People's Prayers

Saturday, March 11, 2023

Meditation Moment in Lent ~ Day 16, Give Up, Take On, Pray

Psalm 23 speaks to us in the simplest of terms

that belie the intricacy of its depth.

      The symbolism in this well-known Psalm is far more complex and fascinating than just the obvious image of a guy walking down a lane with a big staff and a dog, or the pretty girl of nursery rhymes with a bow on her crook as the sheep dutifully follow.
      The demands on real living shepherds are constant and endless.  Sheep are peculiarly needy and helpless creatures, quite restive, timid, and even self-destructive at times. They can stand still for hours or bolt into stampede because an apple drops unexpectedly from a tree. If they are heavy with lambs, they will likely lose them in the running and panic. The shepherd must keep continuous vigil against disease, insect infestations, pecking order fights, escape artists, water and food supplies, and especially predators. Two untrained dogs can slaughter nearly 300 sheep overnight if the sheep are untended. Sheep will NOT lie down unless they are completely contented and secure. A special oil mixture that the shepherd prepares and swabs (anoints) around the sheep's head and nose keeps deadly insects from burrowing and causing panic and disease, and the sheep is calmed for a bit. Then there are shearing and lambing seasons...
      Taken line by line in this Psalm we can see, feel, and almost hear Jesus, our Shepherd, here with us, reviving, caring, comforting, and anointing. Watching over us, preparing our table, restoring us. Nothing we need is withheld.  A Good Shepherd's job is never done.

Most Gracious and Vigilant Shepherd,
      How much of my life I have known the words of this lovely little Psalm ~ but have I paid attention to them? Have I understood what they really mean in my life? They're so familiar that when it comes time I recite them with a matter-of-fact monotone voice without even listening to myself. But for today, I will give up taking for granted that You ARE the Shepherd who restores my soul and anoints my heart when I call on You. I will take on reading this Psalm carefully and slowly at least twice. I will pray these words with conscious intention and attention, recognizing the important message that Christ Jesus IS my shepherd. I will read it one time as a prayer for myself, emphasizing the parts that do refer to me: The Lord is MY Shepherd; I shall not be in want. He makes ME lie down in green pastures and leads ME beside still waters......
    And then, I will read it once more (at least). Only this time I'll add the name and appropriate pronouns of someone I know as an intercessory prayer. And I will carry the image of Jesus leading us, comforting us, anointing us as we walk toward dwelling in the House of the Lord forever. I think I will call this, Psalm 23.1.  amen.

Psalm 23  (format from the Book of Common Prayer)

The Lord is Margaret's shepherd;
She shall not be in want.

He makes Margaret lie down in green pastures
and leads her beside still waters.

He revives Margaret's soul

and guides her along right pathways for his Name's sake.

Though Margaret walks through the valley of the shadow of death,
She shall fear no evil; for you are with her;
your rod and your staff, they comfort her.

You spread a table before Margaret in the presence of

those who trouble her; You anoint her head with oil,

and her cup is running over.

Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow her all the days
of her life, and Margaret will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. Amen.

*Sheep herding information from "A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23," by W. Phillip Keller, with a closer look at the fascinating connections between the Psalm's descriptions and real life sheep farming.

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Friday, March 10, 2023

Meditation Moment in Lent, Day 15, Give Up, Take On, Pray '23

What exactly IS The Christian Ideal?

If you Google the phrase you'll get directed to the Chesterton^* quote and untold numbers of sermons about "it." One Biblical reference that showed up was 1 Peter 2:18-25. If that is the only part of the Bible I ever got to read, I don't think it would draw me in to a Christian life! Granted it was for its time but I’m glad I wasn’t living then and there. Although, we must remember that millions are living in similar conditions today. How confident are you of defining The Christian Ideal to others? Something as in, "Well, of course it is...." How would you define it as a way of life? Why does Chesterton say it's difficult? What happens if (when?) you stray from the Ideal?

Jesus, Beloved of God,
You are the Christ, the Anointed One, the Son of God, the Son of Man. We are the Christians who have signed on to follow You, to live our lives as You have taught us. You did give us all we need to know in Matthew 22:33-40** which is pretty clear: Love God with everything we have and love everyone ~ friend, not friend, and stranger ~ as if they are ourselves. Sounds easy~ I guess if we can really do that, we've pretty well covered the original 1-10 list. Well, I quietly admit there are days when I'm not loving anyone very much especially myself and many other days when I watch to see how I measure up with the ways other Christians appear to be following You. That can be discouraging on a variety of levels. For today, I'll give up looking around to see what everyone else is doing and take on the "trying" part a little more diligently. I'll pray to find my path through The Christian Ideal and when I hit a bump or two or have a cranky day, I'll leave a message for myself to work on remembering to pray again and more often.

Oh, and I'll also remember that believers and non-believers alike can love others as if they were themselves. What a better world that would bring! amen.

^*G.K. Chesterton [1874-1936] born in London and baptized as an Anglican, studied art and literature harboring a desire to be an artist. He fell into journalism and then began to write in earnest penning more than 80 books, hundreds of short stories, and more hundreds of poems. He's widely known for his Priest-Detective Father Brown character, which, dramatized for television, still plays on PBS in the US. A lay theologian and philosopher, he converted to Roman Catholicism in 1922. Poet, playwright, political commentator, literary and art critic, he was known for his wit and humor and use of paradox. His faith was deep and his practice devout enough to warrant a telegram of condolence from the Pope "To the English People" at his death. Just one more of his innumerable quotable quotes that feels quite contemporary: The whole modern world has divided itself into Conservatives and Progressives. The business of Progressives is to go on making mistakes. The business of the Conservatives is to prevent the mistakes from being corrected.

^**^{Matthew 22:34-40 [NRSV]}
³⁴When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, ³⁵and one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. ³⁶“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” ³⁷He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸This is the greatest and first commandment. ³⁹And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

Thursday, March 9, 2023

Meditation Moment in Lent ~ Day 14, Give Up, Take On, Pray

I hear and behold God in every object,

yet understand God not in the least.

~ Walt Whitman* 1819-1892

Where do you discover God in your life ~ in the woods, on a river, in the mountains, in the living room, on the highway, in church? Have you ever experienced a moment when you were certain you understood God? Have you ever worried that you haven’t had a moment where you understood God, or that you don’t know where to find God? Or, perhaps you don't want to find God. But for those of us who do...

Almighty, Mystical, Divinity,

When I was a child, You were in every room, every sunrise, every blade of grass, inside, outside, and all over; and, I understood You, or at least the wonder of You and, who I was to You. And then I grew up - sort of. Where did You go? Some days it's a struggle to find You anywhere and I'm more uncertain of You than ever. Oh, wait, maybe I'm the one who went...hmmm...SO...for today I'll give up trying to find You anywhere else but here because everywhere I am is here. I'll take on accepting that You are a mystery that doesn't need to be deciphered or comprehended. Lent is good time for me to remember which one of us wandered away and to return, again. I'll pray little thanksgivings as I move through the day and the world around me because You are always here and I truly don't need to know why. amen.

Stop. Sit. Breathe.

On an inhale: Be Still and Know that I am God

On an exhale: Be still and know that I am

Inhale: Be still and know

Exhale: Be still

Inhale: Be

Stop, sit, breathe, and be… (above phrasing is from Psalm 46:10)

*Walt Whitman is an icon of American poetry, especially for his Leaves of Grass written and revised over nearly 40 years. Also an essayist, journalist, and humanist, Whitman believed that all religions were equal and although he remained a religious skeptic, he did believe that the human soul is immortal and always in a state of progression. A fascinating person, his biography is too extensive for this space but well worth the exploration. He continues to be one of the most influential American poets.

Wednesday, March 8, 2023

Meditation Moment in Lent, Day 13: Give Up, Take On, Pray

I read once that, if Christianity is so wonderful, why do Christians often look as though they're sucking lemons? Especially in this penitential season of Lent, some of us might be taking it all so seriously that we miss the lightness, the joy, and yes, the humor in life as a Christian. Had a good laugh lately? Start with a smile...

Oh Jesus,
There's so much about my relationship with you that I've been taught should be quiet, restrained, serious, and even meek. I've memorized "The Don't List" ~ don't do this, don't do that [ok, so I know that You know that I may have done a don't, or maybe two along the way]. But now that I think about it, surely You had fun with friends, enjoyed a good dinner, and even laughed out loud. I'm starting to realize that I might be less likely to do things on the don't list if I lighten up and experience the wonder of the gift that Your life has given me. For today, I'll give up feeling deprived in Lent. I'll take on finding one thing to laugh out loud about that is good-spirited, delight-full, and soul-satisfying. I'll pray in thanksgiving for the living legacy of Faith that fills me with eagerness to be a happier reflection of life with You that shines through everything I do. amen.

Reinhold Niebuhr [1892-1971] was an American theologian, ethicist, and professor at Union Theological Seminary in New York City for more than 30 years. Two of his most influential books are Moral Man and Immoral Society and The Nature and Destiny of Man. Along with an extensive biography and body of work, Niebuhr was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1964, the highest US civilian award. After working with labor and working classes, in 1944 he wrote The Children of Light and the Children of Darkness in which he said, "Man's capacity for justice makes democracy possible; but man's inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary." His theo-philosophical perspective became known as Christian Realism. Niebuhr is best known for his "Serenity Prayer" although most often it is only the first few lines that people know. The following is the complete text as he is said to have written it:

God, give me grace to accept with serenity

the things that cannot be changed,

Courage to change the things

which should be changed,

and the Wisdom to distinguish

the one from the other.

Living one day at a time,

Enjoying one moment at a time,

Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,

Taking, as Jesus did,

This sinful world as it is,

Not as I would have it,

Trusting that You will make all things right,

If I surrender to Your will,

So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,

And supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen.

Tuesday, March 7, 2023

Meditation Moment in Lent, Day 12: Give Up, Take On, Pray

In a lifestyle so governed by cell phones, "smart" watches, electronic “assistants,” 4+ different social media platforms, job intensity, crazy traffic, bad weather, home maintenance, laundry, grocery shopping, meal providing, school events, exercise, sometimes church, sports tv, Xbox, online shopping, all while wearing headphones for music or news or talk radio, streaming video bingeing, and all too rarely a full night's sleep ~ it's no wonder we have difficulty turning off all of the external stimulants of life (and perhaps a few imbibed) and finding a truly quiet moment. What are we teaching our children?

Guardian of my Soul and Spirit,

The outside noise is filling me on the inside and shutting You out. I'm so easily distracted by all of the demands and opportunities of "outside" life. Please call me back from the brink of spiritual implosion. For today, I will give up 15 minutes of external stimulation and set a timer to take on sitting alone, quietly, with no agenda but breathing in and breathing out. Yes, I know there's lots of other stuff to do but I will let the thoughts come in and go out. I will let go of the thoughts that want to stick around for questions and analysis. When the timer goes off to signal the end of the time, I will pray for the willingness and follow-through to look for guidance on meditation and the development of an interior/spiritual life. I need the space, quiet, freedom, and connection with You to help assuage the craziness of the "outside." I know it will feel awkward at first but maybe if I just try on the 15 minute thing for awhile, even if I have to lock myself into the bathroom and let the shower run to keep everyone and everything at bay, it will help me cope better with the other 1,425 minutes in my day. amen.

Evelyn Underhill [1875-1941] was one of the most widely read authors on Christian mysticism, religion, and spiritual practice in the early years of the 20th Century and continues to be read today. She began her writing with satirical poems moved to novels of heroic mystical journeys, and onto readable treatises on mysticism and The Spiritual Life. Prominent in the Anglican Church, she was the first woman to give lectures to Anglican clergy as well as the first woman to lead spiritual retreats. Recognized as a theologian, Underhill sought to reconcile the spiritual realm with everyday realities that are in opposition to the Divine but redeemed when revisited with a lens of divine radiance. Not at all proclaiming reclusiveness as a path to spiritual wholeness she said: "It seems so much easier in these days to live morally than to live beautifully. Lots of us manage to exist for years without ever sinning against society, but we sin against loveliness every hour of the day."

Monday, March 6, 2023

Prayers of the People: Well Enough? ~ 3rd Sunday in Lent '23 Yr A

For Sunday, March 12, 2023 ~ Readings: Exodus 17:1-7, Psalm 95, Romans 5:1-11, John 4:5-42

Moses said to them, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?"...The LORD said to Moses...I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so the people may drink." [Exodus 17:2b, 5a, 6a]

Come, let us sing to the LORD, let us shout for joy to the Rock of our Salvation. [Psalm 95:1]

Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. [Romans 5:1-3]

Jacob's Well was there and Jesus tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well...A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink."...The Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?" (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God...he would have given you living water...God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth." [John 4:6a, 7a, 9-10, 24]

In this Gospel reading, Jesus is taking a shortcut to Galilee. He and the disciples with him are in a part of the country where no respectable Jew would usually travel let alone strike up a conversation with one of those people, who is, of all things, also a woman! When the Jews returned from exile in Babylon, four centuries prior to this encounter, they refused to allow the Samaritans to participate in the rebuilding of Jerusalem and particularly the Temple. For the Samaritans, the Temple separated and centralized the worship of God in Jerusalem which gave rise to the woman’s comment to Jesus about the Samaritan worship of God on their own mountain. Also, the Jews would neither eat nor drink with Samaritans – it was likely, in part, because of the Jewish purity laws although we don't know all the issues that divided them. This passage highlights Jesus' willingness to have this conversation and to tell of the coming time when worship for all will be very different for the true believers, that worship of God is not exclusive to a time, place, or people. It also underscores many of the issues of the other in our current life and times.
Differences in culture, dress, religion, food and drink, accents, even among those of our own nation – and foremost, skin color – separate us, narrowing our human experiences, creating deep and ancient, or at least very old prejudices, handed down through generations with little explanation or understanding of the roots of the conflict. The “Hatfields and McCoys*” of life and legend in our land, are just one example. Left unchecked and re-evaluated, layers of mistrust continue to deepen and solidify, turn to un-examined hate, and all too often, violence. Us vs. Them, is a prevailing human issue – if you're one of them you cannot be one of us. All too often we can't – or rather won’t – discuss the whys and wherefores of our opinions and deeply held beliefs. Understanding each other might taint what we've been taught to believe by those we accept as authoritative. Our beliefs have been sustained and enhanced by the continual distraction, misinformation, and propaganda from those who profit from our divisions. And, whether we admit it or not, many of us don’t like facts to get in the way of what we want to believe. Thinking differently about something I thought was undisputed is very uncomfortable, even scary.
WWYD? What Would You Do – if you were desperately thirsty in a place you didn't feel you belonged in, or your car broke down in a strange location, or you witnessed someone unlike yourself being harassed or worse? How have we fostered the isolating of ourselves and the marginalizing of others by what we have done and by what we have left undone? ** Possibly in the communal desert of our own making, we falsely believe that it keeps us being us and them away from us which makes everything better for us. Great logic? I regularly have to stop and examine my reactions and the in-my-head responses to think and wonder why I am for it or against it, whatever it is and to whom it is directed, as well as who I accept as my authority on the matter and why.

Lent is a moment to think about our desert moments in life. Is God in Jesus my Living Water for consolation, hope, compassion, and love of my neighbor as if s/he/they are myself, or just the One I blame and complain to? Jesus told the Samaritan woman that God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.

This is a Well that runs deep. How deeply are we each searching to bring up to our conscious thoughts and acts the living water, the spirit and truth of God, the Creator of ALL life in its multitude of shapes, forms, cultures, colors, genders, genomes, and faiths. How often do we say grace yet hate the neighbors – you know, the ones who post opposite political views on Facebook or bumper stickers, attend a different church, mosque, temple, synagogue, or none at all? Jesus tells the Samaritan woman first before all others that he is the Messiah. She believes him. Do we? Time for us each to dig deep. Our love of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit is only as deep as our spiritual wells. Is my Well enough?

*“The Hatfields and McCoys,” A true American family feud with deadly consequences for both sides has become a metaphor to describe great and volatile conflicts between neighbors or groups. Click here to see more: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Hatfields-and-McCoys

**from the Confession in the US Book of Common Prayer, pg 360, emphasis added

LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY

Leader: ~ O God of Grace and Peace, drive us from the desert of discouragement we lead ourselves into by our wayward hearts and selfish grumblings. Guide us back to the saving water from the Rock of Faith that washes away all fear, anguish, and uncertainty.

Lord of Living Water

RESPONSE: Our souls are quenched in You

~ O God of Grace and Peace, awaken, inspire, and turn the efforts of the leaders of this World, this Nation, and this Community into a cooperative spirit, especially now, for the common purpose of the health, safety, and prospering of all Your people everywhere. We pray especially for: add your own petitions

Lord of Living Water