Through Stained Glass: A Mid-Week Reflection-Sneaking

“We work for peace every time we exercise authority with wisdom and authentic love.”

― Jean Vanier, Finding Peace

Last night after our Taize service, I found myself unable to leave the chapel. For about 20 minutes after the last person who walked through the chapel doors left, I sat in the dark with only candles burning, listening, being still, and praying.

At first I didn’t know what to pray for. There was so much on my mind.

There are those in life who are in a season of transition.

There are those in life who are enduring pain and heartache.

There are those in life who are battling with all their might an illness:  physical, spiritual, emotional, or mental.

There are those who find their lives uprooted by injustices; by violence; by hatred; by oppression.

There are those in Baltimore.

The are those in Nepal.

There are those in the LGBTQ community.

There are those in our own pews:  you and me.

Where does prayer begin? How does prayer begin when the world is so full of hurt?

Silence.

That’s where.

A fellow pastor recently posted this prayer and today, I’ve found myself praying it over

and over

and

over...

O God,

O Spirit,

O Christ,

Help me today to listen. Even more than usual. Even more than yesterday.

Help me to listen to voices usually silenced. Help me to listen to voices I put down. Help me to listen to those who have no voice. Help me to listen to those whose voices were taken from them. Help me to listen to those who disagree with me. Help me to listen to those who call me out. Help me to listen for hidden agendas and unknown biases. Help me to listen for my own privilege sneaking out of my own voice. And most of all, help me to listen for you. Help me to listen for you in the voices of my neighbors, my friends, and my enemies. Help me listen to the ways you are calling me to action. Help me to listen to the truth, hope and love in your everlasting voice.

Help me today to listen. Even more than usual. Even more than yesterday.

Amen.

Everyone has a voice. As God’s people, I always thought we were to be the voice for the voiceless.

I realize now this isn’t the case.

We are to listen for the voices of all people. We are to help them sing their song. We are to cultivate a community where all can be hear and their stories shared.

And then, listen to them. Whether they are familiar voices or voices that cause our pulse to quicken.

Listen to the people in your lives. Truly listen. Stop and listen.

Silently listen.

And you’ll soon discover, you’ve been praying the whole time….