Holy One, As we observe this Lenten season, slow us down. Open us to seeing and hearing what is happening around us. Remind us that our to do lists will wait and we should spend a bit more time with you. Push us to get outside more to observe your amazing creation. With deep cleansing breaths and slower steps, we are awaiting your words for us this day. Show us that the things we see as obstacles in our path may actually be you encouraging us on a new path. Gracious God, help us to be present in each moment this week to see what will be revealed. And now, to help slow us down, we will take three deep breaths and then end this prayer with a big AMEN!
Loving God, The season of Lent has begun. Whether this is our first Lent or we have observed so many Lenten seasons that we can no longer count them, we want this to be a time we are more open to you, Gracious God. Open us to hear your voice leading us and inspiring us. Open us to see you in each other in this place and everywhere we go this Lenten season. Stir our hearts to be ready for change. We see the brokenness around us and in our own lives, so help us to be healers. We will trust in you that this Lenten season will renew us to do your work faithfully. Lead us, God, and we will follow you. Amen.
The season of Lent begins in a little over a week as Ash Wednesday is February 26. I looked back at how I have been practicing the season and what I have encouraged you to do in past Lenten Seasons. Now, is a good time think about how you will observe the season. Giving away 40 things in 40 days and not eating meat on Fridays have become customary practices for Lent in my household. This year I am also planning to return to my regular writing practice. Each week of Lent there will be a prayer posted to this blog to help all of us navigate this Lenten Season. I thank you for reading and praying with me as we once again follow Jesus through this important season in the church year. And I’d love to hear how you plan to observe the season of Lent.
The Boy, the mole, the fox, and the Horse Charlie Mackesy
My mother handed me this book and encouraged me to sit and read it immediately. What an uplifting, beautiful book. It is easily readable in a very short time, and yet it is a book that deserves to be savored. With statement like, “the truth is everyone is winging it” and “sometimes just getting up and carrying on is brave and magnificent”, this book made me smile and want to reread it.
Meet these four unlikely friends who discover their devotion to each other and ways they can uplift each other. With beautiful illustrations and sparse words on each page, this book can be enjoyed by people of almost any age.
So as my mother recommended this to me, I recommend it to you. You can check if out from your local library and read it daily until it must go back. You can buy it and read it repeatedly until you give it to a friend who needs a reminder that they are loved. I invite you to read this book and remember you are loved more than you know
What rituals and family activities are important in your life? When I was growing up, my paternal grandmother taught us to count down the time to important events with a sleep countdown. She would ask how many more sleeps until we come visit or you come to visit us. I have passed along the sleep countdown to the next generation and taught Grandma’s great grandchildren to count down how many more sleeps until the big event. It does my heart good to continue my Grandmother’s method of counting down and to share it with her legacies.
So, as I countdown to a visit with my niece and nephew, I am thankful that my memories of my Grandmother live on in me and in others who carry on her traditions. I’d love to hear about the rituals and family activities that frame your life.
Good and Gracious God, We are thankful for this Christmas season. We ask your blessing on our loved ones near and far and those who live with you. As we remember the baby born, we pray for the children of this world. May they all know they are loved and may they have enough to eat and somewhere safe to lay their heads. As we welcome the Prince of Peace, help us to be people who live in peace with each other. For those who are sad and lonely this season, open our eyes to see how we can be a friend. In a world filled with noise, we take a few moments now to simply be in the silence. (time of silence). God, for your constant presence in our lives, we give you thanks. In the name of Jesus born this night, we pray. Amen.
I have been reading this book for so long because I didn’t want to hurry through it and finish it. I was sad when I came to the last page because I loved the book so much that I wanted it to go on and on. (If you love this book like I do, please listen to her podcast, Everything Happens with Kate Bowler. And when searching for the exact name of her podcast, I learned there is a podcast called Everything Happens for a Riesling which I have not listened to although the name makes me laugh).
If you believe that everything happens for a reason and find comfort in that belief, then I am not here to change your mind. The author of this book would encourage you to not say those words outloud to others as they may not find them comforting. This book is what happened when one person learned that she had non-curable cancer and her whole world view needed to be reexamined.
In these pages, you be challenged in what you believe and how you support others who are suffering. You will laugh at the absurdity of life. You may cry as you remember that we were never told that life is fair even though we’d life for it to be.
“What if rich did not have to mean wealthy, and whole did not have to mean healed? What if being people of “the gospel” meant that we are simply people with good news? God is here. We are loved. It is enough” (21).This book is for people who read a sentence like this and want to hear more of the story.
“Everyone is trying to Easter the crap out of my Lent,” I say to my friends though gritted teeth and tears” (134). It is a book for people who love Easter and know real life contains so much Lent that doesn’t need to be rushed through.
I encourage you to read this book, and then we can talk more about it.
Each year on November 14, I light a candle on a piece of dessert. It isn’t my birthday, and yet I blow out the candle. I do this for my best friend. November 14 is her birthday and for the last seven years she has not been alive to celebrate her birthday. So, I celebrate it for her. I make or prepare a dessert. I light a candle. I remember her and give thanks for our friendship. Then, I blow out the candle and enjoy that dessert. I tell stories about her to anyone who will listen. I laugh and cry. I miss her and wish she was here to enjoy her birthday dessert with me.
I share this with you because this yearly ritual is healing and helpful for me as I continue to grieve my friend. I encourage you to remember those you love who have died and find meaningful rituals to help you mark important days. If you have a special way you remember a loved one, I’d love to hear about it.
Loving God, When our hearts are breaking and we miss our loved ones, you are here. When another special day comes and our loved one isn’t here to celebrate, you are here. Be with us as we remember and give thanks. Be with us as we cry and ask why? However we honor those we love, be present with us, Gracious God. Amen.
Recently, I was asked to pray at a local service for veterans. These are the prayers that I shared for that gathering.
Holy One, We are thankful to call this country home. Today we gather to honor and remember those brave individuals who kept and continue to keep this country free. Most of us will never be able to understand the challenges faced by those who serve. Open our ears to hear the stories of those in our armed services when and if they want to tell their stories. Open our eyes to notice the needs of our veterans. Open our hearts to welcome the veterans back to this country we all love. Be present with us in this time, Holy One, as you are present with our veterans and those currently serving. Amen.
Eternal One, we are grateful for this time today to be able to remember and give thanks for all of our veterans. Remind us to be thankful for our veterans everyday not just on special days like today. Send your blessings and love on our veterans and their families as we continue to acknowledge the gifts that they shared for our country. Thank you, Eternal One, for your love for all your beloved children and may we share that love and compassion with each other. Amen.
