thoughts on the day before Ash Wednesday)
Neglected,
it rests on the corner,
visible to all,
yet ignored by most …
for it has been empty
far too long.
This morning,
this day before
Ash Wednesday,
the front of the building
has been painted
a brilliant white
and the windows
on each side
of the entrance door
are now adorned
with new, royal blue awnings.
Yet the “For Sale” sign
is still posted,
weather-worn
from the years
of begging
and pleading
for someone to look…
just look and consider
the property’s value.
If one dares
to look closer,
beyond the brilliant white paint
and the royal blue awnings,
the other sides
of the building can be seen.
Three other sides
are a dingy beige
with peeling paint
and windows have been broken
by those who think nothing
of doing damage
to something that is not theirs.
The flat roof
can no longer withstand
the weight of
years of debris
or torrential rains
that only accumulate
and puddle
in its flatness.
The property is
overgrown with weeds
and littered by those things
that others have so carelessly
and thoughtlessly
thrown its way.
What are we to think
of an appealing façade
of fresh paint
and new awnings?
What are we to think
of neglect
and damage …
of brokenness
and litter …
of weeds
and debris
and puddles?
Perhaps this is exactly
what we will bring with us
tomorrow …
on this day we call
Ash Wednesday.
We bring with us
freshly painted facades
and new awnings,
hoping beyond hope
that those around us
will not see the
neglect and damage,
the brokenness and litter,
the weeds and shattered hearts.
The black soot
marks the façade
with a cross …
and the ash
falls onto the awning.
The difficult admission
that there are
other sides to be seen
are whispered in prayer
and are heard by the One
who has clearly seen
all four sides
of each of us.
This is our tomorrow.
Holy God,
we come to you
in need of repair …
not in part,
but throughout
our whole being.
Create in us
a newness in our days,
a wholeness and healing through you,
a purpose in your kingdom,
hope in your love
and a pure heart before you.
Amen.
Neglected,
it rests on the corner,
visible to all,
yet ignored by most …
for it has been empty
far too long.
This morning,
this day before
Ash Wednesday,
the front of the building
has been painted
a brilliant white
and the windows
on each side
of the entrance door
are now adorned
with new, royal blue awnings.
Yet the “For Sale” sign
is still posted,
weather-worn
from the years
of begging
and pleading
for someone to look…
just look and consider
the property’s value.
If one dares
to look closer,
beyond the brilliant white paint
and the royal blue awnings,
the other sides
of the building can be seen.
Three other sides
are a dingy beige
with peeling paint
and windows have been broken
by those who think nothing
of doing damage
to something that is not theirs.
The flat roof
can no longer withstand
the weight of
years of debris
or torrential rains
that only accumulate
and puddle
in its flatness.
The property is
overgrown with weeds
and littered by those things
that others have so carelessly
and thoughtlessly
thrown its way.
What are we to think
of an appealing façade
of fresh paint
and new awnings?
What are we to think
of neglect
and damage …
of brokenness
and litter …
of weeds
and debris
and puddles?
Perhaps this is exactly
what we will bring with us
tomorrow …
on this day we call
Ash Wednesday.
We bring with us
freshly painted facades
and new awnings,
hoping beyond hope
that those around us
will not see the
neglect and damage,
the brokenness and litter,
the weeds and shattered hearts.
The black soot
marks the façade
with a cross …
and the ash
falls onto the awning.
The difficult admission
that there are
other sides to be seen
are whispered in prayer
and are heard by the One
who has clearly seen
all four sides
of each of us.
This is our tomorrow.
Holy God,
we come to you
in need of repair …
not in part,
but throughout
our whole being.
Create in us
a newness in our days,
a wholeness and healing through you,
a purpose in your kingdom,
hope in your love
and a pure heart before you.
Amen.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Prayer for Pastors during Advent
God-of-Our-Advent-Waiting ...
What a time this is for our pastors. Be with each of them as they walk through these days of Advent with those whom you have placed into their care. Give them strength to help others wait for, long for and anticipate the peace, hope, joy and love that only the arrival of Jesus into each heart and into our world can bring. Place within these pastors a sweet longing and anticipation in their own Advent waiting. Open the hearts of all so that they might hear your promises spoken through the words of your prophets of old and your servants now. Open the eyes of all souls so that they might see the Light in the darkness that grows ever-stronger as the days draw nearer to your Promise-On-Earth.
Forgive us all if we find it easier to passively await the coming of your Son. In the waiting, may your disciples lead others to place the longings of their hearts before you in prayer; may they help others prepare a place for Jesus to be born anew and may they pray that they also will make ready for such an arrival.
My childhood memories beg me to pray for something else for your servants. During the coming days, place within each of them the excitement of a child; the excitement that causes eyes to sparkle and songs to be hummed in the middle of their busiest of days; the excitement that fills each one of them with hope in your Gift to come; the excitement that brings with it a portion of sleepless anticipation.
These are your servants for sure. You have placed a call within them to love others and to share your great Love in ways that are, at times, much different than our own ways and for that I am most thankful. Love them as they love others, O God. Lead them as they lead others. AMEN.
What a time this is for our pastors. Be with each of them as they walk through these days of Advent with those whom you have placed into their care. Give them strength to help others wait for, long for and anticipate the peace, hope, joy and love that only the arrival of Jesus into each heart and into our world can bring. Place within these pastors a sweet longing and anticipation in their own Advent waiting. Open the hearts of all so that they might hear your promises spoken through the words of your prophets of old and your servants now. Open the eyes of all souls so that they might see the Light in the darkness that grows ever-stronger as the days draw nearer to your Promise-On-Earth.
Forgive us all if we find it easier to passively await the coming of your Son. In the waiting, may your disciples lead others to place the longings of their hearts before you in prayer; may they help others prepare a place for Jesus to be born anew and may they pray that they also will make ready for such an arrival.
My childhood memories beg me to pray for something else for your servants. During the coming days, place within each of them the excitement of a child; the excitement that causes eyes to sparkle and songs to be hummed in the middle of their busiest of days; the excitement that fills each one of them with hope in your Gift to come; the excitement that brings with it a portion of sleepless anticipation.
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