Good Morning My Friends;
Here we are on the 11th day since the decision was made to not gather for worship as we seek to make a difference for good in combating COVID-19. Now the Government of Ontario has acted to close all “non-essential” businesses. Prime Minister Trudeau has said: “Go home and stay home.”
The news is filled with stories about the impact of this terrible “novel coronavirus” – as it spreads further day by day.
Yesterday I wrote about the way laughter can lighten the load we are all carrying. But laughter, though it does many valuable things, can’t take away the feelings that we have when we ponder the situation of our County, Province, Nation and the World. So, this morning I’m going to write & reflect on the topic of Feelings & Prayer.
I want to remind you that during this time of crisis, although we can’t meet face to face, I am available anytime to respond to texts, emails or phone calls. If I’m not able to respond instantly, I’ll be sure to get back to you in a timely manner. My phone number is 613-970-7880.
Here is my “Today’s Post” – may it be a blessing to you.
“Feelings & Prayer”
“If only you would tear apart the heavens and come down!”
Isaiah 64.1
“God’s Spirit is right along-side helping us along. . .we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. The Spirit does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, and our aching groans.”
Romans 8.26 (The Message)
It is important for each of us, in these unprecedented, challenging circumstances, to acknowledge the feelings that we are experiencing. A wise mentor of mine once told me that we never bury a feeling dead. If we bury feelings, we bury them alive, and they will always come back to bite us. So, take a few minutes to focus and write down what it is you are feeling. Is it: sadness, loneliness, fear, anxiety, anger, rage, bitterness, disillusionment? Are you feeling overwhelmed or abandoned? Perhaps all of the above? This is not an exhaustive list. You may well have feelings that aren’t mentioned here – write them down also.
Brian McLaren is an American Pastor, Author and Teacher – a Leader in the movement called The Emerging Church. (A Progressive Evangelical – and no, that is not an oxymoron! 😉) This morning, Brian offers his thoughts on this topic of feelings & prayer as the writer of Richard Rohr’s Meditation for today. (visit CAC.org)
“Whether we are dealing with anxieties, wounds, disappointments, or other needs or struggles, there is enormous power in simple words by which we name our pain and translate it into a request to God. . .”Help!” is the door into this vital practice of petition.”
On Monday I invited each of you, in your homes, to light a candle and place it in your window, and to offer a prayer for those on the front lines of this battle against COVID-19. (Never leave a candle unattended.) You were invited to do so at 7:30 each evening. If we were to follow Brian’s suggestion above, a one-word prayer: “Help!” is enough. If you can, sit quietly in the candlelight and offer just that prayer. Last night I watched our candle burn until 8:00pm.
Brian concludes this morning’s reflection with these words:
“We discover something priceless: the sacred connection can grow stronger through, not in spite of, our anxieties, wounds, disappointments, struggles and needs.
The Compassionate One (God-with-us) is our gracious friend and we don’t need to earn anything, deserve anything, achieve anything, or merit anything, to bring our needs to God. We can just come as we are.”
May you be aware of God’s unfailing presence with you and within you during these days. I leave you with the words of two verses of “Put Peace into Each Other’s Hands” from our songbook, More Voices (#173) Words are by Fred Kaan and Music by Ron Klusmeier. I am quoting verses four and five:
- Give thanks for strong yet tender hands, held out in trust and blessing. Where words fall short, let hands speak out the heights of love expressing.
- Reach out in friendship, stay with faith in touch with those around you. Put peace into each other’s hands, the Peace that sought and found you.
Finally, of course, we take these references to hands (in our current context) metaphorically reaching out – we reach out to one another virtually, through the blessing of technology – phone, text, email, Website, Facebook and other social media. Even though our reaching out is virtual: It is real. It is vitally important.
Until tomorrow,
With pastoral love and support,
Rev. Phil
