Through Stained Glass: A Mid-Week Reflection-Silent

It doesn’t ever seem to stop, does it?

Today I sit with this image. Today I hope that as God was once
held by Mary, so we too find ourselves in Her care.

The violence.

The layoffs.

The pain.

The hurt.

The confusion.

The sadness.

The hunger.

The politic-ing.

Some days it is hard to pray. Some days it is find the things to be grateful for. Some days….

Honestly friends, I have no words. No wisdom to dispel. For once, as one who works with words weekly, I have nothing. My heart is heavy for the world today. So all I can offer up, on behalf of the world, the church, our own nation, Lincoln and Logan County, and for First Presbyterian Church are my sighs and a noticeable silence.

So today, I lean into these words:

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.

And these words:

28 ‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.³⁰For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’

And this is the prayer I pray:

Almighty and merciful God, Father of all [people], Creator and ruler of the universe, Lord of all history, whose designs are without blemish, whose compassion for the errors of men is inexhaustible, in your will is our peace. Mercifully hear this prayer which rises to you from the tumult and desperation of a world in which you are forgotten, in which your name is not invoked, your laws are derided and your presence is ignored. Because we do not know you, we have no peace. From the heart of an eternal silence, you have watched the rise of empires and have seen the smoke of their downfall. You have witnessed the impious fury of ten thousand fratricidal wars, in which great powers have torn whole continents to shreds in the name of peace and justice.
 A day of ominous decision has now dawned on this free nation. Save us then from our obsessions! Open our eyes, dissipate our confusions, teach us to understand ourselves and our adversary. Let us never forget that sins against the law of love are punishable by loss of faith, and those without faith stop at no crime to achieve their ends! Help us to be masters of the weapons that threaten to master us. Help us to use our science for peace and plenty, not for war and destruction. Save us from the compulsion to follow our adversaries in all that we most hate, confirming them in their hatred and suspicion of us. Resolve our inner contradictions, which now grow beyond belief and beyond bearing. They are at once a torment and a blessing: for if you had not left us the light of conscience, we would not have to endure them. Teach us to wait and trust. Grant light, grant strength and patience to all who work for peace. But grant us above all to see that our ways are not necessarily your ways, that we cannot fully penetrate the mystery of your designs and that the very storm of power now raging on this earth reveals your hidden will and your inscrutable decision. Grant us to see your face in the lightning of this cosmic storm, O God of holiness, merciful to [all people]. Grant us to seek peace where it is truly found. In your will, O God, is our peace. ~Thomas Merton

Amen.

Hope is the thing with feathers, friends. Let us never give up on that…or each other. Let us not be robbed by some of the great and good gifts this world has to offer.

My prayers with and for you this day. Everyday.