O lead my spirit, O raise it from these heavy depths, Transported by thy art that fearlessly And joyfully it soar up to thee. For thou, thou knowest all things, Thou alone can inspire.
- Beethoven

The Spirituality of What’s at Hand.

This week has been an interesting dive into the spiritual lessons found in what is at hand. First, a dear friend gave me a book filled with Roz Chast’s cartoons, many of which have appeared in the New Yorker over the years. As she gave me the book, she said, "This is your Lenten discipline." Little did I know how often I’d find myself in the pages of this book. Most of the time, I laugh and laugh at the absurdity of the cartoons. They are SO true to life! Every now and then, however, I run across one that has YOU written all over it. Or should I say, ME. Is the cartoon still as funny when the point is taken?

Truth is spoken through many media. And that is the beauty of the spirituality of what is at hand. An interesting article about Walt Disney that directly related to this week’s lesson on the Prodigal son. A dive into another magazine on a nearby table that has just the right word to say about belonging or perseverance. A PBS special that talks about the importance of facing down one’s personal demons. A conversation with a family member whose absence has been felt: "I’ve been avoiding talking to you until I had good news," brings recognition that sometimes its better to face bad news than to go without conversation at all. And Roz Chast cartoons that joyously prod us to not take ourselves too seriously.

Lent is meant to be a time for introspection. And while that can be easily over-driven, if we are attentive to the still small voice of God, we will find not only truth in unexpected places, but the grace to accept what we have received.

Prayer

Master, they say that when I seem

To be in speech with you,
Since you make no replies, its all a dream
- One talker aping two.

They are half right, but not as they
Imagine; rather, I
Seek in myself the things I meant to say,
And Lo! The wells are dry.

Then, seeing me empty, you forsake
The Listener’s role, and through
My dead lips breathe and into utterance wake
The thoughts I never knew.

And thus you neither need reply
Nor can; thus, while we seem
Two talking, thou art One forever, and I
No dreamer, but thy dream.
- CS Lewis

Debra's Midweek Meditation
Reconciliation

"So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation;"
2 Corinthians 5:17-18

The passage from Corinthians is staggering in its significance if I spend just a little time reflecting upon it. A new creation!!

Not only is Paul telling us that we, in Christ, are made new, he is reminding us that we have joined with Christ the priest in His ministry.

The ministry has a specific goal-to reconcile the world with God. We, benefiting from Jesus' ministry and gift of reconciliation, are now the windows through which the world may see that gift.

Reconciliation, which has gotten a lot of play in the press, is not making nice-
it is about making whole!
It is about the harmony of humanity with God. In other words, singing the songs of God so clearly that others may join the tune.

Each of us is given a line to sing which is uniquely woven into the fabric of the whole melody.

How do we learn our part of the song?

Reflection and prayer and life in community begin to compose a harmony for us to sing.

Amazing Grace, that great hymn, was taught to its author through suffering and deep remorse.

Recently, I was able to see the movie of the same title.

William Wilberforce, the English abolitionist, presents a stirring picture of learning his own song in the midst of a troubled time.

He says:
"Of all things, guard against neglecting God in the secret place of prayer."

Wilberforce's devotional life and his community inspired him to use his unique position and skill to introduce abolition legislation to a Parliament that was distinctly uninterested in hearing anything about it.

After twenty years of struggle and commitment and faithfulness to his charge,
Parliament finally repealed the slave trade act.

Amazing Grace, the sound of reconciliation,
is the song that we are all invited to sing, in our beautiful voices
born from prayer and devotion.

Will you raise your own voice?

Blessings,
Debra

Daily Morning Prayer:
http://www.episcopalchurchingarrettcounty.org/churchonthewebpage.htm

Anger

I sharpened my two-edged sword
Of justice and truth
And took it to the altar to be blessed by God.
"Why thank you, Ellen, another pruning hook."
I wept,
Knowing that God was not the blind one,
And realizing once more,
That if God has enough mercy to forgive me,
God has enough mercy to forgive my enemies.
- E. Ellen Adams

This Week at St. James:

Sunday: 10:15 THINK PINK TOO: LAETARE Youth Event; 11:45 Inquirer’s Class
Wednesday: 8:30 Healing Eucharist; 9:15 Bible Study; 6:00 Lenten Soup and Supper: Stations of the Cross
Sunday 25th: Paul’s Place Breakfast

Prayers Etc.

For the repose of the soul of Phanos Dymiotis, violinist who played many times at St. James, and for his family and friends who mourn.

For those on our prayer list:
Pam; Owen B.; Ken; Nancy; Sue; Brittany
Craig; Jason; The Parker Family; The Hamill Family
David; Rob; Annabelle; Andy B.; Mac K.; J.B.
Martina; Lori; Rosemary; Donna and Jim; Jeffrey
Mary Beth; Mike H.; Matt S.; Judy E.; Maia P.
Mimi and Poppa B.; Bill; Mike P.; Joanne; Nancy
Gus; Anna B.; Annie J.; Belinda; Charlotte H.
Pat; Sue Alouise; Ray; Paul; Melanie

For Laura and Lyle

For peace in the Middle East.
For those who are deployed and their families.

Draw us, O God, to your heart at the heart of the world, at once joyful, aching, expectant, and loving, that we may care for others as you care for us, each and every moment of our lives; in the name of your Beloved, our Savior Jesus Christ. AMEN
From Women’s Uncommon Prayers

In Closing:

Have Courage

Claim for yourself the courage to be; Yahweh has
Known your particular grief, God has atoned for
All your guilt.
In the midst of human failure, as mortality admits
Defeat, God’s banner advances to ultimate victory.
From the midst of a rag-tag army of saints, the Holy
One calls to you, "Press on,
my perfect, imperfect note in the
symphony of redemption."
- Martin Bell

Pax et Bonum,
Loree+

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